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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs Bazel

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

Cloud-based builds and CI runs 55x faster with less cost

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bazel logo

Bazel

Developer Tools

Multi-language build system with fast, correct incremental builds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Depot developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development; Bazel steep learning curve for developers unfamiliar with build systems
  • They diverge on capability: Depot covers Depot CI, Bazel covers Fast incremental builds.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and Bazel actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and Bazel differ
AttributeDepotBazel
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsCloud, GitHub, CLIWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded2022Unknown

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 Depot

  • Depot CI
  • Container builds
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Build API
  • Depot Registry
  • Cross-platform builds
  • SSH debugging

Only in Bazel

  • Fast incremental builds
  • Multi-language support
  • Parallel execution
  • Dependency analysis
  • Starlark extensibility
  • Cross-platform support

Both cover

  • Distributed caching

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Depot

  • Accelerating Docker builds for container-based developmentnot Bazel
  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster infrastructurenot Bazel
  • Distributing cache across Monorepo buildsnot Bazel
  • Debugging failed CI builds interactively with SSHnot Bazel

Bazel

  • Building large monorepos with hundreds of interdependent projectsnot Depot
  • Multi-language projects requiring consistent build semanticsnot Depot
  • Organizations requiring reproducible builds and hermetic test executionnot Depot
  • Teams implementing distributed CI with shared build artifact cachingnot Depot

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Depot

  • Developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
  • Startup plan at $200/mo is expensive for smaller teams
  • Business plan requires custom pricing consultation
  • macOS M2 runners not available on Developer plan

Bazel

  • Steep learning curve for developers unfamiliar with build systems
  • Initial setup complexity; requires BUILD files and Bazel configuration
  • Verbose error messages can be difficult to debug for new users
  • Smaller community and fewer third-party integrations vs enterprise tools

Pricing, plan by plan

Depot

Free
  • Developer$20/month
    • 1 user
    • 500 Docker build minutes per month
    • 2,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Startup$200/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 5,000 Docker build minutes per month
    • 20,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Business$undefined/custom
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • Custom monthly compute

Bazel

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bazel review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Depot if

  • You need depot ci.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, GitHub, CLI.
  • You also want container builds.
Depot review

Choose Bazel if

  • You need fast incremental builds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want multi-language support.
Bazel review

Questions people ask

Is Depot or Bazel better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot starts at Free and Bazel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Depot or Bazel?
Depot starts at Free and Bazel at Free.
Does Depot or Bazel run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI. Bazel runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Depot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Depot best used for?
Depot is most often used for accelerating docker builds for container-based development, replacing github actions runners with faster infrastructure, distributing cache across monorepo builds, debugging failed ci builds interactively with ssh. Of those, accelerating docker builds for container-based development and replacing github actions runners with faster infrastructure are not what Bazel is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that Bazel cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Build API. Bazel covers Fast incremental builds, Multi-language support, Parallel execution, Dependency analysis. Both handle Distributed caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Depot: How much faster are Depot runners compared to GitHub Actions?

Depot runners offer 30% faster CPUs and 10x faster networking than standard GitHub-hosted runners, enabling builds to complete significantly faster.

Source
Bazel: Does Bazel support distributed builds across CI infrastructure?

Yes, Bazel supports distributed execution and remote caching, allowing build work to be distributed across multiple machines and CI agents.

Source
Depot: What is included in the Developer plan?

Developer plan ($20/month) includes 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Depot CI minutes, 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes, 25 GB storage, unlimited concurrency, and community support.

Source
Bazel: What languages can be built with Bazel?

Bazel has built-in support for Java, C++, Go, Python, and Android/iOS development, with additional language support available through custom rules and community extensions.

Source
Depot: Can I use Depot with my own AWS account?

Yes, Depot Managed allows deployment within customer AWS accounts. This is available to interested customers; contact sales for details.

Source
Bazel: Can I use Bazel for small projects or is it only for large monorepos?

While Bazel excels at handling large projects, it can be used for smaller codebases. However, the setup overhead may not be justified for very small or simple projects.

Source
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