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Blacksmith vs FastAPI

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
FastAPI logo

FastAPI

Web Development

A modern, fast, high-performance web framework for building APIs with Python

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; FastAPI no built-in ORM, requires separate database libraries
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and FastAPI actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and FastAPI differ
AttributeBlacksmithFastAPI
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 FastAPI

Nothing recorded that Blacksmith does not also cover.

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 FastAPI
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot FastAPI
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot FastAPI
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot FastAPI

FastAPI

  • Building production-ready REST APIs with automatic validationnot Blacksmith
  • Serving machine learning model predictions as REST servicesnot Blacksmith
  • Building crisis management and orchestration platformsnot Blacksmith
  • Enabling real-time APIs with WebSocket connectionsnot Blacksmith
  • Rapid API development reducing boilerplate code significantlynot 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

FastAPI

  • No built-in ORM, requires separate database libraries
  • Python-only, cannot build with other languages
  • Async/await learning curve for developers new to async programming
  • Production deployment requires separate ASGI server configuration

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

FastAPI

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FastAPI review.

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 FastAPI if

  • You want to start without paying.
FastAPI review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or FastAPI better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and FastAPI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or FastAPI?
Blacksmith starts at Free and FastAPI at Free.
Does Blacksmith or FastAPI run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. FastAPI runs on Web.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 FastAPI is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that FastAPI cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.

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
FastAPI: Is FastAPI free to use?

Yes. FastAPI is free and open-source under the MIT License. It costs nothing to download, use, or deploy in production. An optional paid service, FastAPI Cloud, offers one-command deployment for additional convenience, but the core framework is free.

Source
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
FastAPI: Can I use FastAPI for commercial applications?

Yes. FastAPI's MIT License permits unrestricted commercial use, modification, and distribution. You can build and sell products powered by FastAPI without licensing fees or restrictions.

Source
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
FastAPI: Does FastAPI include a database or ORM?

No. FastAPI does not include a built-in database or ORM. You must add separate libraries like SQLAlchemy for database access. This gives flexibility to choose the database solution best suited to your project.

Source
FastAPI: What Python versions does FastAPI support?

FastAPI supports Python 3.7 and later. Older Python versions are not compatible, so you must run at least Python 3.7 to use FastAPI.

Source
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