Celesto vs Depot
Keep GitHub Actions and spend 89% less per Linux runtime minute at matching CPU and RAM. Depot pairs its runners with a broader container-build platform and included usage on paid plans.
List rates before allowances and credits; checked November 1, 2026. Sources and assumptions
- Same 2 vCPU · 8 GB runner
- 9×more CI per dollar
- 89% less per minute · $0.00067 vs $0.006
- Monthly platform fee
- $0
- Celesto charges runtime from workspace credit. Depot Developer starts at $20/month with included usage.
- Dependency caching
- Included
- Celesto includes up to 25 GiB per paid repository; Depot bundles cache and registry storage with its plans.
Compare list runtime costs.
Pick a monthly runtime and a runner size.
List runtime costs before allowances, credits, plan fees, or add-ons, assuming equal runtime. The chart compares runtime list rates, not total subscriptions. Depot Developer costs $20/month and includes 2,000 base GitHub Actions runner minutes; Startup costs $200/month and includes 20,000. Larger runners consume included minutes with multipliers. Additional base Linux usage is $0.006/min. Celesto has a one-time $5 trial; preparation and cleanup also consume runtime. CPU and RAM match; processor models, disks, cache behavior, and job durations can differ. These are not predicted bills or measured job performance. Sources and checked date.
Lower is better
Celesto Memory2 vCPU · 8 GB$13.33
Depot2 vCPU · 8 GB$120
List-price difference before allowances: $107 per month.
Prices by runner size.
Published Depot Linux x64 sizes with an exact CPU and memory match in the Celesto catalog.
| Hardware | Celesto | Depot | CI per dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 vCPU · 8 GB | $0.00067/min | $0.006/min | 9×89% less |
| 4 vCPU · 16 GB | $0.0013/min | $0.012/min | 9×89% less |
| 8 vCPU · 32 GB | $0.0027/min | $0.024/min | 9×89% less |
Lower Linux runtime rates, without a monthly CI subscription.
A check marks whoever has the edge on that line.
| Feature | Celesto | Depot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| 2 vCPU · 8 GB, per minute | $0.000667(Celesto has the edge) | $0.006 additional usage |
| Monthly plan | No CI subscription(Celesto has the edge) | $20 Developer / $200 Startup, with included minutes |
| Included usage | $5 one-time trial credit | 2,000 / 20,000 base runner minutes per month on paid plans(Depot has the edge) |
| Workflows and compute | ||
| GitHub Actions | Change runs-on; results stay in GitHub | Change runs-on; results stay in GitHub |
| Linux x64 runner sizes | 1 to 8 vCPU | 2 to 64 vCPU(Depot has the edge) |
| Other platforms | Linux x64 | Linux ARM, Windows, macOS(Depot has the edge) |
| Docker builds | Docker Engine, Buildx and Compose on the runner | Runner Docker plus separately priced remote builders(Depot has the edge) |
| Caching | ||
| Dependency cache | Up to 25 GiB per paid repo, no separate charge | 25 GB Developer / 250 GB Startup shared cache and registry; extra storage $0.20/GB-month |
| Local disk at 2 vCPU | 40 GiB | 100 GB with a 2 GB memory-backed disk accelerator(Depot has the edge) |
Price
- 2 vCPU · 8 GB, per minute
- Celesto$0.000667 Has the edge
- Depot$0.006 additional usage
- Monthly plan
- CelestoNo CI subscription Has the edge
- Depot$20 Developer / $200 Startup, with included minutes
- Included usage
- Celesto$5 one-time trial credit
- Depot2,000 / 20,000 base runner minutes per month on paid plans Has the edge
Workflows and compute
- GitHub Actions
- CelestoChange runs-on; results stay in GitHub
- DepotChange runs-on; results stay in GitHub
- Linux x64 runner sizes
- Celesto1 to 8 vCPU
- Depot2 to 64 vCPU Has the edge
- Other platforms
- CelestoLinux x64
- DepotLinux ARM, Windows, macOS Has the edge
- Docker builds
- CelestoDocker Engine, Buildx and Compose on the runner
- DepotRunner Docker plus separately priced remote builders Has the edge
Caching
- Dependency cache
- CelestoUp to 25 GiB per paid repo, no separate charge
- Depot25 GB Developer / 250 GB Startup shared cache and registry; extra storage $0.20/GB-month
- Local disk at 2 vCPU
- Celesto40 GiB
- Depot100 GB with a 2 GB memory-backed disk accelerator Has the edge
Keep the workflows. Put more of your budget into running them.
Choose Celesto if
- 9× the Linux runtime per dollar at matched CPU and RAM, before allowances
- You want pay-as-you-go CI without a recurring platform subscription
- Most jobs are Linux x64 and fit within 8 vCPU and 32 GB RAM
- You want compatible actions/cache steps with no separate storage bill within repository limits
Stay on Depot if
- You use Depot's included minutes and other platform products together
- You need native ARM, Windows, macOS, or runners larger than 8 vCPU
- Remote Docker builders and their layer caches materially shorten your builds
- Your jobs need more local disk than Celesto's matched runner offers
Switch in one line.
Install the GitHub App, then swap the runner label. Keep compatible workflow steps and cache configuration; logs stay in GitHub Actions. Celesto stores caches separately, so expect an initial cache miss.
Runner label
1# Before
2runs-on: depot-ubuntu-24.04
3
4# After
5runs-on: [self-hosted, celesto-memory]Questions.
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.
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.
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.
Celesto's 2 vCPU, 8 GB runtime rate is $0.000667/min versus Depot's $0.006/min additional Linux usage rate: 89% less. Depot also charges a monthly plan with included runner minutes and other products. The runtime calculator excludes those plan fees and allowances, so use your total usage and actual job duration to compare bills.
We have not published a matched Celesto-versus-Depot benchmark. These are list-rate comparisons at equal CPU and memory allocations, not proof of equal CPU speed, disk performance, network throughput, or completed-job savings. Rerun representative workflows on both services.
Yes. GitHub chooses runners per job, so you can move compatible Linux jobs to Celesto while retaining Depot for other jobs. Depot's remote build integration and authentication still need their own configuration and billing.
Sources and assumptions
Depot pricing and capabilities checked November 1, 2026. Sources, including current Celesto CI documentation: Celesto CI dependency caching · Celesto CI Docker and services · Depot pricing and included usage · Depot runner sizes, labels and billing. Celesto prices come from the current runner catalog. Rates compare list prices, not measured job speed. Depot is a trademark of its owner; Celesto is not affiliated with it.