Softwr

Machine Learning · head to head

ClearML vs Neptune.ai

ClearML logo

ClearML

Machine Learning

Open-source MLOps platform for experiment tracking and orchestration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Neptune.ai logo

Neptune.ai

Machine Learning

Metadata store for MLOps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ClearML broad scope means more to learn and more to run than a focused tracking tool; Neptune.ai free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work
  • They diverge on capability: ClearML covers Remote execution, Neptune.ai covers Model registry.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ClearML and Neptune.ai actually diverge.

Attributes where ClearML and Neptune.ai differ
AttributeClearMLNeptune.ai
Pricing modelOpen-source self-hosted, with paid hosted and enterprise tiersUnknown
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, KubernetesWeb, Self-hosted
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Machine Learning).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ClearML

  • Remote execution
  • Data versioning
  • Pipelines

Only in Neptune.ai

  • Model registry
  • Metadata logging
  • Comparison views
  • Custom dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Keras
  • scikit-learn

Both cover

  • Experiment tracking

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ClearML

  • Tracking experiments across a team so results are reproduciblenot Neptune.ai
  • Moving training from laptops to shared GPU hardware without repackagingnot Neptune.ai
  • Versioning datasets alongside the experiments that consumed themnot Neptune.ai

Neptune.ai

  • Machine learningnot ClearML
  • Data analysisnot ClearML
  • Model trainingnot ClearML
  • Predictive analyticsnot ClearML

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ClearML

  • Broad scope means more to learn and more to run than a focused tracking tool
  • Self-hosting the server is real infrastructure — database, file storage and web server
  • Documentation quality is uneven across the newer parts of the platform
  • Smaller community than the most popular tracking tools, so fewer worked examples exist

Neptune.ai

  • Free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work
  • Lacks hyperparameter sweeps compared to Weights and Biases
  • No pipeline orchestration or broader MLOps lifecycle management
  • Dashboard visualization limitations - automatic resizing affects visualization order and size
  • Cloud-based SaaS only (as of last available service) requires internet connectivity

Pricing, plan by plan

ClearML

Free
  • Open sourceFree
    • Experiment tracking
    • Pipelines
    • Self-hosted server

Neptune.ai

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Neptune.ai review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ClearML if

  • You need remote execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want data versioning.
ClearML review

Choose Neptune.ai if

  • You need model registry.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want metadata logging.
Neptune.ai review

Questions people ask

Is ClearML or Neptune.ai better?
Neither clearly leads. ClearML starts at Free and Neptune.ai at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ClearML or Neptune.ai?
ClearML starts at Free and Neptune.ai at Free.
Does ClearML or Neptune.ai run on more platforms?
ClearML runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes. Neptune.ai runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use ClearML for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ClearML best used for?
ClearML is most often used for tracking experiments across a team so results are reproducible, moving training from laptops to shared gpu hardware without repackaging, versioning datasets alongside the experiments that consumed them. Of those, tracking experiments across a team so results are reproducible and moving training from laptops to shared gpu hardware without repackaging are not what Neptune.ai is typically brought in for.
What can ClearML do that Neptune.ai cannot?
ClearML covers Remote execution, Data versioning, Pipelines. Neptune.ai covers Model registry, Metadata logging, Comparison views, Custom dashboards. Both handle Experiment tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ClearML: Is ClearML free?

The open-source version is free and self-hostable. Hosted and enterprise tiers are paid.

Neptune.ai: Does Neptune.ai support self-hosting?

Yes. Neptune can be self-hosted on a Kubernetes cluster with ClickHouse, MySQL, and Redis dependencies, allowing organizations to maintain full data control.

Source
ClearML: How much code does tracking require?

Very little — adding a couple of lines to an existing training script captures parameters, metrics and environment automatically.

Neptune.ai: What machine learning frameworks does Neptune integrate with?

Neptune integrates with PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, Hugging Face Transformers, and Optuna for hyperparameter optimization.

Source
ClearML: Does ClearML replace MLflow?

It covers MLflow’s tracking and adds orchestration, remote execution and data versioning. Whether that breadth is an advantage or extra weight depends on whether you need the rest.

Neptune.ai: What is the cost for a team of 10 data scientists?

Neptune's Team plan costs $49 per user per month, resulting in $490/month for 10 users, comparable to Weights and Biases at $50/user.

Source
Neptune.ai: When is Neptune.ai shutting down?

Neptune.ai is shutting down its external SaaS service on March 5, 2026, following its acquisition by OpenAI in December 2025. Customers must export and migrate data before that date.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on ClearML

More on Neptune.ai

Keep looking

Other head to heads