GitHub Actions Pricing Update: Lower Runner Costs, Platform Enhancements Coming in 2026
Allison summarizes upcoming GitHub Actions pricing changes taking effect in 2026, including reduced hosted runner costs and new charges for self-hosted usage, along with product investment highlights for developers.
GitHub Actions Pricing Update for 2026
GitHub has announced significant pricing and platform updates for GitHub Actions, effective January 1, 2026:
Key Pricing Changes
- GitHub-hosted runners: Prices reduced by up to 39%, depending on machine type. Free usage minute quotas remain unchanged (details).
- Self-hosted runners: Starting March 1, 2026, a new .002 per minute cloud platform charge will apply for self-hosted runner usage. This charge will count toward the minutes included in each plan (billing documentation).
- Public repositories: Runner usage stays free.
- GitHub Enterprise Server: No changes announced to pricing structure for these customers.
Product Investments for Developers
GitHub is increasing investment into the Actions self-hosted experience, aiming to provide:
- Enhanced autoscaling
- Support for scenarios beyond Linux containers
- Expanded platform and Windows support
Developers can expect expanded scaling options and broader OS support in the coming year.
Resources and Guidance
- Executive Insights: 2026 Actions Pricing Changes
- FAQ on pricing changes
- Runner pricing documentation
- GitHub public roadmap
- Actions pricing calculator
- Migration guide: SHR to GHR
Summary
These changes will impact DevOps workflows and cost planning for organizations using GitHub Actions. The self-hosted runner experience will see improved autoscaling and platform support, indicating a stronger focus on scaling developer automation.
For further information, consult the official documentation and guides linked above.
This post appeared first on “The GitHub Blog”. Read the entire article here