What Is a Self-Hosted Runner?
A self-hosted runner is a machine you own and operate that connects to a CI service to execute jobs, instead of relying on the provider's hosted runners. You control its hardware, OS, installed tools, and network placement. The trade-off is that you also own patching, scaling, security, and cleanup.
Why it matters
Self-hosting suits teams that need special hardware, larger machines, private-network access, or lower per-minute cost at scale. The hidden cost is operational: keeping runners patched, autoscaled, and isolated between jobs is real work, which is why managed runner platforms exist to provide that control without the upkeep.
Related concepts
- Contrasted with provider-hosted and managed runners
- You own scaling, security, and isolation
- Should be ephemeral to stay secure
Related guides
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