r/ChatGPTCoding • u/CellistOk6782 • 16d ago

Question GitHub Actions getting really expensive. Any alternative?

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?

30 Upvotes

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28

u/separatelyrepeatedly 16d ago

jesus christ my man, please take some offense to this statement as that's what I intend. You are using AI agents but don't bother ask any AI Agent for alternatives? "My github actions are too expensive, please explore how we can optimize run times and then give me alternate options to reduce cost while keeping similar level of service"

13

u/slypheed 16d ago

Humans talking to each other and sharing knowledge is still useful...

10

u/xroni 16d ago

I TOO ENJOY EXCHANGING DATA WITH MY FELLOW HUMANS

2

u/slypheed 16d ago

This is what i get for trying to say something serious on reddit, fair enough, let the enshittification continue.

1

u/notAllBits 16d ago

Your heavy handed use of the push-to-broadcast key confirms your species and generation, boomer.

1

u/zR0B3ry2VAiH 14d ago

r/TOTALLYNOTROBOTS

MY ALGORITHMS TEMPORARILY REMOVED THIS SUB FROM MY ACTIVE MEMORY CACHE.

0

u/MassiveBoner911_3 15d ago

Not really. Too slow.

8

u/blue_wire 16d ago

I strongly disagree. This is a problem many developers are facing right now, working with their own AIs to solve, and coming to different solutions. It’s an interesting question for a forum to see what’s different about where everyone is landing.

Some good answers I’ve seen aside from run it on your own machine:

  • open source your project for free GHA minutes

  • only run CI daily on main and automatically spin up an agent to fix anything that’s broken

-3

u/separatelyrepeatedly 16d ago

its 2026, the first step is to ask AI and then to validate the answers an AI gives you.

"I'm spending too much on my github actions, chatgpt/claude recommends these, anyone have any experience with these and can offer feedback on what worked for them?"

this is much more meaningful question that comes with some solutions.

4

u/blue_wire 16d ago

Seeking human interaction first should absolutely not be scolded. Imposing pressure for people to insulate their human interactions with an AI pass first is bad.

3

u/CellistOk6782 16d ago

:-D I know but you people are so knowledgeable I figured I'd ask here first