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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs Google Chrome

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

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

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Google Chrome logo

Google Chrome

Technology

Google's browser, built on Chromium, with the largest market share and the strictest limits on what extensions may do.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Depot developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development; Google Chrome manifest V3 replaced blocking webRequest with declarativeNetRequest, which imposes hard caps on the number of filtering rules an extension can apply, so uBlock Origin does not run on Chrome and its Lite version blocks measurably less; if content blocking matters to your users, this is not a setting you can change.
  • They diverge on capability: Depot covers Depot CI, Google Chrome covers Chrome Browser Cloud Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and Google Chrome actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and Google Chrome differ
AttributeDepotGoogle Chrome
PlatformsCloud, GitHub, CLIWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTechnology
Founded20222008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Depot

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

Only in Google Chrome

  • Chrome Browser Cloud Management
  • Several hundred policies
  • Site isolation
  • Safe Browsing
  • Profiles
  • DevTools
  • Extended Stable channel
  • Chrome Web Store

What people use each for

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

Depot

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

Google Chrome

  • Enterprise fleets that need centrally managed browser policy and version reporting at no licensing costnot Depot
  • Web development, where Chrome's DevTools and Lighthouse are the reference tooling and where most users will benot Depot
  • Running enterprise SaaS applications certified only against Chrome, which is common in HR, finance and healthcare softwarenot Depot
  • Environments already using Google Workspace, where profile sign-in, sync and context-aware access are already in placenot 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

Google Chrome

  • Manifest V3 replaced blocking webRequest with declarativeNetRequest, which imposes hard caps on the number of filtering rules an extension can apply, so uBlock Origin does not run on Chrome and its Lite version blocks measurably less; if content blocking matters to your users, this is not a setting you can change.
  • The browser is the entry point to Google's account, search and advertising business, and the defaults, prompts and sign-in flows all pull towards a Google account; running it fully detached is possible but requires policy and ongoing attention as new prompts are added.
  • Site isolation runs a process per site, which is correct security design and expensive in memory; on machines with 8 GB and users who keep dozens of tabs open it produces genuine slowdowns and support tickets that no configuration removes.
  • The four-week release cadence means a new major version roughly every month, and even Extended Stable delivers one every eight weeks, so any environment that formally certifies browser versions is permanently behind or permanently re-certifying.
  • Because it ships features first and holds the majority of the market, a team that tests only in Chrome builds against Chrome-specific behaviour and finds out about Safari and Firefox breakage from users rather than from CI.
  • Google has reversed direction on Privacy Sandbox repeatedly, announcing third-party cookie deprecation, delaying it several times and then abandoning it in 2025 before retiring several of the replacement APIs, so any advertising or measurement plan built on Chrome's stated roadmap has had to be rebuilt more than once.

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

Google Chrome

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Chrome 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 Google Chrome if

  • You need chrome browser cloud management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want several hundred policies.
Google Chrome review

Questions people ask

Is Depot or Google Chrome better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot starts at Free and Google Chrome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Depot or Google Chrome?
Depot starts at Free and Google Chrome at Free.
Does Depot or Google Chrome run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI. Google Chrome runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
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 Google Chrome is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that Google Chrome cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching. Google Chrome covers Chrome Browser Cloud Management, Several hundred policies, Site isolation, Safe Browsing.

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
Google Chrome: Why does uBlock Origin no longer work?

Chrome's Manifest V3 removed the blocking webRequest API that it depends on and replaced it with declarativeNetRequest, which limits how many rules an extension may register. uBlock Origin Lite works within those limits and blocks less. Firefox retains the original API.

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
Google Chrome: Is Chrome the same as Chromium?

No. Chrome is Chromium plus Google's proprietary additions: certain media codecs, Google account sync, Safe Browsing integration and usage reporting. Chromium builds omit those, which is why some sites' video playback and sign-in behaviour differ.

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
Google Chrome: What does enterprise management cost?

Nothing. Chrome Browser Cloud Management, the administrative policy templates and Extended Stable are all free. This is unusual and is a genuine reason organisations standardise on it.

Google Chrome: How often does it update?

A major version every four weeks on the stable channel, with security updates in between, and every eight weeks on the Extended Stable channel intended for managed fleets.

Google Chrome: Is Chrome on iPhone actually Chrome?

No. Apple's platform rules mean it runs on WebKit, so on iOS you get Chrome's interface, sync and account integration on top of Safari's engine, not Blink.

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