What is the difference between DigitalOcean and Salad Cloud?

DigitalOcean and Salad Cloud are both cloud GPU providers offering different pricing models, features, and GPU availability. Use our comparison tool to see real-time pricing and feature differences.

Which is cheaper: DigitalOcean or Salad Cloud?

Pricing varies by GPU model and usage requirements. Check our real-time comparison table to find the best deals for your specific needs.

Can I switch between DigitalOcean and Salad Cloud?

Yes, both providers offer flexible cloud GPU services. However, consider factors like data transfer costs, setup time, and specific features when switching between providers.

How many GPU models are available for comparison?

We track pricing for 46 different GPU models across both DigitalOcean and Salad Cloud, with 0 models available from both providers.

DigitalOcean vs Salad Cloud

Compare GPU and LLM inference API pricing between DigitalOcean and Salad Cloud. Find the best rates for AI training, inference, and ML workloads.

DigitalOcean

Provider 1

GPUs Available

Visit Website

Salad Cloud

Provider 2

GPUs Available

Visit Website

Comparison Overview

Total GPU Models

DigitalOcean GPUs

Salad Cloud GPUs

Direct Comparisons

GPU Pricing Comparison

Total GPUs: 46Both available: 0DigitalOcean: 9Salad Cloud: 37

Showing 15 of 46 GPUs

Last updated: 10/28/2026, 6:40:20 PM

GPU Model ↑	DigitalOcean Price	Salad Cloud Price	Price Diff ↕	Sources
GTX 1050 Ti 4GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.01/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1050 Ti 4GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.01/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1060 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1060 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1650 4GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.01/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1650 4GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.01/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1660 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1660 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.41/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.41/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
H200 141GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.47/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
H200 141GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.47/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$6.17/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $6.17/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
L40S 48GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$1.57/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
L40S 48GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $1.57/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$2.59/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $2.59/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI325X 256GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$3.80/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI325X 256GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $3.80/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI355X 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.50/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI355X 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.50/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
RTX 2060 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2060 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
RTX 2070 8GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2070 8GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
RTX 2080 8GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.05/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2080 8GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.05/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API

GTX 1050 Ti 4GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.01/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1050 Ti 4GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.01/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1060 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1060 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1650 4GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.01/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1650 4GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.01/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1660 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1660 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.41/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.41/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
H200 141GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.47/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
H200 141GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.47/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$6.17/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $6.17/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
L40S 48GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$1.57/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
L40S 48GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $1.57/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$2.59/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $2.59/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI325X 256GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$3.80/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI325X 256GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $3.80/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
MI355X 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean	$4.50/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	DigitalOcean API
MI355X 288GB VRAM • DigitalOcean $4.50/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Not Available DigitalOcean API
RTX 2060 6GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2060 6GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
RTX 2070 8GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.02/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2070 8GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.02/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API
RTX 2080 8GB VRAM • Salad Cloud	Not Available	$0.05/hr★ Best	—	Salad API
RTX 2080 8GB VRAM • Not Available Salad Cloud $0.05/hour Updated: 10/28/2026 ★Best Price Salad API

LLM API Pricing Comparison

Total models: 55Both available: 0DigitalOcean: 55Salad Cloud: 0

Showing 15 of 55 models

Prices per 1M tokens · Last updated: 10/28/2026, 6:40:20 PM

Model ↑	DigitalOcean	Salad Cloud	Input Diff ↕
Claude Fable 5 Anthropic	$10.00 in $50.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Fable 5.1 Anthropic	$10.00 in $50.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Haiku 4.5 Anthropic	$1.00 in $5.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Haiku 5.5 Anthropic	$0.100 in $0.500 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 4.5 Anthropic	$5.00 in $25.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 4.6 Anthropic	$5.00 in $25.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 4.7 Anthropic	$5.00 in $25.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 4.8 Anthropic	$5.00 in $25.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 5 Anthropic	$5.00 in $25.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic	$4.00 in $20.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Sonnet 4.5 Anthropic	$3.00 in $15.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Sonnet 4.6 Anthropic	$3.00 in $15.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Sonnet 5 Anthropic	$2.00 in $10.00 out	Not available	—
Claude Sonnet 5.5 Anthropic	$2.00 in $10.00 out	Not available	—
DeepSeek V3.2 DeepSeek	$0.500 in $1.60 out	Not available	—

Features Comparison

DigitalOcean

GPU Droplets
On-demand NVIDIA and AMD GPU instances with per-hour billing and no long-term contracts.
One-Click ML Frameworks
Pre-configured images with PyTorch, TensorFlow, and CUDA for immediate productivity.
Integrated Platform
GPU Droplets work seamlessly with DigitalOcean's networking, storage, and managed databases.
Simple Pricing
Transparent per-hour pricing with no hidden fees or complex instance families.

