Vast.ai vs Modal: GPU Cloud Compute Pricing (2026)

Vast.ai vs Modal

GPU Cloud Compute pricing comparison · 2026

Vast.ai pricing ranges from $0.02–$3.85/GPU/hour, while Modal ranges from $0–$250/GPU/hour. These products use different pricing models (Per-seat subscription vs Usage-based (pay per token/image/minute)), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.

GPU Cloud Compute

Vast.ai

$0.02–$3.85
/GPU/hour
3 plans
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
GPU Cloud Compute

Modal

$0–$250
/GPU/hour
3 plans · Free tier
Full pricing breakdown →

Different Pricing Models

Direct price comparison isn't meaningful here — Vast.ai uses Per-seat subscription pricing while Modal uses Usage-based (pay per token/image/minute) pricing. Your actual cost will depend on usage volume, team size, or both. Here's each product in its native unit.

Per-seat subscription

Vast.ai

$0.02–$3.85 / GPU/hour
See full Vast.ai pricing →
vs
Usage-based (pay per token/image/minute)

Modal

From $0.00000222 per second
See full Modal pricing →

Vast.ai and Modal are both gpu cloud compute competitors. This page compares their list pricing tier by tier so you can see which is cheaper for your workload shape.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan Vast.ai Modal
Interruptible $0.10 /user/month Free /month
On-Demand $0.30 /user/month $250 /month
Reserved $0.20 /user/month Custom

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

Vast.ai

1 scenario
$0.30/minute ($18/hour)
Serverless AI Inference (Single Model)

Modal

2 scenarios
$0/month
Solo Developer on Starter Plan
platform fee + ~$2/hr per GPU compute
$250/month
Small Team Running Large Model Inference
platform fee + ~$72/hr GPU costs for large model serving

Hidden Costs

Beyond the sticker price — what catches buyers off guard.

Vast.ai 2 hidden costs

high
Serverless Inference Pricing Premium vs. API Alternatives $18/hr
medium
Interruptible Instance Interruption Loss 10-30% of license costs
See all Vast.ai hidden costs →

Modal 2 hidden costs

high
GPU Compute Costs Billed on Top of Plan Fee $2-$72/hr per GPU
medium
DIY Configuration Overhead and Cold Start Latency 5-15% of license costs
See all Modal hidden costs →

Contract Terms

Term Vast.ai Modal
Auto-renewal No
Cancellation Stop instance to stop billing; no advance notice required
Minimum commitment None for Interruptible and On-Demand; Reserved may carry a duration commitment
Price escalation No published schedule; marketplace rates fluctuate with GPU supply and demand $2-$72/hr per GPU
Can downgrade Yes