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Blacksmith vs Rust

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rust logo

Rust

Developer Tools

A language empowering everyone to build reliable and efficient software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Rust compile times significantly longer than languages like Go or C
  • They diverge on capability: Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Rust covers Memory safety.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Rust actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Rust differ
AttributeBlacksmithRust
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWindows, Linux, macOS
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Developer Tools).

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 Rust

  • Memory safety
  • Zero-cost abstractions
  • Ownership system
  • Pattern matching
  • Type inference
  • Cargo package manager
  • Cross compilation
  • Fearless concurrency

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

Rust

  • Systems programming and operating system developmentnot Blacksmith
  • Performance-critical applicationsnot Blacksmith
  • Embedded systems and firmwarenot Blacksmith
  • Network services and concurrent applicationsnot 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

Rust

  • Compile times significantly longer than languages like Go or C
  • Smaller ecosystem of libraries and frameworks compared to Python or JavaScript
  • Community still smaller than mainstream languages, reducing available third-party resources

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

Rust

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Rust review.

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 Rust if

  • You need memory safety.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS.
  • You also want zero-cost abstractions.
Rust review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Rust better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Rust at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Rust?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Rust at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Rust run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Rust runs on Windows, Linux, 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 Rust is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Rust cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Rust covers Memory safety, Zero-cost abstractions, Ownership system, Pattern matching.

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
Rust: Is Rust free?

Yes, Rust is free and open-source. The Rust Foundation provides institutional support for this community-driven project, and there are no costs associated with using the programming language.

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
Rust: What license does Rust use?

Rust is open-source and operated under an open-source license. Full license details are available in the policies section of the Rust website.

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
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