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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Vitest

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vitest logo

Vitest

Testing

Fast unit test framework powered by Vite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Vitest assumes Vite: projects on webpack or other bundlers lose the main advantage
  • They diverge on capability: Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Vitest covers Shares Vite config.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Vitest actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Vitest differ
AttributeBlacksmithVitest
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTesting

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Vitest

  • Shares Vite config
  • Jest-compatible API
  • Fast watch mode
  • ESM and TypeScript native

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

Vitest

  • Unit testing an application already built with Vite, without a second build confignot Blacksmith
  • Migrating from Jest for faster watch-mode feedbacknot Blacksmith
  • Testing TypeScript and ESM code without transform configurationnot 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

Vitest

  • Assumes Vite: projects on webpack or other bundlers lose the main advantage
  • Younger than Jest, so some plugins and matchers in the Jest ecosystem have no equivalent
  • Jest compatibility is close but not exact, and unusual Jest configurations still need work to port

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

Vitest

Free
  • VitestFree
    • Full functionality
    • Unlimited tests
    • Community support

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 Vitest if

  • You need shares vite config.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want jest-compatible api.
Vitest review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Vitest better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Vitest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Vitest?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Vitest at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Vitest run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Vitest runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 Vitest is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Vitest cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Vitest covers Shares Vite config, Jest-compatible API, Fast watch mode, ESM and TypeScript native.

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
Vitest: Is Vitest free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

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
Vitest: Is Vitest compatible with Jest?

The API is deliberately Jest-compatible and most migrations are mechanical, though unusual configurations and some ecosystem plugins need attention.

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
Vitest: Do I need Vite to use Vitest?

It works without a Vite app but the main benefit — sharing one config and transform pipeline — only applies if you are already using Vite.

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