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RunPod vs Vast.ai: what can actually be verified (2026)
RunPod = fixed on-demand instances plus serverless. Vast.ai = open marketplace — every listing priced by its host, prices float hour to hour. Below: only numbers we can cite, with their dates — and the gaps stay visible as gaps instead of being smoothed over.
Cloud-rate check date: 2026-10-22 (us, re-fetching the cited source table: values unchanged since its own stated check 2026-09-29 — the rates below are 3+ weeks old. Provider pages are JS-rendered; verify visually before spending. Commission rates: unverified, no public data.)
| GPU | RunPod | Vast.ai |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 32GB | $0.99/h | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) |
| A100 40GB | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) |
| A100 80GB | $1.59/h | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) |
| H100 80GB | $3.49/h | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) |
| H200 141GB | $4.59/h | no citable rate — no public data (2026-10-22) |
Cross-provider rows come from the one table that cites both sides consistently: modelvram.com public table (self-stated check 2026-09-29, our re-fetch 2026-10-22 unchanged), CC BY 4.0. Where a cell says "no citable rate" we found nothing verifiable — no public data, not zero.
RunPod — sourcing notes
RunPod rates here come from the third-party table we cite (modelvram.com, self-stated check 2026-09-29; our re-fetch 2026-10-22 shows no change). The RunPod pricing page is JS-rendered — no static figures extractable by us (checked 2026-10-22).
Vast.ai — sourcing notes
Vast.ai is a marketplace: prices are per-listing and change constantly, so no single citable hourly rate exists at a fixed date. Its pricing page is JS-rendered — no extractable static figures by us (checked 2026-10-22). We publish no numbers for it rather than invent any: no public data we could verify as of 2026-10-22.
Decide with the tool, not with vibes
Your model's GiB need picks the GPU — start there: calculator · rent-vs-buy break-even · Flux VRAM (official figures). Set on a platform? Start from: RunPod → · Vast.ai → (may earn commission; commission rate unverified — no public data)
FAQ
Is RunPod or Vast.ai cheaper?
We cannot say with a dated source: one side publishes nothing we could extract (see table notes). Anyone printing a hard number for both is guessing — that is the whole point of this page.
Which is better for ComfyUI or image work?
Rent only for active render hours and stop the instance when done — billing runs while it exists. Flux/SD footprint: our sourced Flux VRAM page. A marketplace can undercut fixed rates for short bursts but adds host-reputation vetting; fixed providers are simpler to budget.
Do the rental links on this page earn you money?
Yes, where marked, via our /go/ redirect links; commission rates: unverified, no public data (as of 2026-10-22). Rates and inventory are never guaranteed — every figure here carries a source and a date, gaps included.
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