Blacksmith CI vs Buddy: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Blacksmith CI and Buddy comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Buddy wins this matchup. Pick Blacksmith CI if you need ci/cd.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Blacksmith CI
Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly faster CI/CD pipeline execution
- • You want substantial cost savings compared to GitHub runners
Buddy
CI/CD for web developers with visual pipelines
Best for you if:
- • You want visual CI/CD
- • You want easy to use
| At a Glance | Blacksmith CI | Buddy |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | CI/CD | DevOps |
Rating | - | 4.8/5G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 · SourceForge 5.0 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Increased cache storage needs |
Choose Blacksmith CI or Buddy?
Choose Blacksmith CI if
Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.
- You want significantly faster CI/CD pipeline execution
- You want substantial cost savings compared to GitHub runners
- Your work is ci/cd-shaped, not DevOps-shaped
Choose Buddy if
CI/CD for web developers with visual pipelines
- You want visual CI/CD
- You want easy to use
- Your work is DevOps-shaped, not ci/cd-shaped
| Feature | Blacksmith CI | Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.8/5 397 reviews |
| Categories | CI/CDDeveloper Tools | DevOpsWorkflow Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Blacksmith CI
Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.
Blacksmith CI's Pay-As-You-Go tier at $0.004 per minute, with 3K free minutes, is very fair and competitive, especially given the performance enhancements.
Strengths
- +Significantly faster CI/CD pipeline execution.
- +Substantial cost savings compared to GitHub runners.
- +Improved visibility and debugging capabilities for CI failures.
- +Easy to integrate as a drop-in replacement.
- +Free tier available for getting started.
Weaknesses
- -Specific advanced support features are add-ons or require Enterprise plan.
- -Currently focused on GitHub Actions, may not support other CI platforms.
Key features
Buddy
CI/CD for web developers with visual pipelines
Buddy's pricing is quite fair, especially for solo developers with the generous Free tier.
Watch out
Increased cache storage needs
Strengths
- +Visual CI/CD
- +Easy to use
- +Good for web projects
- +Fair pricing
- +Self-hosted option
Weaknesses
- -Less powerful than some alternatives
- -Smaller community
- -Limited integrations
- -Enterprise features limited
- -Documentation gaps
Key features
Pricing: Blacksmith CI vs Buddy
| Plan | Blacksmith CI | Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0.004 per min Pay-As-You-Go | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | Contact us Enterprise | $75 month Pro |
| Tier 3 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Blacksmith CI pricing and Buddy pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Blacksmith CI
Want the highest-rated option?
Buddy is rated 4.8/5. Blacksmith CI has no ratings yet.
Go with: Buddy
Value user reviews?
Blacksmith CI: no ratings yet. Buddy: 397 reviews (4.8/5).
Go with: Buddy
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Blacksmith CI is a ci/cd tool. Buddy is in DevOps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Buddy is rated 4.8/5; Blacksmith CI has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Buddy
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Blacksmith CI
- Better fit for ci/cd
The Bottom Line
Buddy wins this matchup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blacksmith CI or Buddy better?
Buddy is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Blacksmith CI and Buddy used for?
Blacksmith CI: Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.. Buddy: CI/CD for web developers with visual pipelines.
What does Blacksmith CI cost vs Buddy?
Blacksmith CI is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Buddy is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.