GitHub Actions Runner Cost Comparison by Size (2026)
The same job, the same vCPU - very different per-minute price. Here is the gap, size by size.
Runner cost scales with size, but not at the same rate across providers. This table compares GitHub-hosted Linux list prices with Latchkey managed runners at matching vCPU counts.
Per-minute price by size
| Runner size | GitHub-hosted | Latchkey | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 vCPU | $0.006/min | $0.0025/min | 60% |
| 4 vCPU | $0.012/min | $0.005/min | 60% |
| 8 vCPU | $0.022/min | $0.01/min | 55% |
What 20,000 minutes/month costs
| Runner size | GitHub-hosted | Latchkey (incl. free min) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 vCPU | $160/mo | $45/mo |
| 4 vCPU | $320/mo | $90/mo |
| 8 vCPU | $640/mo | $180/mo |
Key takeaways
- Latchkey is 55-60% cheaper per minute at matching vCPU, against GitHub current published rates.
- The gap widens as you scale to larger runners.
- Self-healing removes the re-run minutes you would otherwise pay twice.
Frequently asked questions
GitHub Actions Runner Cost Comparison by Size (2026)?
Runner cost scales with size, but not at the same rate across providers. This table compares GitHub-hosted Linux list prices with Latchkey managed runners at matching vCPU counts.
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