# actions-runner-controller vs Kestra

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | actions-runner-controller | Kestra |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 71/100 | 82/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #7 of 28 in CI/CD | #3 of 32 in Workflow Automation |
| GitHub stars | 6 613 | 30 053 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +96 | +1 737 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 6 | 59 ✓ |
| Latest release | gha-runner-scale-set-0.15.1 · 23 Oct 2026 | v1.3.45 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Go | Java |

## Which one should you pick?

Kestra scores 82/100 against 71/100 for actions-runner-controller, so it is the safer default.

Kestra ships more often: 59 stable releases in the past year, against 6 for actions-runner-controller.

If you want the quickest setup, Kestra is easier to run; actions-runner-controller needs more configuration.

Kestra is growing faster right now (+1 737 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [actions-runner-controller](https://selfhost.directory/project/actions-runner-controller) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/actions-runner-controller.md)
- [Kestra](https://selfhost.directory/project/kestra) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/kestra.md)

## Related comparisons

- [Kestra vs prefect](https://selfhost.directory/compare/kestra-vs-prefect)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/actions-runner-controller-vs-kestra