12 Best DevZero Alternatives for GitHub Actions in 2025

DevZero is built for teams deeply invested in Kubernetes, optimizing cluster costs while enabling GitHub Actions via Actions Runner Controller. That approach makes sense if CI is just one part of a broader Kubernetes strategy. But if your main goal is simply running GitHub Actions efficiently, the added cluster operators, CPU-based pricing, and operational overhead can feel unnecessary.

The better alternative depends on your priorities. Some teams want dedicated GitHub Actions runners with predictable pricing. Others prefer fully managed services with minimal infrastructure work. And many want CI solutions that do not require Kubernetes at all.

This guide covers 12 DevZero alternatives to help you choose a CI/CD setup that aligns with your workflow, budget, and operational tolerance.

What makes a good DevZero alternative?

DevZero excels at Kubernetes-wide cost optimization with GitHub Actions as one workload type. An alternative should provide focused CI/CD capabilities, simpler deployment models, or address DevZero's Kubernetes dependency while delivering the performance and cost control that makes optimization valuable.

12 Best DevZero Alternatives

DevZero requires Actions Runner Controller and cluster operators. Look for alternatives offering simpler deployment paths, whether through managed runners, self-hosted options, or platforms that work without Kubernetes infrastructure.

1. Depot

Depot delivers managed runners without Kubernetes complexity. The platform handles Linux, Windows, and macOS workloads through dedicated infrastructure optimized for GitHub Actions.

🌟 Key features

• Managed service eliminating Kubernetes requirements
• Native GitHub Actions integration via label changes
• Ultra Runners with memory-backed I/O acceleration
• Cross-platform coverage including macOS and Windows
• Integrated caching for workflows and Docker builds
• Per-second billing with transparent costs
• Self-hosting available for AWS environments

➕ Pros

• No Kubernetes operators or cluster management needed
• Simple migration preserving existing workflows
• Ultra Runners with provisioned I/O throughput
• Repository-scoped cache volumes
• Ephemeral VMs ensuring clean job state
• Optional egress filtering for security
• Native Docker registry integration

➖ Cons

• Managed service costs higher than cluster-based solutions
• macOS capacity can experience occasional constraints

💲 Pricing

Developer tier costs $20 monthly, including 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Actions minutes, and 25 GB cache storage for one user. Startup tier runs $200 monthly with unlimited users, 5,000 Docker minutes, 20,000 Actions minutes, and 250 GB cache, plus $0.004/min overage charges for Actions. Business tier provides dedicated infrastructure and custom runner pools.

2. BuildJet

BuildJet focuses on Linux runners with gaming-grade hardware. The straightforward managed service requires no Kubernetes knowledge or cluster infrastructure.

🌟 Key features

• Zero Kubernetes or infrastructure requirements
• Gaming-grade CPUs delivering strong performance
• Linux AMD and ARM architecture coverage
• Fully managed eliminating operational complexity
• 20 GB cache per repository
• Transparent per-minute billing
• Free tier with 3,000 minutes monthly

➕ Pros

• Approximately 2x performance versus GitHub runners
• Simple setup through runner label changes
• No infrastructure provisioning needed
• Instant scaling handling workload spikes
• Clear pricing without hidden costs
• Suitable free tier for smaller projects
• Strong single-core performance

➖ Cons

• Linux-only without macOS or Windows support
• Per-minute costs accumulate with heavy usage

💲 Pricing

Free tier includes 3,000 minutes monthly across all repositories. Paid usage bills per minute with rates starting around $0.004/min for standard configurations. Pricing scales with machine size and architecture. No base fees or subscription charges beyond actual minute consumption.

3. Ubicloud

Ubicloud provides managed runners on bare metal without requiring Kubernetes. The open-source platform delivers GitHub Actions integration at dramatically reduced costs.

