Depot vs Earthly: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Depot and Earthly side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Depot
Accelerate Docker image builds and GitHub Actions workflows with powerful remote compute and caching.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly reduces Docker build times (up to 55x faster reported)
Earthly
Automate engineering standards enforcement across every tool, team, and deployment.
Best for you if:
- • You want ensures consistent application of engineering standards and compliance automatically
| At a Glance | Depot | Earthly |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $20/mo, billed monthly Developer plan | Not published |
Category | Developer Tools CI/CD | Security DevOps |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Overage fees for exceeding included minutes/storage | n/a |
Choose Depot or Earthly?
Choose Depot if
- You want significantly reduces Docker build times (up to 55x faster reported)
- You want offers faster and potentially cheaper GitHub Actions runners than native GitHub options
- You work in developer tools, not security
Choose Earthly if
- You want ensures consistent application of engineering standards and compliance automatically
- You want significantly reduces build times and improves build reliability
- You work in security, not developer tools
In-Depth Analysis
Depot
Accelerate Docker image builds and GitHub Actions workflows with powerful remote compute and caching.
Depot's pricing is fair for individual developers and small startups, offering a clear path for growth.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding included minutes/storage
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly reduces Docker build times (up to 55x faster reported)
- Pro: Offers faster and potentially cheaper GitHub Actions runners than native GitHub options
- Pro: Provides robust distributed caching for various build systems, making builds incremental
- Pro: Supports native Intel and Arm architectures, avoiding emulation overhead
- Pro: Easy integration with existing CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing for additional usage beyond included minutes can add up for larger teams
- Con: Advanced features like GPU builds and dedicated infrastructure are only available on the custom Business plan
Key features
Earthly
Automate engineering standards enforcement across every tool, team, and deployment.
Strengths
- Pro: Ensures consistent application of engineering standards and compliance automatically.
- Pro: Significantly reduces build times and improves build reliability.
- Pro: Provides clear visibility into standards adherence across the organization.
- Pro: Integrates seamlessly with existing CI/CD tools and complements policy tools like OPA.
- Pro: Empowers developers with instant feedback and proactive guidance, reducing last-minute blockers.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires initial setup to define and codify standards.
- Con: The learning curve for Earthfiles syntax, though familiar, might exist for new users.
Key features
Plans and prices: Depot vs Earthly
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Depot |
| depot.dev/pricing read Oct 25, 2026 |
| Earthly | No plan prices on file | earthly.dev/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Depot pricing and Earthly pricing.
Key Takeaways
Depot
- Choose if you want accelerate Docker image builds and GitHub Actions workflows with powerful remote compute and caching
Earthly
- Choose if you want automate engineering standards enforcement across every tool, team, and deployment
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Depot starts at $20/mo, billed monthly; Earthly has no public paid plan price on file.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Depot and Earthly compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Depot starts at $20/mo, billed monthly; Earthly has no public paid plan price on file.
What are Depot and Earthly used for?
Depot: Accelerate Docker image builds and GitHub Actions workflows with powerful remote compute and caching. Earthly: Automate engineering standards enforcement across every tool, team, and deployment.
What does Depot cost vs Earthly?
Depot's cheapest paid plan is Developer at $20/mo, billed monthly. Earthly has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 25, 2026.
What's the main difference between Depot and Earthly?
Depot's main strength: significantly reduces Docker build times (up to 55x faster reported). Earthly's main strength: ensures consistent application of engineering standards and compliance automatically.