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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Pipefy

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Pipefy logo

Pipefy

Project Management

Workflow and process management, simplified

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PipefyFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Pipefy is free; Blacksmith starts at $0.004/mo.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where Pipefy falls short: business and Enterprise pricing not published; requires contacting sales for quotes.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Pipefy actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Pipefy differ
AttributeBlacksmithPipefy
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsProject Management

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

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 Pipefy

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

Pipefy

  • Process automation and workflow managementnot Blacksmith
  • Business process optimizationnot Blacksmith
  • Task and project managementnot Blacksmith
  • Database and form creationnot 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

Pipefy

  • Business and Enterprise pricing not published; requires contacting sales for quotes
  • SMB plan offers up to 90% discount but specific pricing not detailed
  • Free Starter tier has significant limitations: 5 processes, 10 users, 50 cards/month, 2GB storage

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

Pipefy

Free
  • StarterFree
    • No credit card required
    • Up to 5 processes
    • Up to 10 users
  • BusinessOn request
    • Unlimited processes and users
    • Marked as MOST POPULAR
    • API access
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • All Business features
    • Advanced security (SSO, 2FA)
    • White-label capability
  • SMB PlanOn request

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 Pipefy if

  • You want to start without paying.
Pipefy review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Pipefy better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Pipefy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Pipefy?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Pipefy at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Pipefy run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Pipefy runs on Web.
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 Pipefy is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Pipefy 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.

Source
Pipefy: Does Pipefy have a free plan?

Yes, Pipefy's Starter plan is free with no credit card required. It includes up to 5 processes, 10 users, and 50 cards/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
Pipefy: What are the limitations of Pipefy's free tier?

The free Starter tier is limited to 5 processes, 10 users, 50 cards/month, 500 database records, 2GB storage, 15 automation jobs/month, and 205 API calls/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
Pipefy: Does Pipefy offer SMB discounts?

Yes, Pipefy offers up to 90% discount on SMB packages for companies with 11-200 employees, with pricing available through contacting sales.

Source
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