As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories… Our stored GitHub Actions terms are superseded and withheld. See the recorded change history.
Why caution:discovered 2026-09-02 · effective date unknown — The free tier for private repositories includes 2,000 minutes, 500MB artifact storage, and 10GB cache storage. The pricing page details specific per-minute costs for different runner types (Linux, Windows, macOS) and storage costs ($0.25/GB/month for shared storage, $0.07/GB for Actions cache and custom image storage), indicating that usage beyond the free quota is paid. This is not reflected in the current pricing page text. Source ↗Full history ↓
Limits, pricing history. Verified August 2026. Last updated 2026-08-14.
As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories… We are not publishing our stored GitHub Actions terms beside it — our own pricing change record, discovered 2026-09-02, names them as the previous ones. We rate it caution — one recorded pricing restructure, discovered 2026-09-02.
Superseded: As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories. For private repositories, each account receives a quota of free minutes, artifact storage, and cache storage. Usage beyond the included amounts is billed based on hourly usage of artifacts and caches, and minutes are calculated based on processing time. Different runner types have different per-minute costs. We are not publishing our stored GitHub Actions terms beside it — our own pricing change record, discovered 2026-09-02, names them as the previous ones. Read what we recorded ↓
The free tier for private repositories includes 2,000 minutes, 500MB artifact storage, and 10GB cache storage. The pricing page details specific per-minute costs for different runner types (Linux, Windows, macOS) and storage costs ($0.25/GB/month for shared storage, $0.07/GB for Actions cache and custom image storage), indicating that usage beyond the free quota is paid. This is not reflected in the current pricing page text. Source ↗
Before: Free CI/CD for public repos (unlimited minutes). Private repos: 2,000 min/mo GitHub-hosted runners, 500 MB artifact storage, 10 GB cache/repo. Self-hosted runners remain free — planned $0.002/min charge was postponed indefinitely after community backlash (March 2026). Hosted runner prices reduced 39% (Jan 2026)
After: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories. For private repositories, each account receives a quota of free minutes, artifact storage, and cache storage. Usage beyond the included amounts is billed based on hourly usage of artifacts and caches, and minutes are calculated based on processing time. Different runner types have different per-minute costs.
Self-hosted runner per-minute fee ($0.002/min) announced for March 2026 was postponed indefinitely after community backlash. Self-hosted runners remain free. Separately, hosted runner prices were reduced up to 39% (Jan 2026) Source ↗
Before: Self-hosted runners free. Previous per-minute pricing for hosted runners
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As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories. For private repositories, each account receives a quota of free minutes, artifact storage, and cache storage. Usage beyond the included amounts is billed based on hourly usage of artifacts and caches, and minutes are calculated based on processing time. Different runner types have different per-minute costs. We are not publishing our stored GitHub Actions terms beside it — our own pricing change record, discovered 2026-09-02, names them as the previous ones. What our record says changed: The free tier for private repositories includes 2,000 minutes, 500MB artifact storage, and 10GB cache storage. The pricing page details specific per-minute costs for different runner types (Linux, Windows, macOS) and storage costs ($0.25/GB/month for shared storage, $0.07/GB for Actions cache and custom image storage), indicating that usage beyond the free quota is paid. This is not reflected in the current pricing page text. Source: https://docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions
What is GitHub Actions's free tier?
GitHub Actions's free tier is called "Free". As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories. For private repositories, each account receives a quota of free minutes, artifact storage, and cache storage. Usage beyond the included amounts is billed based on hourly usage of artifacts and caches, and minutes are calculated based on processing time. Different runner types have different per-minute costs. We are not publishing our stored GitHub Actions terms beside it — our own pricing change record, discovered 2026-09-02, names them as the previous ones.
Is GitHub Actions's free tier reliable?
GitHub Actions's free tier requires caution because of one specific recorded change, discovered 2026-09-02: The free tier for private repositories includes 2,000 minutes, 500MB artifact storage, and 10GB cache storage. The pricing page details specific per-minute costs for different runner types (Linux, Windows, macOS) and storage costs ($0.25/GB/month for shared storage, $0.07/GB for Actions cache and custom image storage), indicating that usage beyond the free quota is paid. This is not reflected in the current pricing page text. Source: https://docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions
Is GitHub Actions's free tier good for production?
As of 2026-09-02, docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions reads: GitHub Actions usage is free for self-hosted runners and public repositories… We are not publishing our stored GitHub Actions terms beside it — our own pricing change record, discovered 2026-09-02, names them as the previous ones. Until we have re-read the page we cannot say what capacity GitHub Actions gives you, so we are not recommending it for production on figures we have already superseded.
What changed in GitHub Actions's pricing?
GitHub Actions has had 2 recorded pricing changes. Most recently: The free tier for private repositories includes 2,000 minutes, 500MB artifact storage, and 10GB cache storage. The pricing page details specific per-minute costs for different runner types (Linux, Windows, macOS) and storage costs ($0.25/GB/month for shared storage, $0.07/GB for Actions cache and custom image storage), indicating that usage beyond the free quota is paid. This is not reflected in the current pricing page text. Source: https://docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-github-actions/about-billing-for-github-actions (discovered 2026-09-02).
When will I outgrow GitHub Actions's free tier?
When your usage exceeds the free tier limits, you'll need to upgrade or evaluate alternatives in the same category.
What category is GitHub Actions in?
GitHub Actions is categorized under CI/CD on AgentDeals.
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