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Blacksmith vs MeisterTask

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
MeisterTask logo

MeisterTask

Project Management

Project and task management tool

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit MeisterTaskFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service; MeisterTask is a beautiful, intuitive project and task management tool.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $0.004/mo and $12.5/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only MeisterTask lists kanban boards.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where MeisterTask falls short: the free plan is limited to 3 projects, 5 notes and 20 AI credits.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and MeisterTask actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and MeisterTask differ
AttributeBlacksmithMeisterTask
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsProject Management

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

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 MeisterTask

  • Kanban boards
  • Automations
  • Time tracking
  • Checklists
  • Attachments
  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Zendesk

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

MeisterTask

  • Kanban task and project management for small teamsnot Blacksmith
  • Tracking work across projects with automations and time trackingnot 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

MeisterTask

  • The free plan is limited to 3 projects, 5 notes and 20 AI credits
  • Recurring tasks and automations are excluded from the free plan entirely
  • Timeline views, subtasks, custom fields and custom reports require the Business plan at $24 per user per month
  • Subtasks being a Business feature means task breakdown is unavailable on the $12.50 Pro plan
  • SSO, workload planning and portfolios are Enterprise only with no published price

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

MeisterTask

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 3 projects
    • Up to 5 notes
    • 5 Content Manager seats
  • Pro$12.5/mo
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited notes
    • 75 AI credits
  • Business$24/mo
    • All Pro features
    • Timeline views
    • Subtasks
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • All Business features
    • Workload planner
    • Portfolios

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 MeisterTask if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automations.
MeisterTask review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or MeisterTask better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and MeisterTask at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or MeisterTask?
Blacksmith starts at Free and MeisterTask at Free.
Does Blacksmith or MeisterTask run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. MeisterTask runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 MeisterTask is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that MeisterTask cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. MeisterTask covers Kanban boards, Automations, Time tracking, Checklists.

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
MeisterTask: How much does MeisterTask cost for small teams?

MeisterTask Pro plan costs $12.50 per user per month (with annual savings up to 22%) and includes unlimited projects, notes, external sharing, advanced search, and 75 AI credits per month.

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
MeisterTask: Is there a free version of MeisterTask?

Yes, MeisterTask offers a free tier with no expiration. The free plan includes up to 3 projects, up to 5 notes, 5 Content Manager seats, and 20 Meister AI credits per month.

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
MeisterTask: What payment methods does MeisterTask accept?

MeisterTask accepts both credit card and PayPal payments. All prices exclude VAT and the exact cost varies by region.

Source
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