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Software · head to head

GitHub Actions vs Strapi

GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Software

Automate your software workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strapi logo

Strapi

Software

Headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

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; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub Actions and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub Actions and Strapi differ
AttributeGitHub ActionsStrapi
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWebNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
Founded20082015

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

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 GitHub Actions

Nothing recorded that Strapi does not also cover.

Only in Strapi

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Content management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • AWS
  • Webhooks

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 Strapi
  • Automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repositorynot Strapi
  • Scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automationnot Strapi

Strapi

  • Running a self hosted headless CMS with a REST or GraphQL APInot GitHub Actions
  • Giving editors a content admin panel over a custom content modelnot 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

Strapi

  • Cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • Starter at $35 a month allows 100,000 API requests, and overage is $1.50 per 25,000
  • Extra bandwidth is $30 per 100 GB and extra asset storage $0.60 per GB
  • Backups start at the Pro plan, weekly, and only become daily at Business
  • An uptime SLA is Business only, at $450 a month per project
  • Additional environments cost $60 a month on Pro and $300 a month on Business

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub Actions

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.

Strapi

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Self-hosted Strapi
    • Community support
  • Pro$99/monthly
    • Cloud hosting
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
  • Business$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Choose Strapi if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want graphql api.
Strapi review

Questions people ask

Is GitHub Actions or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub Actions starts at Free and Strapi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub Actions or Strapi?
GitHub Actions starts at Free and Strapi at Free.
Does GitHub Actions or Strapi run on more platforms?
GitHub Actions runs on Web. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
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 Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can GitHub Actions do that Strapi cannot?
Strapi covers REST API, GraphQL API, Content management, PostgreSQL.
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Related pages

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