Blacksmith CI vs Garden: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Blacksmith CI and Garden 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.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
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 to try before committing
- • Accelerates GitHub Actions by up to 2x and reduces costs by up to 75%.
- • Provides enhanced observability and debugging tools for CI pipelines.
Garden
Accelerate software development by eliminating CI/CD and security wait times with a universal acceleration layer.
Best for you if:
- • Accelerates software builds, tests, and CI/CD pipelines.
- • Utilizes distributed processing and shared caching for efficiency.
| At a Glance |  Blacksmith CI |  Garden |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Testing & QA | Testing & QA |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Blacksmith CI | Garden |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Testing & QACI/CD | Testing & QACI/CD |
How Blacksmith CI and Garden Compare
Blacksmith CI
Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.
Free tier available
Garden
Accelerate software development by eliminating CI/CD and security wait times with a universal acceleration layer.
Paid
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Blacksmith CI has a free tier. Garden is paid only.
Go with: Blacksmith CI
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has been rated yet.
Go with: Blacksmith CI
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Blacksmith CI
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Blacksmith CI is freemium. Garden is paid. Blacksmith CI lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are testing & qa tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Blacksmith CI
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Garden
The Bottom Line
Blacksmith CI is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blacksmith CI or Garden better?
Blacksmith CI scores high/100 in our evaluation. Blacksmith CI is freemium and Garden is paid.
What are Blacksmith CI and Garden used for?
Blacksmith CI: Run your GitHub Actions faster and more cost-effectively with enhanced observability.. Garden: Accelerate software development by eliminating CI/CD and security wait times with a universal acceleration layer..
What does Blacksmith CI cost vs Garden?
Blacksmith CI is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Garden is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.