What is the difference between Modal and Runpod?

Modal and Runpod 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: Modal or Runpod?

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 Modal and Runpod?

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 39 different GPU models across both Modal and Runpod, with 0 models available from both providers.

Modal vs Runpod

Compare GPU and LLM inference API pricing between Modal and Runpod. Find the best rates for AI training, inference, and ML workloads.

Modal

Provider 1

GPUs Available

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Runpod

Provider 2

GPUs Available

Visit Website

Comparison Overview

Total GPU Models

Modal GPUs

Runpod GPUs

Direct Comparisons

Average Price Difference: $0.88/hour between comparable GPUs

GPU Pricing Comparison

Total GPUs: 39Both available: 9Modal: 11Runpod: 37

Showing 15 of 39 GPUs

Last updated: 9/24/2026, 2:35:45 PM

GPU Model ↑	Modal Price	Runpod Price	Price Diff ↕	Sources
A10 24GB VRAM • Modal	$1.10/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	Modal
A10 24GB VRAM • Modal $1.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Not Available Modal
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$2.10/hr	$1.19/hr★ Best	↑+$0.91(+76.4%)	Modal Runpod API
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Modal $2.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $1.19/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.91(+76.4%) Modal Runpod API
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$2.50/hr	$1.00/hr★ Best	↑+$1.50(+149.8%)	Modal Runpod API
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Modal $2.50/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $1.00/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.50(+149.8%) Modal Runpod API
A40 48GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.49/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
A40 48GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.49/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
B200 180GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$6.25/hr	$5.98/hr★ Best	↑+$0.27(+4.5%)	Modal Runpod API
B200 180GB VRAM • Modal $6.25/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $5.98/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.27(+4.5%) Modal Runpod API
H100 NVL 94GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$2.59/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
H100 NVL 94GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $2.59/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
H100 PCIe 80GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$1.99/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
H100 PCIe 80GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $1.99/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$3.95/hr	$2.69/hr★ Best	↑+$1.26(+46.8%)	Modal Runpod API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Modal $3.95/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $2.69/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.26(+46.8%) Modal Runpod API
H200 141GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$4.54/hr	$3.59/hr★ Best	↑+$0.95(+26.5%)	Modal Runpod API
H200 141GB VRAM • Modal $4.54/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $3.59/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.95(+26.5%) Modal Runpod API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$7.10/hr	$6.94/hr★ Best	↑+$0.16(+2.3%)	Modal Runpod API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • Modal $7.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $6.94/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.16(+2.3%) Modal Runpod API
L4 24GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$0.80/hr	$0.49/hr★ Best	↑+$0.31(+63.1%)	Modal Runpod API
L4 24GB VRAM • Modal $0.80/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $0.49/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.31(+63.1%) Modal Runpod API
L40 40GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.69/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
L40 40GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.69/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
L40S 48GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$1.95/hr	$0.79/hr★ Best	↑+$1.16(+147.0%)	Modal Runpod API
L40S 48GB VRAM • Modal $1.95/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $0.79/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.16(+147.0%) Modal Runpod API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$2.39/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $2.39/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.13/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.13/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API

A10 24GB VRAM • Modal	$1.10/hr★ Best	Not Available	—	Modal
A10 24GB VRAM • Modal $1.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Not Available Modal
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$2.10/hr	$1.19/hr★ Best	↑+$0.91(+76.4%)	Modal Runpod API
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Modal $2.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $1.19/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.91(+76.4%) Modal Runpod API
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$2.50/hr	$1.00/hr★ Best	↑+$1.50(+149.8%)	Modal Runpod API
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Modal $2.50/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $1.00/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.50(+149.8%) Modal Runpod API
A40 48GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.49/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
A40 48GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.49/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
B200 180GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$6.25/hr	$5.98/hr★ Best	↑+$0.27(+4.5%)	Modal Runpod API
B200 180GB VRAM • Modal $6.25/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $5.98/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.27(+4.5%) Modal Runpod API
H100 NVL 94GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$2.59/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
H100 NVL 94GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $2.59/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
H100 PCIe 80GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$1.99/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
H100 PCIe 80GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $1.99/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$3.95/hr	$2.69/hr★ Best	↑+$1.26(+46.8%)	Modal Runpod API
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Modal $3.95/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $2.69/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.26(+46.8%) Modal Runpod API
H200 141GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$4.54/hr	$3.59/hr★ Best	↑+$0.95(+26.5%)	Modal Runpod API
H200 141GB VRAM • Modal $4.54/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $3.59/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.95(+26.5%) Modal Runpod API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$7.10/hr	$6.94/hr★ Best	↑+$0.16(+2.3%)	Modal Runpod API
HGX B300 288GB VRAM • Modal $7.10/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $6.94/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.16(+2.3%) Modal Runpod API
L4 24GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$0.80/hr	$0.49/hr★ Best	↑+$0.31(+63.1%)	Modal Runpod API
L4 24GB VRAM • Modal $0.80/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $0.49/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$0.31(+63.1%) Modal Runpod API
L40 40GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.69/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
L40 40GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.69/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
L40S 48GB VRAM • ModalRunpod	$1.95/hr	$0.79/hr★ Best	↑+$1.16(+147.0%)	Modal Runpod API
L40S 48GB VRAM • Modal $1.95/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 Runpod $0.79/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Price Difference:↑+$1.16(+147.0%) Modal Runpod API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$2.39/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
MI300X 192GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $2.39/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Runpod	Not Available	$0.13/hr★ Best	—	Runpod API
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Not Available Runpod $0.13/hour Updated: 9/24/2026 ★Best Price Runpod API

