# BuildJet alternatives after its shutdown: where to move buildjet runs-on labels

Source: https://flamewill.com/compare/buildjet-alternatives/ · updated 2026-10-24T22:04:02Z · prices and specs read on 24 Oct 2026

**BuildJet for GitHub Actions stopped running jobs on 31 March 2026 (announced 6 February 2026); replace each buildjet-* runs-on label with GitHub's own runners (ubuntu-latest or ubuntu-24.04-arm), a larger runner, or a managed runner such as WarpBuild, Ubicloud, Blacksmith or FlameWill, and buildjet/cache with actions/cache.**

We make FlameWill, so read this with that in mind. Every fact about another vendor is from its own page on the date above.

## What BuildJet said to do

BuildJet's announcement gave three routes:

- **GitHub-hosted runners:** change `runs-on` to `ubuntu-latest`, or to `ubuntu-24.04-arm` for ARM workflows. GitHub has since upgraded its hardware and added native ARM runners, which is why BuildJet said the gap it filled "has largely closed".
- **Larger runners or self-hosted runners** for jobs that need more than GitHub's standard runner.
- **Caching:** replace `buildjet/cache@v4` with `actions/cache@v4`, which it describes as interoperable.

## Replacing a buildjet label

```yaml
jobs:
  test:
    # before: runs-on: buildjet-4vcpu-ubuntu-2204
    runs-on: flamewill-2vcpu-16gb-ubuntu-2404   # FlameWill, 16 GB on 2 vCPU
    # or GitHub-hosted ARM: runs-on: ubuntu-24.04-arm (2 vCPU, 8 GB in a private repository)
```

Choose the new runner by the memory your job peaks at, not by its old vCPU count: a job that ran on 4 vCPU may need its 16 GB but not its 4 cores. [GitHub Actions out of memory](/guides/github-actions-out-of-memory/) shows how to measure the peak.

## Prices per minute at the same memory

| Runner | 8 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlameWill (arm64) | $0.0012 | $0.0015 | $0.0030 |
| Ubicloud standard (x64) | $0.00125 | $0.0025 | $0.005 |
| WarpBuild (arm64) | $0.003 | $0.006 | $0.012 |
| WarpBuild (x64) | $0.004 | $0.008 | $0.016 |
| Blacksmith (x64) | $0.004 | $0.008 | $0.016 |
| GitHub (arm64) | $0.005 | $0.008 | $0.014 |

GitHub's 8 GB runner is its standard one, covered by your plan's included minutes in private repositories and free in public ones; its 16 and 32 GB runners are larger runners, always charged. For your own mix of minutes, use the [cost calculator](/tools/github-actions-cost-calculator/); for every vendor's details, [GitHub Actions runner pricing](/guides/github-actions-runner-pricing/).

## Before you switch

- **ARM64 or x64:** FlameWill is ARM64 only; GitHub, WarpBuild, Ubicloud and Blacksmith offer both. A job that ran on BuildJet's x64 runners needs its dependencies built for arm64 before it moves to FlameWill.
- **Images:** a job that downloads an x64 binary by name needs the arm64 one on an ARM runner (`uname -m` prints `aarch64`).
- **Caches:** keys that leave out the architecture can restore x64 native modules on ARM; put `runner.arch` in the key.

## Questions

### When did BuildJet shut down?

BuildJet announced on 6 February 2026 that BuildJet for GitHub Actions would stop running jobs on 31 March 2026, and asked users to migrate their workflows before that date.

### What replaces buildjet/cache?

BuildJet's announcement says actions/cache@v4 is interoperable and replaces buildjet/cache@v4. On FlameWill, the npm cache is restored and saved with no step at all, and fw-cache keeps any other path.

### Which is the cheapest BuildJet alternative?

Per minute at the same memory, for 16 GB: FlameWill $0.0015 (2 vCPU arm64), Ubicloud $0.0025 standard or $0.004 premium (4 vCPU x64), WarpBuild $0.006 (4 vCPU arm64), Blacksmith and GitHub $0.008. At 8 GB Ubicloud's standard x64 and FlameWill are level, about $0.0012 a minute.

## Sources

- [BuildJet, We are shutting down (6 Feb 2026)](https://buildjet.com/for-github-actions/blog/we-are-shutting-down)
- [GitHub, Actions runner pricing](https://docs.github.com/en/billing/reference/actions-runner-pricing)
- [WarpBuild, pricing](https://www.warpbuild.com/pricing)
- [Ubicloud, pricing](https://www.ubicloud.com/docs/about/pricing)
- [Blacksmith, pricing](https://www.blacksmith.sh/pricing)
- [FlameWill, pricing](https://flamewill.com/pricing/)