OpenRouter vs Vast.ai
Compare GPU and LLM inference API pricing between OpenRouter and Vast.ai. Find the best rates for AI training, inference, and ML workloads.
OpenRouter
Provider 1
Vast.ai
Provider 2
Comparison Overview
GPU Pricing Comparison
| GPU Model ↑ | OpenRouter Price | Vast.ai Price | Price Diff ↕ | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A10 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available |  $0.15/hr★ Best | — | |
A10 24GB VRAM • | ||||
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.29/hr★ Best | — | |
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • | ||||
A2 16GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.07/hr★ Best | — | |
A2 16GB VRAM • | ||||
A40 48GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.32/hr★ Best | — | |
A40 48GB VRAM • | ||||
L4 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.34/hr★ Best | — | |
L4 24GB VRAM • | ||||
L40 40GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.34/hr★ Best | — | |
L40 40GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.06/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3070 Ti 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3070 Ti 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3080 10GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.09/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3080 10GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3080 Ti 12GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.10/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3080 Ti 12GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3090 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.16/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3090 24GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3090 Ti 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.27/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3090 Ti 24GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4060 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4060 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4060 Ti 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4060 Ti 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4070 12GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.07/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4070 12GB VRAM • | ||||
A10 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.15/hr★ Best | — | |
A10 24GB VRAM • | ||||
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.29/hr★ Best | — | |
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • | ||||
A2 16GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.07/hr★ Best | — | |
A2 16GB VRAM • | ||||
A40 48GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.32/hr★ Best | — | |
A40 48GB VRAM • | ||||
L4 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.34/hr★ Best | — | |
L4 24GB VRAM • | ||||
L40 40GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.34/hr★ Best | — | |
L40 40GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.06/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3070 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3070 Ti 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3070 Ti 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3080 10GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.09/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3080 10GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3080 Ti 12GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.10/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3080 Ti 12GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3090 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.16/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3090 24GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 3090 Ti 24GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.27/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 3090 Ti 24GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4060 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4060 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4060 Ti 8GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.08/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4060 Ti 8GB VRAM • | ||||
RTX 4070 12GB VRAM • Vast.ai | Not Available | $0.07/hr★ Best | — | |
RTX 4070 12GB VRAM • | ||||
Features Comparison
OpenRouter
- Unified Model Access
Single API endpoint for 300+ models from dozens of providers
- Automatic Fallback Routing
Requests automatically route to the best available provider for each model
- OpenAI-Compatible API
Drop-in replacement using the OpenAI SDK format
- Provider Optimization
Routes to the fastest or cheapest provider based on your preference
- Usage-Based Pricing
Pay per token with no minimum commitments or subscriptions
- Prompt Caching
Reduced pricing for cached input tokens on supported models
Vast.ai
Pros & Cons
OpenRouter
Advantages
- Largest selection of models through a single API
- Transparent per-token pricing with no markup on many models
- Automatic failover across multiple providers
- No vendor lock-in — switch models with a single parameter change
Considerations
- Aggregator pricing may include a small margin on some models
- Latency may be slightly higher due to routing layer
- No fine-tuning or custom model training
Vast.ai
Advantages
- Cost-effective (5-6X cheaper than traditional cloud services)
- Flexible pricing with on-demand and interruptible options
- Real-time bidding system for cost optimization
- Docker ecosystem for quick software deployment
Considerations
- Primarily focused on Linux-based Docker instances
- No Windows support
- Limited GUI options (SSH, Jupyter, or command-only)
Compute Services
OpenRouter
Vast.ai
Marketplace Instances
On‑demand GPU rentals with live bidding and filters.
Pricing Options
OpenRouter
Pay-per-token
Usage-based pricing per input and output token, varying by model
Prompt caching
Discounted rates for cached input tokens on supported models
Free models
Select open-source models available at no cost
Vast.ai
Getting Started
OpenRouter
- 1
Create an account
Sign up at openrouter.ai
- 2
Get API key
Generate an API key from your dashboard
- 3
Choose a model
Browse 300+ models across text, image, audio, and video
- 4
Make API calls
Use OpenAI-compatible endpoints with your OpenRouter key
Vast.ai
Support & Global Availability
OpenRouter
Global Regions
Global — routes to providers across multiple regions for optimal latency
Support
Documentation, Discord community, and email support
Vast.ai
Related Comparisons
Explore how these providers compare to other popular GPU cloud services
OpenRouter vs Amazon AWS
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider
OpenRouter vs Google Cloud
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider
OpenRouter vs Microsoft Azure
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider
OpenRouter vs CoreWeave
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider
OpenRouter vs RunPod
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider
OpenRouter vs Lambda Labs
PopularCompare OpenRouter with another leading provider