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AI Tools · head to head

Modal vs Replicate

Modal logo

Modal

AI Tools

Cloud functions for AI and ML

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Replicate logo

Replicate

AI Tools

Run AI models in the cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Modal the Team plan carries a $250 monthly base fee and returns only $100 of that as free credits, so $150 is a flat charge before any compute; Replicate private model deployments are billed for all the time instances are online, including setup and idle time, not only for processing
  • They diverge on capability: Modal covers Serverless GPUs, Replicate covers Model hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Modal and Replicate actually diverge.

Attributes where Modal and Replicate differ
AttributeModalReplicate
PlatformsCloud, ApiApi, Cloud
Founded20212019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AI Tools).

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 Modal

  • Serverless GPUs
  • Python functions
  • Fast cold starts
  • Python SDK
  • GitHub Actions
  • Cloud storage

Only in Replicate

  • Model hosting
  • Simple API
  • Custom models
  • REST API
  • Python client
  • JavaScript client

Both cover

  • Auto-scaling
  • Cloud support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Modal

  • Running serverless GPU workloads for model inference and trainingnot Replicate
  • Executing Python functions on cloud compute without managing serversnot Replicate

Replicate

  • Running open source machine learning models through a hosted API without managing GPUsnot Modal
  • Deploying and serving a custom or fine tuned model on rented GPU hardwarenot Modal
  • Per second billed batch image, video and language model inferencenot Modal

Where each one falls short

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

Modal

  • The Team plan carries a $250 monthly base fee and returns only $100 of that as free credits, so $150 is a flat charge before any compute
  • Compute is billed per second across separate GPU and CPU meters, so total cost depends on execution time rather than any fixed rate
  • The Starter plan's $30 monthly free credit is the only allowance below the paid base fee
  • Enterprise volume discounts are custom and unpublished

Replicate

  • Private model deployments are billed for all the time instances are online, including setup and idle time, not only for processing
  • Multi-GPU A100, H100, H200 and L40S capacity beyond the listed configurations is only available with a committed spend contract
  • The pricing page publishes no free tier allowance

Pricing, plan by plan

Modal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • $30/month credits
    • Community support
  • TeamFree
    • Pay for compute
    • Team features
    • Priority support

Replicate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited free credits
    • Public models
  • Pay-per-use$0.000225/per-second
    • All models
    • Private models

Which should you pick?

Choose Modal if

  • You need serverless gpus.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Api.
  • You also want python functions.
Modal review

Choose Replicate if

  • You need model hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Cloud.
  • You also want simple api.
Replicate review

Questions people ask

Is Modal or Replicate better?
Neither clearly leads. Modal starts at Free and Replicate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Modal or Replicate?
Modal starts at Free and Replicate at Free.
Does Modal or Replicate run on more platforms?
Modal runs on Cloud, Api. Replicate runs on Api, Cloud.
Can I use Modal for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Modal best used for?
Modal is most often used for running serverless gpu workloads for model inference and training, executing python functions on cloud compute without managing servers. Of those, running serverless gpu workloads for model inference and training and executing python functions on cloud compute without managing servers are not what Replicate is typically brought in for.
What can Modal do that Replicate cannot?
Modal covers Serverless GPUs, Python functions, Fast cold starts, Python SDK. Replicate covers Model hosting, Simple API, Custom models, REST API. Both handle Auto-scaling, Cloud support, Api support.
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