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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Framer

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Framer logo

Framer

Design

Design and publish stunning sites

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit FramerFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service; Framer is a web design tool.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $0.004/mo and $10/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only Framer lists visual design editor.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where Framer falls short: free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Framer actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Framer differ
AttributeBlacksmithFramer
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, macOS
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

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

Not yet recorded: founded for Blacksmith.

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 Framer

  • Visual design editor
  • Interactive components
  • Responsive design
  • CMS integration
  • SEO optimization
  • Custom code
  • Team collaboration
  • Version control

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

Framer

  • Marketing websitesnot Blacksmith
  • Landing pagesnot Blacksmith
  • Portfoliosnot Blacksmith
  • SaaS productsnot Blacksmith
  • E-commerce sitesnot 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

Framer

  • Free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth
  • CMS collections capped at 10 on Pro tier; unlimited only on Enterprise
  • Free tier does not include custom domain support
  • Paid editor slots cost extra at $20/month per additional editor

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

Framer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 credits
    • Free Framer domain
    • 1 GB bandwidth
  • Basic$10/mo
    • Custom domain
    • 2 CMS collections
    • 50 GB bandwidth
  • Pro$30/mo
    • All Basic features
    • 10 CMS collections
    • 100 GB bandwidth
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom limits
    • Unlimited editors
    • 99.99% uptime guarantee

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 Framer if

  • You need visual design editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS.
  • You also want interactive components.
Framer review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Framer better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Framer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Framer?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Framer at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Framer run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Framer runs on Web, macOS.
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 Framer is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Framer cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Framer covers Visual design editor, Interactive components, Responsive design, CMS integration.

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
Framer: What's included in Framer's free tier?

The Free plan provides 500 credits to try the platform, a free Framer domain, and 1 GB bandwidth for exploring the builder.

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
Framer: Can I use my own custom domain with Framer?

Custom domains are included in Basic ($10/month) and higher plans. Free tier is limited to a free Framer domain.

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
Framer: What AI features does Framer offer?

Framer includes an AI design agent that works on the canvas to generate and refine designs in real-time, plus a CMS agent for managing content directly on the canvas.

Source
Framer: How many CMS collections can I create on different plans?

Basic ($10/month) includes 2 CMS collections, Pro ($30/month) includes 10 CMS collections. Enterprise plans offer custom limits.

Source
Framer: Does Framer support staging environments and previews?

Staging environments and branching with previews are included on the Pro plan ($30/month). Standard plan includes published-only access.

Source
Framer: What uptime guarantee does Framer provide?

Framer offers 99.99% uptime guarantee on paid plans. Enterprise plans include dedicated support and custom SLAs.

Source
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