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Blacksmith vs Glassbox

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Glassbox logo

Glassbox

Business Intelligence

Digital experience intelligence

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit GlassboxFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service; Glassbox is a digital experience intelligence platform.
  • Glassbox is free; Blacksmith starts at $0.004/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only Glassbox lists session Replay.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where Glassbox falls short: no fixed pricing tiers published; custom quotes required based on package, data retention, and session volume.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Glassbox actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Glassbox differ
AttributeBlacksmithGlassbox
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android, Hybrid
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence

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 Glassbox

  • Session Replay
  • Struggle Detection
  • Journey Mapping
  • AI Insights
  • Voice of Customer
  • Adobe Analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • Salesforce

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

Glassbox

  • User experience analysisnot Blacksmith
  • Bug reproductionnot Blacksmith
  • Conversion optimizationnot Blacksmith
  • Customer journey mappingnot Blacksmith
  • Usability testingnot 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

Glassbox

  • No fixed pricing tiers published; custom quotes required based on package, data retention, and session volume

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

Glassbox

On request
  • CustomFree
    • Full Platform
    • Mobile Analytics
    • Enterprise Support

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 Glassbox if

  • You need session replay.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Hybrid.
  • You also want struggle detection.
Glassbox review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Glassbox better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Glassbox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Glassbox?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and On request for Glassbox.
Does Blacksmith or Glassbox run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Glassbox runs on Web, iOS, Android, Hybrid.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Glassbox 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 Glassbox is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Glassbox cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Glassbox covers Session Replay, Struggle Detection, Journey Mapping, AI Insights.

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
Glassbox: How much does Glassbox cost?

Glassbox uses custom pricing based on three factors: the selected package (Production Operation, Marketing/Business, or Product), data retention period, and session volume. The vendor encourages contacting sales to build customized packages.

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
Glassbox: Does Glassbox offer add-ons for specific industries?

Yes, Glassbox offers specialized add-on solutions including fraud prevention, accessibility features, and call center solutions tailored for financial organizations.

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
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