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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs GanttPRO

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
GanttPRO logo

GanttPRO

Project Management

Online Gantt chart software

From
$7/month
Free plan
No
Visit GanttPROFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Blacksmith has a free plan, then $0.004/mo; GanttPRO starts at $7/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only GanttPRO lists gantt charts.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where GanttPRO falls short: workload management, portfolios, reports and budget planning all require the Business plan at $17 per user per month.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and GanttPRO actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and GanttPRO differ
AttributeBlacksmithGanttPRO
Starting priceFree$7/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsProject Management

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Blacksmith, 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 GanttPRO

  • Gantt charts
  • Resource management
  • Time tracking
  • Dependencies
  • Export
  • Jira
  • Slack
  • Google Drive

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

GanttPRO

  • Building Gantt chart schedules with auto scheduling and dependenciesnot Blacksmith
  • Planning resources and budgets against a project timelinenot 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

GanttPRO

  • Workload management, portfolios, reports and budget planning all require the Business plan at $17 per user per month
  • SAML SSO, custom roles and API access are Enterprise only at $25 per user per month
  • The Enterprise plan carries a 5 user minimum and requires an annual subscription
  • Custom fields and calendar view are excluded from the entry Core plan
  • Every published rate assumes annual billing, which the vendor prices 20% below monthly

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

GanttPRO

$7/month
  • Core$7/mo
    • Annual billing (20% discount vs monthly)
    • Gantt charts, project calendar, auto scheduling
    • Unlimited virtual resources
  • Advanced$10/mo
    • Annual billing
    • Overdue tasks, custom fields and filters
    • Calendar exceptions, custom project templates
  • Business$17/mo
    • Annual billing
    • Workload management, portfolios and reports
    • Budget planning, time tracking
  • Enterprise$25/mo
    • Annual billing (normally $35, 20% discount applied)
    • Minimum 5 users required
    • SAML SSO, custom roles and rights

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 GanttPRO if

  • You need gantt charts.
  • You also want resource management.
GanttPRO review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or GanttPRO better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and GanttPRO at $7/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or GanttPRO?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and $7/month for GanttPRO.
Does Blacksmith or GanttPRO run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. GanttPRO runs on Web.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GanttPRO starts at $7/month.
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 GanttPRO is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that GanttPRO cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. GanttPRO covers Gantt charts, Resource management, Time tracking, Dependencies.

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
GanttPRO: What is GanttPRO's cheapest plan?

The Core plan starts at $7 per user per month with annual billing (20% discount vs monthly). It includes Gantt charts, project calendar, auto scheduling, and unlimited virtual resources.

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
GanttPRO: Does GanttPRO offer a free trial?

Yes, GanttPRO offers a 14-day free trial with full featured access and no credit card required. Large teams (20+ members) qualify for additional discounts, and nonprofits, students, and educators receive a 50% discount.

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
GanttPRO: What is included in GanttPRO's Enterprise plan?

The Enterprise plan ($25/user/month annual billing; minimum 5 users) includes SAML SSO, custom roles and rights, product training, resource conversion, unlimited storage, and all features from lower tiers. Monthly billing for Enterprise costs $35/user/month (regularly, before discount).

Source
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