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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs Vitest

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

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

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: Depot developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development; Vitest assumes Vite: projects on webpack or other bundlers lose the main advantage
  • They diverge on capability: Depot covers Depot CI, Vitest covers Shares Vite config.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and Vitest actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and Vitest differ
AttributeDepotVitest
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsCloud, GitHub, CLILinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTesting
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 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.

Depot

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

Vitest

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

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

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

Vitest

Free
  • VitestFree
    • Full functionality
    • Unlimited tests
    • 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 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 Depot or Vitest better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot 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, Depot or Vitest?
Depot starts at Free and Vitest at Free.
Does Depot or Vitest run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI. Vitest 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 Vitest is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that Vitest cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching. Vitest covers Shares Vite config, Jest-compatible API, Fast watch mode, ESM and TypeScript native.

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
Vitest: Is Vitest free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

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
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.

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
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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Related pages

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