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Testing · head to head

GitHub Actions vs Keil MDK

GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Testing

Automate your software workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Keil MDK logo

Keil MDK

Developer Tools

Microcontroller Development Kit for Arm-based devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GitHub Actions private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed; Keil MDK pricing for Essential and Professional subscriptions not disclosed on primary site

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub Actions and Keil MDK actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub Actions and Keil MDK differ
AttributeGitHub ActionsKeil MDK
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
CategoryTestingDeveloper Tools
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What people use each for

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

GitHub Actions

  • Running CI builds and tests on pushes and pull requestsnot Keil MDK
  • Automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repositorynot Keil MDK
  • Scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automationnot Keil MDK

Keil MDK

  • Embedded software developmentnot GitHub Actions
  • ARM microcontroller programmingnot GitHub Actions
  • Professional development environmentsnot GitHub Actions

Where each one falls short

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

GitHub Actions

  • Private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed
  • Artifact storage is only 500 MB on GitHub Free and 2 GB on Team, and it is shared with GitHub Packages storage
  • Larger runners are always charged for, even on public repositories and even when plan quota remains
  • Windows runners cost $0.010 per minute against $0.006 for a 2-core Linux runner, so the same workflow costs more per platform
  • macOS runners are charged at a higher per-minute rate than Linux runners
  • Failed runs consume minutes, so a job that fails after 5 minutes and is re-run for 10 uses 15 minutes of quota
  • Storage is billed on hourly accrual in GB-Hours, so deleting artifacts stops future charges but does not remove charges already accrued in the cycle
  • Cache storage is a separate 10 GB per repository allowance and peak hourly usage above it is charged
  • Minutes are charged to the repository owner, not the person who triggered the run, and anyone with write access can trigger runs
  • Without a valid payment method on file, workflows are blocked as soon as the quota is exhausted

Keil MDK

  • Pricing for Essential and Professional subscriptions not disclosed on primary site
  • Customers must contact Arm Developer Tools store for subscription rates

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub Actions

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2,000 CI/CD minutes per month
    • Free for public repositories
  • Team$4/month
    • 3,000 CI/CD minutes per month
    • Free for public repositories
    • First 12 months at promotional rate
  • Enterprise$21/month
    • 50,000 CI/CD minutes per month
    • Free for public repositories
    • First 12 months at promotional rate

Keil MDK

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Keil MDK review.

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Choose Keil MDK if

  • You want to start without paying.
Keil MDK review

Questions people ask

Is GitHub Actions or Keil MDK better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub Actions starts at Free and Keil MDK at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub Actions or Keil MDK?
GitHub Actions starts at Free and Keil MDK at Free.
Does GitHub Actions or Keil MDK run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use GitHub Actions for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GitHub Actions best used for?
GitHub Actions is most often used for running ci builds and tests on pushes and pull requests, automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repository, scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automation. Of those, running ci builds and tests on pushes and pull requests and automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repository are not what Keil MDK is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GitHub Actions: How much does GitHub Actions cost?

GitHub Actions is free for public repositories. For private repositories, the Team plan costs $4 per user per month (first 12 months) with 3,000 CI/CD minutes, and the Enterprise plan costs $21 per user per month (first 12 months) with 50,000 CI/CD minutes.

Source
Keil MDK: Does Keil MDK have a free version?

Yes, Keil MDK Community Edition is free for non-commercial projects. Essential and Professional editions are available as monthly or annual subscriptions.

Source
GitHub Actions: Is there a free version of GitHub Actions?

Yes, GitHub Actions is free for all public repositories. The Free plan for private repositories includes 2,000 CI/CD minutes per month. All tiers include free CI/CD minutes for public repository workflows.

Source
Keil MDK: How much do Keil MDK paid editions cost?

Specific pricing for Essential and Professional editions is not published on the main site. Rates are available from the Arm Developer Tools store or by contacting Arm sales.

Source
GitHub Actions: What does the Team plan add to GitHub Actions?

The Team plan provides 3,000 CI/CD minutes per month compared to 2,000 on the Free plan. It costs $4 per user per month for the first 12 months. Minutes apply only to private repository workflows.

Source
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