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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs HTMX

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

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

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
HTMX logo

HTMX

Web Development

Lightweight JavaScript library enabling AJAX, WebSockets, and server-sent events in HTML

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; HTMX best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • They diverge on capability: Depot covers Depot CI, HTMX covers AJAX requests.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and HTMX actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and HTMX differ
AttributeDepotHTMX
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsCloud, GitHub, CLIWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development
Founded2022Unknown

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 Depot

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

Only in HTMX

  • AJAX requests
  • HTTP verb support
  • DOM targeting
  • Swap strategies
  • WebSocket support
  • Server-sent events
  • Out-of-band updates

What people use each for

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

Depot

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

HTMX

  • Building interactive applications without JavaScript framework complexitynot Depot
  • Server-rendered applications requiring dynamic updatesnot Depot
  • Adding interactivity to existing server-side applicationsnot Depot
  • Hypermedia-driven applications using HTML-first approachesnot 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

HTMX

  • Best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • Limited client-side state management capabilities compared to frameworks
  • Smaller ecosystem with fewer third-party libraries and tools
  • Learning curve for developers from JavaScript framework backgrounds

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

HTMX

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HTMX 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 HTMX if

  • You need ajax requests.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want http verb support.
HTMX review

Questions people ask

Is Depot or HTMX better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot starts at Free and HTMX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Depot or HTMX?
Depot starts at Free and HTMX at Free.
Does Depot or HTMX run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI. HTMX runs on Web.
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 HTMX is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that HTMX cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching. HTMX covers AJAX requests, HTTP verb support, DOM targeting, Swap strategies.

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
HTMX: How big is the HTMX JavaScript library?

HTMX is only 16 kilobytes minified and gzipped with zero external dependencies.

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
HTMX: Can HTMX work with JSON APIs?

While HTMX is optimized for HTML responses, it can work with JSON through additional configuration and response handling.

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
HTMX: Does HTMX support real-time features like WebSockets?

Yes, HTMX includes support for WebSockets and server-sent events for real-time bidirectional communication.

Source
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