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Software · head to head

GitHub Actions vs Thunder Client

GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Software

Automate your software workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thunder Client logo

Thunder Client

Software

Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension

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; Thunder Client paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub Actions and Thunder Client actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub Actions and Thunder Client differ
AttributeGitHub ActionsThunder Client
PlatformsWebVSCode extension, Web
Founded20082021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Thunder Client does not also cover.

Only in Thunder Client

  • REST Client
  • Environment variables
  • Response testing
  • VSCode
  • GitHub
  • Webhook support
  • VSCode extension support
  • Web support

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

Thunder Client

  • API Developmentnot GitHub Actions
  • API Gatewaynot GitHub Actions
  • API Testingnot GitHub Actions
  • API Documentationnot GitHub Actions
  • Microservicesnot 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

Thunder Client

  • Paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub Actions

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.

Thunder Client

Free
  • FreeFree
    • REST client
    • Collection management
    • Local testing
  • Pro$8/monthly
    • Cloud sync
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Choose Thunder Client if

  • You need rest client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on VSCode extension, Web.
  • You also want environment variables.
Thunder Client review

Questions people ask

Is GitHub Actions or Thunder Client better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub Actions starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub Actions or Thunder Client?
GitHub Actions starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
Does GitHub Actions or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
GitHub Actions runs on Web. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
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 Thunder Client is typically brought in for.
What can GitHub Actions do that Thunder Client cannot?
Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode.
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Related pages

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