🌟 Key features

• No Kubernetes infrastructure needed
• Bare metal providing 3-10x cost advantages
• Linux x64 and arm64 architectures
• Open-source control plane under AGPL v3
• German data centers for GDPR compliance
• $1 monthly credit for approximately 1,250 minutes
• Managed service simplifying operations

➕ Pros

• Extremely low pricing at $0.0008/min starting point
• Dedicated CPU, memory, and storage allocation
• GitHub Managed Runner Application integration
• Multiple German data centers for availability
• No cluster operators or Kubernetes knowledge required
• Open-source preventing vendor lock-in
• Self-hosting option available

➖ Cons

• Linux-exclusive platform without other operating systems
• German infrastructure may increase latency for distant teams

💲 Pricing

Per-minute billing at month's end. Linux x64 standard runners start at $0.0008/min for 2 vCPUs with 8 GB RAM, scaling to $0.0120/min for 30 vCPU configurations. Premium runners cost exactly double standard rates. Arm64 pricing matches standard x64 rates. Every account receives $1 monthly credit covering approximately 1,250 minutes on 2 vCPU runners.

4. RunsOn

RunsOn operates runners in your AWS account without Kubernetes involvement. EC2-based infrastructure provides multi-platform support through native AWS services.

🌟 Key features

• AWS EC2-based eliminating Kubernetes requirements
• Multi-platform supporting Linux, Windows, macOS, GPU
• Unlimited S3 caching without storage constraints
• Spot instance optimization for cost reduction
• CloudFormation deployment in approximately 10 minutes
• Integrated cost visibility and metrics
• Partly open source with full code access option

➕ Pros

• Complete GitHub Actions workflow compatibility
• Fresh ephemeral VMs per job
• S3 Magic Cache with unlimited capacity
• Static egress IPs through NAT configuration
• Can reduce costs up to 90% versus GitHub runners
• Strong Windows support via native EC2
• No Kubernetes cluster management

➖ Cons

• AWS-exclusive requiring platform familiarity
• More complex than fully managed alternatives

💲 Pricing

Commercial license runs €300 annually with unlimited job execution and email support. Sponsorship license costs €1,500 yearly, adding priority support, private Slack access, and full source code. AWS charges bill per second at spot pricing rates, typically delivering 7-17x cost reduction versus GitHub runners. Non-profit organizations can request free licensing.

5. Namespace

Namespace provides managed runners with developer-focused features. The platform works independently of Kubernetes while offering advanced debugging and caching capabilities.

🌟 Key features

• Managed infrastructure without Kubernetes dependencies
• Interactive debugging with breakpoints and remote access
• Cache Volumes for persistent local storage
• Multi-platform covering Linux, macOS, Windows
• Native build tool integrations (Bazel, Turborepo, Pants)
• Per-step observability with detailed metrics
• AMD EPYC, Ampere, and Apple M-series hardware

➕ Pros

• No cluster operators or Kubernetes knowledge needed
• SSH/VNC/RDP access for interactive debugging
• Container image acceleration through layer caching
• Git checkout caching for large repositories
• Crash and OOM detection with automatic dumps
• Runner profiles for OS and architecture configuration
• Granular metrics exceeding basic observability

➖ Cons

• VM credit pricing more complex than simple per-minute
• Couples compute and caching within single vendor

💲 Pricing

VM credits price at $0.015 each. Developer plan operates pay-as-you-go at roughly $0.0015/min in unit minutes with no base fee. Team plan costs $100 monthly, including 100,000 minutes and 1,000 Docker builds. Business plan runs $250 monthly with 250,000 minutes and 2,500 builds. Enterprise tier offers custom runner pools and very high concurrency limits.

6. Blacksmith

Blacksmith pairs bare metal performance with CI observability. The managed service operates without Kubernetes while adding analytics and debugging features.

🌟 Key features

• No Kubernetes infrastructure required
• Bare metal gaming CPUs for performance
• Colocated cache providing 4x faster access
• Centralized log search across executions
• Test-level analytics identifying bottlenecks
• Live SSH access for debugging
• Docker layer reuse acceleration

➕ Pros

• Approximately 2x performance versus GitHub runners
• Docker layer reuse for container builds
• Public image pull cache reducing registry load
• Run history with comprehensive filtering
• Test-level timing pinpointing slow tests
• CI analytics dashboards for visibility
• Migration wizard for straightforward onboarding

➖ Cons

• Linux-exclusive without other platforms
• Docker features require platform-specific actions

💲 Pricing

Usage-based pricing with 3,000 free minutes monthly. Base runner rate starts around $0.004/min for 2 vCPU x64 configurations, scaling up for larger machine shapes. Docker layer caching costs approximately $0.50/GB/month as an optional add-on. Enterprise tier adds white-glove onboarding, uptime SLA guarantees, and 24/7 support access.

