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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs Turbopack

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

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

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Turbopack logo

Turbopack

Web Development

Incremental bundler for JavaScript written in Rust

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; Turbopack effectively coupled to Next.js; using it standalone is not the supported path
  • They diverge on capability: Depot covers Depot CI, Turbopack covers Incremental computation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and Turbopack actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and Turbopack differ
AttributeDepotTurbopack
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsCloud, GitHub, CLILinux, macOS, Windows
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 Turbopack

  • Incremental computation
  • Written in Rust
  • Next.js integration
  • Fast refresh

What people use each for

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

Depot

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

Turbopack

  • Large Next.js applications where rebuild time is the daily costnot Depot
  • Teams already on Vercel’s stack wanting faster local feedbacknot Depot
  • Migrating off webpack within Next.js without changing frameworksnot 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

Turbopack

  • Effectively coupled to Next.js; using it standalone is not the supported path
  • Younger than the alternatives, and ecosystem plugin support is narrower than webpack’s
  • Benchmark claims have been contested publicly, so measure on your own project rather than trusting headline numbers
  • Being Vercel-driven ties its roadmap to one company’s framework priorities

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

Turbopack

Free
  • TurbopackFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

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 Turbopack if

  • You need incremental computation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want written in rust.
Turbopack review

Questions people ask

Is Depot or Turbopack better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot starts at Free and Turbopack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Depot or Turbopack?
Depot starts at Free and Turbopack at Free.
Does Depot or Turbopack run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI. Turbopack runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 Turbopack is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that Turbopack cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching. Turbopack covers Incremental computation, Written in Rust, Next.js integration, Fast refresh.

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
Turbopack: Is Turbopack free?

Yes, open source from Vercel.

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
Turbopack: Can I use Turbopack without Next.js?

Not really. It is developed as the Next.js bundler, and standalone use is not the supported path.

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
Turbopack: Is Turbopack faster than Vite?

It depends on the project, and published comparisons have been disputed by both sides. Measure on your own codebase rather than relying on headline figures.

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