act

Run your GitHub Actions workflows locally

About act

act runs your GitHub Actions workflows on your own machine: it reads the workflow files in .github/workflows, works out the execution path, and runs each action in Docker containers with the same environment variables and filesystem GitHub provides. That gives fast feedback on workflow changes without commit-and-push cycles, and the same definitions can double as a local task runner.

act website preview

Live preview of nektosact.com via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.

act: strengths & things to check

Strengths

Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
Covers github actions, ci, cli, docker — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.

Things to check

Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
It is one of 1288 tools in the Developer Tools category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.

Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.

act pricing

Pricing model	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Free access	Yes — fully free
Current plan prices	Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale.
Official site	nektosact.com

act key facts

Category: Developer Tools
Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas: github actions, ci, cli, docker
Official site: nektosact.com

act FAQ

How much does act cost?

Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (nektosact.com).

What is act used for?

Run your GitHub Actions workflows locally Its focus areas in the Developer Tools category: github actions, ci, cli, docker.

Where can I try act?

On its official site, nektosact.com — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.

act vs alternatives

	act	ctop	Depot	dive
Pricing	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Freemium — a free tier lets you start, and paid plans are available if you need more.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas	github actions, ci, cli, docker	containers, monitoring, cli, docker	docker, builds, ci	docker, image analysis, cli, ci cd
Official site	nektosact.com	github.com	depot.dev	github.com
Directory status	Listed	Listed	Listed	Listed

Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.

About the Developer Tools category

Editors, platforms, and services developers rely on to build and ship software. The Developer Tools category on Tools Hub currently lists 1288 tools. Alongside act, it includes Lefthook, Fishjam, Linx, Alpha Anywhere.

FreeDeveloper Toolsgithub-actionsciclidocker

Alternatives to act

Tools in the same Developer Tools category that share focus areas with act — worth comparing before you commit:

Developer Tools

ctop

Top-like interface for container metrics

Freecontainersmonitoringclidocker

Developer Tools

Depot

Fast Docker image builds in the cloud

Freemiumdockerbuildsci

Developer Tools

dive

Tool for exploring each layer of a container image

Freedockerimage-analysisclici-cd

Developer Tools

Kaniko

Build container images from a Dockerfile without a Docker daemon

Freecontainersdockerkubernetesci

Developer Tools

nerdctl

Docker-compatible CLI for containerd

Freecontainerscontainerdclidocker

Developer Tools

Agola

CI/CD platform with multi-executor flexibility

Freecicdpipelinescontainers

More in Developer Tools

Comparing tools in the Developer Tools category? These related listings are worth a look: Lefthook — Fast Git hooks manager for any language or project; Fishjam — Video conferencing and live streaming API with a free plan; Linx — Low-code iPaaS for integration and automation.