7. Cirrus Runners

Cirrus Runners uses flat-rate pricing per concurrent runner. The service operates independently of Kubernetes while offering unlimited execution time.

🌟 Key features

• No Kubernetes cluster requirements
• Flat $150 monthly rate per concurrent runner
• Unlimited minutes once concurrency purchased
• macOS M4 Pro runners with GPU access
• Linux x86, arm64, and GPU configurations
• Performance approximately 2-3x faster than GitHub
• 10 GB cache per runner

➕ Pros

• Predictable costs regardless of usage volume
• macOS M4 Pro with 4 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, GPU
• Linux x86 providing 16 vCPUs and 48 GB RAM
• Linux arm64 with 8 vCPUs and 24 GB RAM
• Linux GPU featuring Nvidia GPU access
• Flexible resource classes via image suffixes
• Cirrus cache action for optimized operations

➖ Cons

• Flat pricing expensive for sporadic usage
• Cache storage limited to 10 GB per runner

💲 Pricing

Each concurrent runner costs $150 monthly with truly unlimited minute usage. All runner types carry the same flat rate. Annual commitment provides 15% discount. Nonprofit discount cuts pricing by 50% for qualifying non-revenue projects. Effective per-minute cost drops significantly with heavy usage, reaching approximately $0.003/min for high-volume teams.

8. GetMac

GetMac specializes in macOS runners using M4 Apple Silicon. The service works without Kubernetes while focusing exclusively on iOS and macOS development.

🌟 Key features

• Zero Kubernetes infrastructure needed
• M4 Apple Silicon for modern performance
• macOS VM debugging environments
• Pre-loaded development tools (Xcode, Fastlane, CocoaPods)
• VNC and SSH debugging access
• Plan-based pricing bundling minutes
• ISO-certified TIER III data centers

➕ Pros

• GitHub Actions and GitLab CI integration
• Contemporary management dashboard
• Ephemeral VMs ensuring clean state
• Standard GitHub Actions caching
• Owned hardware with physical security
• Fast VM launch in approximately 60 seconds
• Free tier with 100 minutes monthly

➖ Cons

• macOS-exclusive requiring separate Linux runners
• Manual VM sessions limited to 60 minutes

💲 Pricing

Plan-based pricing bundles compute minutes. Free tier provides 100 minutes at $0 monthly. Developer plan offers 1,000 minutes for $11.99. Team plan includes 3,000 minutes at $33.99. Business plan delivers 10,000 minutes for $110.99. Enterprise plan provides unlimited minutes with custom pricing.

9. Actuated

Actuated provides self-hosted runners using Firecracker microVMs. Teams supply bare metal hardware while avoiding Kubernetes cluster requirements.

🌟 Key features

• Self-hosted without Kubernetes dependencies
• Firecracker microVMs for job isolation
• Fixed concurrency pricing with unlimited minutes
• x86-64 and arm64 host support
• GPU support for ML workloads
• Managed control plane handling orchestration
• Multi-organization dashboard

➕ Pros

• No Kubernetes operators or cluster management
• Firecracker microVMs starting in 1-2 seconds
• Centrally maintained Ubuntu images
• Build queue visibility
• Historical insights spanning 120 days
• SSH debugging for live troubleshooting
• CLI for programmatic management

➖ Cons

• Requires providing and maintaining bare metal hosts
• Linux-exclusive without macOS or Windows

💲 Pricing

Basic plan costs $250 monthly, including 5 concurrent jobs, unmetered minutes, up to 1 VM host, single GitHub organization support, reports, SSH debugging, and Slack support during UK business hours. At 30,000 minutes monthly usage, this works out to approximately $0.008/min. Additional tiers available for 10, 15, 20, 35, and 50+ concurrent jobs.

10. Cirun

Cirun orchestrates self-hosted runners across cloud providers. The platform operates without Kubernetes while supporting AWS, GCP, Azure, and on-premise infrastructure.

