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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Jedox

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Jedox logo

Jedox

Business Intelligence

Excel-native planning and OLAP modelling for finance teams that refuse to leave spreadsheets

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit JedoxFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Blacksmith starts at $0.004/mo; Jedox prices on request.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only Jedox lists in-memory OLAP cube.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Jedox actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Jedox differ
AttributeBlacksmithJedox
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, Windows, Linux
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence

Not yet recorded: pricing model 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 Jedox

  • In-memory OLAP cube
  • Excel add-in
  • Web spreadsheet
  • Integrator ETL
  • Workflow and approvals
  • AIssisted planning
  • Financial consolidation
  • Report designer

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

Jedox

  • A manufacturer whose budget process is hundreds of Excel files emailed between plants and needs one governed cube without retraining plant controllersnot Blacksmith
  • A mid-market group doing statutory consolidation and management reporting on the same data instead of in two systemsnot Blacksmith
  • A finance team that priced IBM Planning Analytics, found it unaffordable, and still wants cube-based modellingnot Blacksmith
  • A retailer running driver-based sales and workforce plans that must reconcile to the financial budgetnot 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

Jedox

  • Cube modelling is a specialist skill closer to IBM TM1 than to a modern SaaS planning tool, so most customers depend on a partner or a single internal expert whose departure leaves the model unmaintainable
  • Almost every deployment carries a partner implementation fee that frequently matches or exceeds the first year of licence, and that cost never appears in the vendor comparison you are shown
  • The Excel add-in is the strongest client, which means Mac-based and browser-only users get a materially thinner experience than the Windows majority
  • Dashboards and visual analytics are weaker than dedicated BI tools, so organisations typically keep Power BI or Tableau alongside Jedox and pay for both
  • Insight Partners took a majority stake in 2021, and the pressure toward a cloud subscription base has meant self-managed customers see new capability later than cloud ones

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

Jedox

On request
  • JedoxOn request
    • Named user subscription, tiered by user count
    • Cloud or self-managed deployment
    • Modules priced separately for consolidation and add-ons

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 Jedox if

  • You need in-memory olap cube.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want excel add-in.
Jedox review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Jedox better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Jedox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Jedox?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and On request for Jedox.
Does Blacksmith or Jedox run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Jedox runs on Web, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Jedox 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 Jedox is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Jedox cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Jedox covers In-memory OLAP cube, Excel add-in, Web spreadsheet, Integrator ETL.

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
Jedox: Does Jedox publish pricing?

No. It is quoted per named user with tiering by volume, and modules such as consolidation are priced separately.

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
Jedox: Is Jedox a BI tool or a planning tool?

A planning tool with reporting attached. Organisations almost always keep a separate BI tool for visual analysis.

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
Jedox: Can it run on premises?

Yes, on Windows or Linux, though the vendor pushes cloud and self-managed customers receive features later.

Jedox: How does it compare to IBM Planning Analytics?

Similar cube architecture at a lower price point, with a friendlier web layer and a smaller partner ecosystem.

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