Celesto vs CircleCI
Celesto gives GitHub Actions teams a low Linux runtime rate without converting compute into platform credits. CircleCI offers a broader CI platform, executor choices, and included monthly credits.
Install Celesto CIChecked November 1, 2026. Sources and assumptions
Run Linux jobs at a direct runtime rate in GitHub Actions
Celesto Standard is $0.0005/minute for 2 vCPU and 4 GB. CircleCI sells additional Performance credits at $15 per 25,000; its x86 Docker 2 CPU / 4 GB class uses 10 credits/minute, equivalent to $0.006/minute for purchased credits. Docker container resources are not equivalent to Celesto’s microVM hardware. CircleCI includes 30,000 monthly credits and five active users; extra users and some features consume additional credits. Compare total job costs after allowances and executor selection.
CircleCI uses credits by executor, with allowances and additional-user costs; executors are not interchangeable hardware. CPU count and memory alone do not establish equal hardware performance, network speed, or completed-job cost.
A low runtime rate for teams already building on GitHub.
| Feature | Celesto | CircleCI |
|---|---|---|
| Platform and billing | ||
| Billing unit | Runtime from $0.0005/minute at 2 vCPU / 4 GB | Credits vary by executor, user count, storage, and features |
| Workflow location | GitHub Actions workflows and logs | CircleCI pipelines and configuration |
| Executor choice | GitHub Actions on managed Linux x64 runners, up to 8 vCPU / 32 GB | Docker containers, Linux VMs, ARM, macOS, Windows, GPU, and self-hosted runners(CircleCI has the edge) |
| Included recurring usage | $5 one-time trial credit | 30,000 credits/month, subject to plan limits(CircleCI has the edge) |
Platform and billing
- Billing unit
- CelestoRuntime from $0.0005/minute at 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- CircleCICredits vary by executor, user count, storage, and features
- Workflow location
- CelestoGitHub Actions workflows and logs
- CircleCICircleCI pipelines and configuration
- Executor choice
- CelestoGitHub Actions on managed Linux x64 runners, up to 8 vCPU / 32 GB
- CircleCIDocker containers, Linux VMs, ARM, macOS, Windows, GPU, and self-hosted runners Has the edge
- Included recurring usage
- Celesto$5 one-time trial credit
- CircleCI30,000 credits/month, subject to plan limits Has the edge
Choose Celesto when
- You want to standardize on GitHub Actions
- You want a direct Linux runtime price with no per-active-user runner charge
- You can port CircleCI-specific jobs and caches
Choose CircleCI when
- Your pipelines rely on CircleCI-specific features and executor behavior
- Included credits cover your usage
- You need platforms or executor types Celesto does not support
Keep GitHub Actions. Move compatible Linux jobs.
Install Celesto’s GitHub App, link a workspace, and fund a paid runner size. This example selects Standard, 2 vCPU and 4 GB, at $0.0005/minute. Port provider-specific caches, custom images, or pipeline syntax before migrating. The Micro-only trial starts with $5 shared credit, expires after 30 days, and allows one retained sandbox at a time.
1jobs:
2 test:
3 runs-on: [self-hosted, celesto-standard]
4 steps:
5 - uses: actions/checkout@v4
6 - run: npm ci && npm testCelesto bills computer runtime including preparation and cleanup. Linux x64 only; a two-hour safety limit applies. Concurrency depends on workspace limits, credit, and capacity.
Questions before you switch
Is this a one-line runner switch?
For jobs already in GitHub Actions, install the Celesto GitHub App, finish workspace setup, and choose a supported Celesto runs-on label. Jobs defined in another CI platform need their pipeline configuration, secrets, caches, and integrations ported to GitHub Actions first. Celesto is a runner service, not a replacement for that platform’s entire feature set.
Are CircleCI credits the same as minutes?
No. Different resource classes consume different credits per minute, and users, Docker layer caching, storage, or network can consume credits too. The published paid credit conversion is $15 per 25,000 credits. Check your executor and included allowance before estimating cost.
How does CI dependency caching work?
Linux x64 jobs include actions/cache and setup-node/setup-python caching without changes to compatible cache steps. Cache storage has no separate charge. Default per-repository limits are 5 GiB on trial and promotional credit and 25 GiB on paid credit; caches expire after 7 idle days. CI runtime consumes workspace credit.
Which Docker workflows are supported?
Docker Engine, Buildx, and Compose are preinstalled. Docker builds, Compose workflows, and GitHub service containers are verified. Validate Docker actions and whole-job containers before migrating. Docker’s explicit --cpus flag failed the documented preflight.
Do Docker layers persist between CI jobs?
No. Each job starts fresh. Use registry caches or portable archives through actions/cache to reuse layers. Direct BuildKit type=gha,version=2 cache export failed the documented preflight.
Sources and assumptions
Pricing and capabilities checked November 1, 2026. No matched performance or network benchmark is claimed here. CircleCI is a trademark of its owner; Celesto is not affiliated with it.