🌟 Key features

• No Kubernetes cluster requirements
• Multi-cloud support spanning AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle
• Repository-level configuration via .cirun.yml
• One-line workflow modifications
• On-demand runner provisioning
• ARM and GPU instance support
• Free tier for open source

➕ Pros

• Multi-cloud flexibility across providers
• Infrastructure remains in your cloud accounts
• Preemptible and spot instance optimization
• Free for public open source repositories
• Direct cloud provider billing
• Lightweight integration requirements
• Strong ARM and GPU coverage

➖ Cons

• Private repository pricing scales with repo count
• Requires managing cloud accounts and networking

💲 Pricing

Open Source plan is free with unlimited public repositories, unlimited runners, and full ARM/GPU support across all clouds. Startup plan costs $29 monthly for up to 3 private repositories with Slack and email support. Business plan runs $79 monthly supporting up to 10 private repositories. Enterprise provides custom pricing for unlimited private repositories with premium support.

11. runmyjob.io

runmyjob.io (also called Puzl Cloud) implements load-based billing without Kubernetes complexity. The platform charges only for actual CPU and memory consumption during job execution.

🌟 Key features

• No Kubernetes infrastructure needed
• Load-based billing for CPU-seconds and memory-seconds
• Pay only during active processing
• KVM-based microVMs for isolation
• Resource limits reaching 48 vCPUs and 96 GB RAM
• EU-based infrastructure
• Declarative API for management

➕ Pros

• Load-based model eliminating idle capacity costs
• Strong per-job isolation through KVM
• Ephemeral filesystem defaulting to 150 GB
• Interactive Web Terminal for GitLab debugging
• Up to 48 vCPUs and 96 GB RAM per job
• Job cache on Business tier
• Complete GitHub Actions compatibility

➖ Cons

• Load-based billing requires understanding different model
• Currently Linux-only with Windows and ARM planned

💲 Pricing

Free plan at €0 monthly includes 1 integration, 10 concurrent jobs, up to 12 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM per job, 400 vCPU-minutes and 800 GB-minutes included monthly, then €0.00002 per vCPU-second and €0.000001 per GB-second beyond limits. Business plan costs €50 monthly with 3 integrations, unlimited concurrent jobs, 48 vCPUs and 96 GB RAM per job, 2,000 vCPU-minutes and 4,000 GB-minutes included.

12. Buildkite

Buildkite operates as a complete CI/CD platform without requiring Kubernetes. Teams can run self-hosted agents or use managed hosted agents for GitHub Actions workflows.

🌟 Key features

• Platform works without Kubernetes infrastructure
• Complete CI/CD beyond just runners
• Self-hosted agents or managed hosted options
• Test Engine for large test suites
• Advanced pipeline capabilities
• Native integration with multiple Git providers
• Enterprise security features (SSO, SCIM, audit logs)

➕ Pros

• No Kubernetes cluster operators required
• Full platform providing more CI/CD control
• Test Engine for suite optimization
• Package Registries for artifact management
• Insights including retry analysis and queue control
• Support for multiple Git providers
• User-based pricing model

➖ Cons

• Requires rewriting workflows to Buildkite pipeline syntax
• Platform pricing differs from simple runner models

💲 Pricing

Personal plan is free, including 3 concurrent jobs, 1 user, 50,000 test executions, 1 GB Package Registries storage, and 500 minutes Linux small. Pro plan costs $30 per user monthly with 10 self-hosted agents, unlimited test executions (then $0.10/managed test), 20 GB registries storage, 2,000 minutes Linux small, and SSO support. Enterprise provides custom pricing.

Final thoughts

DevZero is powerful for Kubernetes-wide cost optimization, but the cluster requirement adds unnecessary complexity for teams focused only on CI/CD.

If you want simplicity, managed services like Depot, BuildJet, and Ubicloud remove infrastructure management. For more control without Kubernetes, RunsOn, Cirun, and Actuated offer self-hosted options.

Many teams prefer dedicated GitHub Actions runners over cluster-based optimization. The right choice depends on whether you need Kubernetes-level control or a simpler CI-focused solution.