Developer Tools · head to head
Blacksmith vs Microsoft Defender
Blacksmith
Developer Tools
2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Only Blacksmith has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Blacksmith | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $12/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS | Web |
| Category | Developer Tools | Cybersecurity |
Identical on both: 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 Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Blacksmith does not also cover.
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 Microsoft Defender
- Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot Microsoft Defender
- Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot Microsoft Defender
- Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Blacksmith
- Identity and access securitynot Blacksmith
- Email threat protectionnot Blacksmith
- SaaS application security monitoringnot 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
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
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
Microsoft Defender
$12/month- Microsoft Defender Suite$12/month
- Endpoint protection
- Identity threat detection
- Email security
- Microsoft 365 E5 with Defender$60/month
- Includes Defender Suite
- Microsoft Teams included
- Comprehensive security and compliance
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
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 Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Blacksmith on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Blacksmith or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Microsoft Defender at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Microsoft Defender?
- Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and $12/month for Microsoft Defender.
- Does Blacksmith or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- Can I use Blacksmith for free?
- Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/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 Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Blacksmith do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.
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.
SourceMicrosoft Defender: How much does Microsoft Defender Suite cost?
Microsoft Defender Suite costs $12/user/month (paid yearly), but requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing. It includes endpoint protection, identity threat detection, email security, and SaaS application monitoring.
SourceBlacksmith: 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.
SourceMicrosoft Defender: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on costs $2/user/month with annual commitment and includes a one-month free trial. Additional pay-as-you-go products include External Attack Surface Management, Cloud Security Posture Management, and Sentinel.
SourceBlacksmith: 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.
SourceMicrosoft Defender: Is Defender included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Yes, Microsoft Defender Suite is included in Microsoft 365 E5 at $60/user/month (paid yearly with Teams). Prices may vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring contact with Sales for customized quotes.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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