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GitHub Actions vs Terraform Cloud: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of GitHub Actions and Terraform Cloud. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Terraform Cloud starts at $0.1/mo, making it $4/mo cheaper than GitHub Actions ($4/mo). GitHub Actions offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026
Try GitHub Actions freeTry Terraform Cloud free

GitHub Actions vs Terraform Cloud: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureGitHub ActionsTerraform Cloud
Starting Price$4/mo$0.1/mo
Number of Plans34
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelusage-basedusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Terraform Cloud is the more affordable option, starting at $0.1/mo compared to GitHub Actions' $4/mo. Both are Dev Tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 44 features compared.

GitHub Actions stands out with a free plan for getting started.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Dev Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions
Try it free
Terraform Cloud
Terraform Cloud
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Unlimited public/private repositories
  • Dependabot security and version updates
  • 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
  • 500MB of Packages storage
  • Issues & Projects
  • Community support
Start with Free
Essentials
$0/month
$1 / year
Includes
  • Cloud
  • Infrastructure as code
  • Professional individuals or teams
  • Get started with $500 trial credit
Start with Essentials
Tier 2
Team
$4/month
$0 / year
Includes
  • Everything included in Free, plus...
  • Access to GitHub Codespaces
  • Repository rules
  • Multiple reviewers in pull requests
  • Draft pull requests
  • Code owners
  • Required reviewers
  • Pages and Wikis
  • 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
  • 2GB of Packages storage
Start with Team
Standard
$0/monthCheapest
$6 / year
Includes
  • Cloud
  • Infrastructure automation
  • Lifecycle management
  • Get started with $500 trial credit
  • Includes HCP Waypoint
Start with Standard
Tier 3
EnterprisePopular
$21/month
$2 / year
Includes
  • Everything included in Team, plus...
  • Data residency
  • Enterprise Managed Users
  • User provisioning through SCIM
  • Enterprise Account to centrally manage multiple organizations
  • Environment protection rules
  • Audit Log API
  • SOC1, SOC2, type 2 reports annually
  • SAML single sign-on
  • 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
Start with Enterprise
Premium
$1/monthCheapest
$12 / year
Includes
  • Cloud
  • Maximize IT investments
  • Secure self-service workflow
  • Get started with $500 trial credit
  • Includes HCP Waypoint
Start with Premium
Tier 4
—
Custom Pricing
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Self-managed
  • Security compliance
  • Operational needs
  • Premium support included
Start with Custom Pricing

Swipe to compare plans →

GitHub Actions

CI/CD workflows built into GitHub repositories

View all GitHub Actions plans

Terraform Cloud

Infrastructure as code provisioning with HCL by HashiCorp

View all Terraform Cloud plans
Our Pick

GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: GitHub Actions

Try GitHub Actions free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose GitHub Actions if:

  • •You need a free plan with Unlimited public/private repositories, Dependabot security and version updates—GitHub Actions offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • •You want more features built-in—GitHub Actions offers 8 additional features across its plans
  • •You prioritize GitHub Actions's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Choose Terraform Cloud if:

  • •You want lower per-user costs—Terraform Cloud starts at $0.1/mo, saving $3.9/mo compared to GitHub Actions at $4/mo
  • •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Terraform Cloud offers negotiated terms for large deployments

GitHub Actions offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Terraform Cloud requires paid subscription from the start. This gives GitHub Actions a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow GitHub Actions's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $21/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Terraform Cloud's tiering starting at $0.1/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. GitHub Actions's 3 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Terraform Cloud's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, GitHub Actions is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: GitHub Actions vs Terraform Cloud

Which is cheaper, GitHub Actions or Terraform Cloud?
As of March 2026, Terraform Cloud starts at a lower price point. GitHub Actions starts at $4/mo while Terraform Cloud starts at $0.1/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does GitHub Actions have vs Terraform Cloud?
GitHub Actions offers 3 pricing plans, while Terraform Cloud offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does GitHub Actions or Terraform Cloud offer a free plan?
GitHub Actions offers a free plan, while Terraform Cloud does not. If budget is a concern, GitHub Actions lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for GitHub Actions or Terraform Cloud?
Both GitHub Actions and Terraform Cloud offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular GitHub Actions plan?
The Enterprise plan is GitHub Actions' most popular tier, priced at $21/mo. Key features include Everything included in Team, plus..., Data residency, Enterprise Managed Users.
Does GitHub Actions or Terraform Cloud offer custom enterprise pricing?
Terraform Cloud offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. GitHub Actions lists all its pricing publicly.
How do GitHub Actions and Terraform Cloud compare for Dev Tools?
Both GitHub Actions and Terraform Cloud are Dev Tools. GitHub Actions offers 3 plans starting at $4/mo, while Terraform Cloud offers 4 plans starting at $0.1/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Dev Tools needs.

Sources

  1. GitHub Actions Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
  2. Terraform Cloud Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page

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