CI runner size picker
Tell us how many tests run at once and how much memory each worker needs. We pick the smallest Linux runner that fits.
- Recommended
- 8 vCPU
- 32 GB on GitHub
- Memory needed
- 12.0 GB
- Price per minute
- $0.0120
- GitHub $0.0220 · 45% cheaper
| Size | GitHub RAM | GitHub / min | compiler.dev / min | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 vCPU | 7 GB | $0.0060 | $0.0030 | 50% |
| 4 vCPU | 16 GB | $0.0120 | $0.0060 | 50% |
| 8 vCPU (pick) | 32 GB | $0.0220 | $0.0120 | 45% |
| 16 vCPU | 64 GB | $0.0420 | $0.0240 | 43% |
| 32 vCPU | 128 GB | $0.0820 | $0.0480 | 41% |
Prices as of October 2026.
Prices as of October 2026, from the provider's published rates. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Enter the number of parallel workers your test runner uses (for example Jest workers or pytest-xdist processes).
- Enter the memory each worker needs in GB, plus a few GB for the OS and build tools.
- Read the recommended size, then compare per-minute prices in the table.
Frequently asked questions
Why one vCPU per worker?
CPU-bound test workers slow each other down when they share a core. One vCPU per worker is a safe start. I/O-heavy suites can share cores.
Does a bigger runner always finish sooner?
No. Jobs that run mostly one process gain little from more cores. Measure one job on two sizes before you commit.
How much memory should I leave for the system?
About 2 to 4 GB for the OS, Docker and build tools. Browser tests need more per worker.
Does compiler.dev have the same RAM as GitHub?
Our default 8 vCPU machine has 16 GB. GitHub's 8-core runner has 32 GB. If you need more than 16 GB at 8 vCPU, ask us about other sizes.
Embed this calculator on your site
Free to embed on blogs and docs. Paste this HTML where you want it to appear:
<iframe src="https://compiler.dev/embed/runner-size-picker" title="CI runner size picker" width="100%" height="560" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:12px">Calculator by <a href="https://compiler.dev/tools/runner-size-picker">compiler.dev</a></p>Related tools
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- Monthly CI budget plannerPlan your monthly CI budget from team size, PRs a day, runs per PR and minutes per run. Compare GitHub and compiler.dev, with a cost per day.
- GitHub Actions cost calculatorEstimate your monthly GitHub Actions bill from minutes per runner type, with included free minutes and per-minute prices for Linux, Windows and macOS.