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Blacksmith vs Keeper Password Manager

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Keeper Password Manager logo

Keeper Password Manager

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity starts here

From
Free
Free plan
Yes

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Keeper Password Manager free tier limited to 10 passwords on one device only
  • They diverge on capability: Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Keeper Password Manager covers Zero-knowledge security.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Keeper Password Manager actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Keeper Password Manager differ
AttributeBlacksmithKeeper Password Manager
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Keeper Password Manager

  • Zero-knowledge security
  • Password vault
  • BreachWatch dark web monitoring
  • Secure file storage
  • One-time share
  • Emergency access
  • Passkey support
  • Secrets Manager

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

Keeper Password Manager

  • Password Managernot Blacksmith
  • Secrets Managementnot Blacksmith
  • Privileged Accessnot 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

Keeper Password Manager

  • Free tier limited to 10 passwords on one device only
  • Personal and Family plans lack team collaboration features
  • Higher per-user cost for small teams compared to some competitors

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

Keeper Password Manager

Free
  • Personal$34.99/year
  • Family$74.99/year
  • Business Starter$2/user per month
  • Business$3.75/user per month

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.

Choose Keeper Password Manager if

  • You need zero-knowledge security.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want password vault.

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Keeper Password Manager better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Keeper Password Manager at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Keeper Password Manager?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Keeper Password Manager at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Keeper Password Manager run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Keeper Password Manager runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, 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 Keeper Password Manager is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Keeper Password Manager cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Keeper Password Manager covers Zero-knowledge security, Password vault, BreachWatch dark web monitoring, Secure file storage.

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
Keeper Password Manager: Does Keeper offer a free tier?

Keeper's free version stores only 10 passwords on a single mobile device with no cross-device sync and is effectively a trial.

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
Keeper Password Manager: What does Keeper Business cost?

Keeper Business Starter costs $2 per user per month for 5-10 users. Keeper Business costs $3.75 per user per month for unlimited users.

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
Keeper Password Manager: Does Keeper Enterprise include SSO?

Yes. Keeper Enterprise includes single sign-on capabilities along with compliance and reporting features at $6 per user per month.

Source
Keeper Password Manager: What security features does Keeper include?

Keeper uses zero-knowledge encryption where the company cannot access passwords, plus advanced features like privileged access management and session recording on Enterprise Plus.

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