Salad Cloud

Community Cloud
On-demand pool of idle consumer GPUs with nodes in 190+ countries, deployed onto through Salad Container Engine.
Salad Container Engine
Managed orchestration that schedules Docker containers onto nodes it does not control, isolates them behind a hypervisor, streams logs, and reallocates work when a node disappears.
Priority Tiers
High, Medium, Low, and Lowest tiers price the same GPU class differently so a workload can trade preemption risk for cost; High is never preempted by other workloads.
Salad Dedicated
Reserved bare metal and virtual machines on contract, starting with RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, quoted per allocation and term.
Private Cloud
Salad's orchestration stack licensed per deployment on hardware you already own, pooling idle workstation and server GPUs into a private OpenAI-compatible token service.
Managed APIs and Tooling
AI Gateway (an OpenAI-compatible endpoint for open-weight models, in closed beta), Transcription API, Recipes deployment templates, S4 temporary storage, Gateway Service residential IPs, and a Virtual Kubelet for Kubernetes.

Pros & Cons

DigitalOcean

Advantages

Simple, transparent pricing with no surprises
Wide GPU selection including H100, H200, L40s, and AMD MI300X
No long-term commitments required
Well-known developer platform with strong community

Considerations

Newer to GPU cloud compared to specialized providers
Some high-end SKUs (MI325X, B300) require sales contact
Limited GPU data center regions

Salad Cloud

Advantages

Aggregating idle consumer hardware gives some of the lowest published per-GPU-hour rates available
Per-second billing with no contracts or minimums; allocation, image download, and cold start are not billed
vCPU and RAM are included with every GPU class at no additional charge
Four priority tiers make interruptibility an explicit, priced choice per container group

Considerations

On-demand catalog is consumer RTX GPUs only — data center accelerators are not offered outside the contracted Dedicated product
Published GPU classes top out at 32 GB of VRAM, limiting the size of a model that fits on a single GPU
Nodes are individually owned machines that can disconnect at any time, so workloads must be stateless or retryable

Compute Services

DigitalOcean

Salad Cloud

Salad Container Engine on Community Cloud

On-demand container orchestration across the distributed pool of idle consumer GPUs, with more than 40 GPU classes selectable by priority tier.

Salad Dedicated

Reserved bare metal and virtual machines on contract, separate from the on-demand community pool.

CPU-only container groups

Container groups with no GPU attached, billed per vCPU-hour and per GB of RAM per hour, running at the Lowest priority tier.

Pricing Options

DigitalOcean

Salad Cloud

Per-second on-demand billing

Published per-GPU-hour rates billed by the second for the time each replica spends running; allocation, image download, and cold start are not charged, and vCPU and RAM are included.

Priority tiers

High, Medium, Low, and Lowest tiers price each GPU class differently - lower tiers cost less and are more interruptible, with Lowest intended for retryable batch work.

CPU-only container groups

Billed per vCPU-hour plus per GB of RAM per hour for container groups that need no GPU.

Volume discounts

Large deployments, long-running jobs, and committed spend are priced below list by sales.

Salad Dedicated contracts

Reserved bare metal and virtual machines quoted separately per allocation and term.

Private Cloud licensing

Licensed per deployment to run the orchestration stack on hardware you already own.

Getting Started

DigitalOcean

Get Started

1
Create an Account
Sign up at digitalocean.com and verify your account.
2
Create a GPU Droplet
Select GPU Droplets from the Create menu, choose your GPU type and configuration.
3
Choose an Image
Select a pre-configured AI/ML image or a base OS image.
4
Launch and Connect
Launch your GPU Droplet and connect via SSH to start working.

Salad Cloud

Get Started

1
Create a SaladCloud account
Sign up at portal.salad.com to reach the dashboard, API keys, and deployment tools.
2
Pick a GPU class and priority tier
Compare published per-GPU-hour rates and live availability on the pricing page, then choose the tier that matches how interruptible the workload is.
3
Deploy a container group
Supply a Docker image, CPU/memory/GPU resources, and a replica count through the portal or the public API; Recipes provide ready-made templates for popular open models.
4
Monitor and scale
Track replicas in the portal and adjust GPU class, priority, or replica count; the container engine reallocates work as nodes join and leave the network.
5
Talk to sales for reserved or volume capacity
Large deployments, committed spend, and Salad Dedicated allocations are quoted directly rather than bought self-service.

Support & Global Availability

DigitalOcean

Global Regions

GPU Droplets are available in select US data centers with expansion planned.

Support

24/7 support via ticket system, extensive documentation, and active community forums.

Salad Cloud

Global Regions

Nodes in 190+ countries across the distributed network; capacity is chosen by GPU class and priority tier rather than by selectable region, and availability varies by class.

Support

Documentation at docs.salad.com, a developer hub and Recipes library, status page at cloud-status.salad.com, Trust Center, Discord and GitHub communities, and direct engineering and sales contact for volume and enterprise deployments.