LLM API Pricing Comparison

Total models: 4Both available: 0Modal: 0Runpod: 4

Showing 4 of 4 models

Prices per 1M tokens · Last updated: 9/24/2026, 2:35:45 PM

Model ↑	Modal	Runpod	Input Diff ↕
Kimi K2.6 Kimi	Not available	$0.950 in $4.00 out	—
Kimi K2.7 Code Kimi	Not available	$0.950 in $4.00 out	—
Kimi K3 Moonshot	Not available	$3.00 in $15.00 out	—
Qwen 3 32B Alibaba	Not available	$10.00 in $10.00 out	—

Features Comparison

Modal

Serverless GPUs
Run Python functions on NVIDIA GPUs without provisioning instances; cold starts in seconds
Per-Second Billing
Pay for actual GPU runtime at sub-minute granularity, with scale-to-zero by default
Container-Native
Define environments in code, with automatic image building and caching
Wide GPU Catalog
From T4 and L4 through A100, L40S, H100, H200 and B200

Runpod

Secure Cloud GPUs
Access to a wide range of GPU types with enterprise-grade security
Pay-as-you-go
Only pay for the compute time you actually use
API Access
Programmatically manage your GPU instances via REST API
Fast cold-starts
Pods typically ready in 20-30 s
Hot-reload dev loop
SSH & VS Code tunnels built-in
Spot-to-on-demand fallback
Automatic migration on pre-empt

Pros & Cons

Modal

Advantages

Serverless model removes idle-instance costs
Per-second billing across the full GPU range
Strong fit for inference, batch jobs and ML pipelines

Considerations

Long-running, fixed-instance training is not the primary use case
Cold starts and storage limits require some application design
No bare-metal access; workloads run inside Modal's runtime

Runpod

Advantages

Competitive pricing with pay-per-second billing
Wide variety of GPU options
Simple and intuitive interface

Considerations

GPU availability can vary by region
Some features require technical knowledge

Compute Services

Modal

Runpod

Pods

On‑demand single‑node GPU instances in Secure Cloud (data‑center hosted) or lower‑cost Community Cloud, with flexible templates and storage.

Serverless

Pay‑per‑second endpoints with automatic scaling for production AI/ML applications.

Instant Clusters

Fully managed multi‑node GPU clusters with high‑speed networking between nodes.

Pricing Options

Modal

Per-Second GPU Billing

Charged per second of GPU runtime, with scale-to-zero when idle

Free Tier

Monthly free credits for experimentation and personal projects

Team and Enterprise Plans

Volume commitments and enterprise support for production deployments

Runpod

Secure Cloud

Pods hosted in vetted data centers; higher reliability tier

Community Cloud

Pods on vetted community hosts at lower rates than Secure Cloud

Spot

Interruptible capacity at reduced prices

Serverless

Pay-per-second billing for endpoint execution time, with automatic scaling and no charge when idle

Clusters

Per-hour or per-second billing for multi-node GPU clusters with no commitment, scaling up to 64 GPUs

Reserved Clusters

Discounted rates for 1, 3, 6, or 12+ month commitments on dedicated clusters with guaranteed availability and SLA-backed uptime; quoted by sales

Public Endpoints

Usage-based billing for pre-deployed model APIs, charged per request, per token, or per 1000 characters depending on the model

Getting Started

Modal

Get Started

1
Install the SDK
Run `pip install modal` and authenticate via the CLI
2
Define a function
Decorate a Python function with the desired GPU and image specification
3
Run or deploy
Invoke locally or deploy as a long-lived endpoint or scheduled job

Runpod

Get Started

1
Create an account
Sign up for Runpod using your email or GitHub account
2
Add payment method
Add a credit card or cryptocurrency payment method
3
Launch your first pod
Select a template and GPU type to launch your first instance

Support & Global Availability

Modal

Global Regions

Multi-region availability across North America and Europe

Support

Documentation, community forum, and enterprise support for paid plans

Runpod

Global Regions

31 global regions worldwide

Support

Documentation site, support request form, public status page, and a community Discord