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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Envysion

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Envysion logo

Envysion

Cybersecurity

Managed video for restaurants and convenience stores that pairs camera footage with point of sale transaction data

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Blacksmith has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Envysion envysion now sits inside Motorola Solutions alongside Avigilon and Pelco, which overlap with it in retail video, so buyers should establish which platform Motorola intends to invest in before committing to a multi-year multi-site agreement.
  • They diverge on capability: Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Envysion covers Point of sale exception reporting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Envysion actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Envysion differ
AttributeBlacksmithEnvysion
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blacksmith

  • Bare metal runners
  • Multiple OS support
  • ARM support
  • Docker layer caching
  • Sticky disks
  • GitHub Actions observability
  • Free tier
  • Static IPs

Only in Envysion

  • Point of sale exception reporting
  • Cloud video review
  • Audio capture
  • Loss prevention case management
  • Operational auditing
  • Multi-site dashboards
  • Franchise access controls
  • Managed service model

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blacksmith

  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructurenot Envysion
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot Envysion
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot Envysion
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot Envysion

Envysion

  • A 300-store quick service chain where till voids and refunds are a known shrink channelnot Blacksmith
  • A convenience retailer needing drive-through audio and video to settle a customer disputenot Blacksmith
  • A franchisor auditing food safety and uniform compliance across franchisee sites remotelynot Blacksmith
  • An investigator building an evidence package for a termination that will be challengednot Blacksmith

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blacksmith

  • Per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs
  • macOS M4 pricing ($0.08/min) is significantly higher than GitHub Actions
  • Docker layer caching and sticky disks are paid add-ons at $0.50/GB/mo
  • Static IP add-on costs $100/IP/mo

Envysion

  • Envysion now sits inside Motorola Solutions alongside Avigilon and Pelco, which overlap with it in retail video, so buyers should establish which platform Motorola intends to invest in before committing to a multi-year multi-site agreement.
  • Point of sale integration is per till system, so a chain running two or three POS platforms across acquired brands may find exception reporting works properly in only some of its stores.
  • No pricing is published and it is sold as a per-site managed service, usually on a multi-year agreement, so a chain closing or refranchising stores mid-term can be paying for locations it no longer operates.
  • It is built specifically for till-level retail and restaurant loss prevention and is a poor fit for campus, industrial or office security, so an operator with a mixed estate needs a second platform for the head office.
  • Each site typically needs recording hardware installed, which makes rollout an install project per location rather than a software subscription, and refreshing that hardware is a periodic capital event the subscription does not cover.

Pricing, plan by plan

Blacksmith

Free
  • Ubuntu x64$0.004/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Ubuntu ARM$0.0025/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Windows x64$0.008/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • macOS M4$0.08/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads

Envysion

On request
  • Envysion managed video$undefined/year
    • Priced per site as a managed service
    • Recording hardware typically required in each location
    • Point of sale integration scoped per till system

Which should you pick?

Choose Blacksmith if

  • You need bare metal runners.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want multiple os support.
Blacksmith review

Choose Envysion if

  • You need point of sale exception reporting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud video review.
Envysion review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Envysion better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Envysion at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Envysion?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and On request for Envysion.
Does Blacksmith or Envysion run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Envysion runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Envysion starts at On request.
What is Blacksmith best used for?
Blacksmith is most often used for replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure, accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load, reducing cloud spend on github actions by 60% or more, supporting arm architecture builds without github runners. Of those, replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure and accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load are not what Envysion is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Envysion cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Envysion covers Point of sale exception reporting, Cloud video review, Audio capture, Loss prevention case management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blacksmith: How much do Blacksmith runners cost compared to GitHub Actions?

Blacksmith offers 60-75% cost savings depending on OS. Ubuntu x64 costs $0.004/min vs GitHub at $0.012/min. All plans include 3,000 free minutes monthly.

Source
Envysion: Who owns Envysion?

Motorola Solutions. It sits in the same video security portfolio as Avigilon, Pelco and Openpath.

Blacksmith: Can I use Docker layer caching with Blacksmith?

Yes, Docker layer caching is available as an add-on at $0.50/GB/mo. Managed Docker layer persistence is included with the base service.

Source
Envysion: What makes it different from a cloud camera service?

The point of sale integration. Exception reports link a void, refund or discount directly to the clip of that transaction, which is what makes multi-site review practical.

Blacksmith: What is the SLA for Enterprise plans?

Enterprise Blacksmith plans include a 99.9% SLA guarantee along with 24/7 priority support, dedicated Slack channels, white-glove onboarding, and CI optimization support.

Source
Envysion: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted per site as a managed service, typically on a multi-year agreement.

Envysion: Will it work with my point of sale system?

Integration is built per POS platform, so confirm your specific system and version before buying, especially across acquired brands.

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