RunPod vs Vast.ai: GPU pricing
Vast.ai is cheaper on 6 of 8 shared GPU models. RunPod is a specialist neocloud (widest gpu catalog incl. rtx 4090/a6000); Vast.ai is a GPU marketplace (usually the cheapest prices anywhere). Their cheapest published GPU rates are $0.39/hr and $0.33/hr respectively. The table below compares the 8 GPU models they both list. Snapshot June 2026 — cloud GPU prices change weekly; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
Data as of June 2026.
RunPod vs Vast.ai overview
| Factor | RunPod | Vast.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Type | specialist neocloud | GPU marketplace |
| GPUs priced | 11 | 8 |
| Cheapest GPU /hr | $0.39/hr | $0.33/hr |
| Billing | Per second | Per second |
| Discount tier | Community Cloud | Interruptible |
| Free credits | No standing free credit; pay-as-you-go with per-second billing. | No standing credit; marketplace bidding. Interruptible bids ~50% below on-demand. |
Sources: RunPod, Inc. pricing · Vast.ai, Inc. pricing.
Price per GPU, side by side
| GPU | RunPod /hr | Vast.ai /hr | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA B200 | $5.89/hr | $4.23/hr | Vast.ai |
| NVIDIA H100 PCIe | $2.39/hr | $2.78/hr | RunPod |
| NVIDIA H100 SXM | $3.29/hr | $1.93/hr | Vast.ai |
| NVIDIA H200 | $3.59/hr | $4.00/hr | RunPod |
| NVIDIA A100 40GB | $1.19/hr | $0.58/hr | Vast.ai |
| NVIDIA A100 80GB | $1.39/hr | $0.74/hr | Vast.ai |
| NVIDIA L4 | $0.39/hr | $0.33/hr | Vast.ai |
| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | $0.69/hr | $0.52/hr | Vast.ai |
Verdict
On the GPUs they both offer, Vast.ai comes out cheaper more often. But price is not everything: weigh reliability, region coverage, billing granularity and free credits. Read each provider's full breakdown — RunPod and Vast.ai — and model your own job in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is RunPod or Vast.ai cheaper for GPUs?
On the GPUs they both offer, Vast.ai is cheaper on 6 of 8 shared GPU models. Vast.ai wins more head-to-heads in our June 2026 snapshot. Snapshot June 2026 — cloud GPU prices change weekly; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What GPUs do RunPod and Vast.ai both offer?
Both publish prices for: NVIDIA B200, NVIDIA H100 PCIe, NVIDIA H100 SXM, NVIDIA H200, NVIDIA A100 40GB, NVIDIA A100 80GB, NVIDIA L4, NVIDIA RTX 4090. See the side-by-side table above for each per-hour price.
RunPod vs Vast.ai: which should I pick?
RunPod (widest gpu catalog incl. rtx 4090/a6000) versus Vast.ai (usually the cheapest prices anywhere). Beyond sticker price, weigh reliability, region, billing granularity (Per second vs Per second) and free credits. Model your real job in the calculator before deciding.
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Last updated: 2026-06-21