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Comparison

StarSling vs Depot

StarSling is AI-native CI for GitHub Actions: drop-in Ubuntu runners plus agents that open optimization PRs for your workflows.

Depot builds a broad CI platform: accelerated container builds, a distributed remote cache, GitHub Actions runners, and its own CI engine. StarSling overlaps on fast runners but its emphasis is self-driving GitHub Actions CI: AI agents that analyze your workflows and open optimization PRs over time. If your main pain is Docker build speed, Depot is purpose-built for that - though the layer-cache half of it is available on any runner: see how to configure Docker CI on GitHub Actions. If you want to see how StarSling agents optimize GitHub Actions so your whole pipeline improves itself, that's StarSling's focus. For the wider category, see GitHub Actions runner alternatives.

Drop-in runner replacementAI optimization PRsGitHub Actions support

Last updated 2026-07-16

Head to head

Drop-in runner replacement
StarSlingYes, swap ubuntu-latest for starsling-ubuntu-24.04.
DepotOffers GitHub Actions runners alongside its build products; you swap the runs-on label (Depot GitHub Actions docs, checked 2026-07-14).
AI optimization PRs
StarSlingYes. AI agents analyze logs/telemetry and open optimization PRs. For new accounts, AI-powered optimization PRs are only available to customers on paid plans and are not enabled by default.
DepotNo. Depot's documented products are container builds, Depot Cache, GitHub Actions runners, Depot CI, and agent sandboxes described as "a secure, isolated environment for running AI coding agents like Claude Code in the cloud". None of them analyze your workflow runs and open optimization PRs against your repo (checked 2026-07-14).
GitHub Actions support
StarSlingRuns your existing GitHub Actions workflows unchanged.
DepotYes. Runners and build acceleration integrate with GitHub Actions.
Primary focus
StarSlingSelf-driving GitHub Actions CI with agents that optimize the pipeline.
DepotDocker image build acceleration on remote BuildKit builders, plus a remote cache shared between local builds and CI (Depot Cache docs, checked 2026-07-14).
Pricing model
StarSlingUsage-based per-minute, from $0.004/min (2 vCPU) to $0.128/min (64 vCPU); queue time never billed; no seat fees.
DepotPaid plans with included build minutes, then per-minute overage, and Docker build minutes are billed at a higher per-minute rate than GitHub Actions runner minutes. See Depot's pricing page for current rates (checked 2026-07-14).

How Depot speeds up Docker builds in CI

Docker builds are often slow in CI because an ephemeral runner starts without the layers your last build produced. Depot changes that part of the system by running builds on remote BuildKit builders in the same private network as the runner, with a persistent NVMe layer cache on the builder (Depot GitHub Actions overview, container builds overview, checked 2026-07-14). Depot Cache is a separate remote cache product for GitHub Actions, Bazel, Go, Gradle, Turborepo, and other build tools (Depot Cache docs, checked 2026-07-14).

StarSling does not move your Docker build to a separate builder service. The build stays inside your GitHub Actions workflow on faster StarSling runners, and standard BuildKit cache backends still work. The agent layer is the difference: it can open PRs that fix Dockerfile ordering, cache scopes, install steps, and workflow structure instead of only making the existing build machine faster.

Real StarSling results beyond a Docker cache

Depot is strongest when the Docker build itself is the bottleneck. StarSling's customer proof is broader: the agents have shipped PRs against caches, dependency installs, service readiness, test sharding, queue pressure, and runner right-sizing. These are published case-study windows, not head-to-head Depot benchmarks; follow each case study for source method and caveats.

  • Better Auth: after migration and three agent PRs, E2E went from 2m 22s to 1m 04s and CI went from 1m 40s to 1m 02s.
  • Mastra: agents replaced fixed sleeps, added healthchecks, sharded E2E, and migrated workflows; Combined store Tests measured 29m 56s to 5m 06s in the post-migration window.
  • Partcl: on a synthesis-bound workload, the agents cut heaviest-job compute cost 13x per run and reduced p95 queue time from 9.5 minutes to 35 seconds.

Best fit

Choose StarSling if

Teams that want their GitHub Actions pipeline to get faster on its own through AI-opened optimization PRs, not just faster builds.

Choose Depot if

Teams whose primary bottleneck is Docker image build time and who want best-in-class remote build caching.

FAQ

How is StarSling different from Depot?

Both speed up CI. Depot focuses on Docker build acceleration and remote caching; StarSling focuses on self-driving GitHub Actions CI, with AI agents that open optimization PRs.

Can I run my existing GitHub Actions workflows on StarSling?

Yes. StarSling Runners are a drop-in replacement: change the runs-on label to starsling-ubuntu-24.04 and keep your existing workflows.

How much does Depot CI cost, and how does StarSling's pricing compare?

Depot's public pricing model combines paid plans, included build minutes, overage billing, and separate rates for Docker build minutes versus GitHub Actions runner minutes; see Depot's pricing page for the current figures (checked 2026-07-14). StarSling is pure usage-based runner billing from $0.004/min (2 vCPU) to $0.128/min (64 vCPU), with no seat fees and no queue-time billing.

References

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