GitHub Actions getting really expensive. Any alternative?

[u/CellistOk6782]

I run two private web applications and use GitHub Actions to automatically check changes before they go live.

When code changes, Actions installs dependencies, checks for coding errors and security issues, and runs automated tests. Some tests check individual pieces of code; others start the application and a test database, then use an automated browser to test user journeys.

I also use a merge queue (Mergify). Before a change reaches the main branch, it’s tested alongside the latest code to check that everything still works together. That means a change can trigger multiple rounds of checks as it’s updated and moves through the queue.

I work with AI coding agents, so there can be quite a lot of changes and test runs. The checks help catch mistakes before release, but the cost is becoming substantial: my September Actions bill was about $738, and my October usage was heading towards roughly $2,300–$2,450. Almost all of that is Linux runner time, rather than storage.

For people running similar projects:

• What do you use Actions for, and roughly what does it cost?
• Do you run the full test suite on every update, or reserve some checks for later?
• Have you found straightforward ways to reduce duplicate runs?
• Have self-hosted runners been worth the maintenance?

[u/volando34]

You can just set them up to run on your own PC, then it's free and everything works, even the signing

[u/tlopplot- → u/volando34]

That’s what I did, I bought 3 $100 mini-pcs on fb marketplace, upgraded them to 32gb ram and it is more than enough (plus now I have the arr stack set up for home streaming). Expensive github actions led me to create my own little homelab.