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PyTorch vs Seldon

PyTorch logo

PyTorch

Software

Deep learning framework with dynamic computation graphs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Seldon logo

Seldon

Software

Deploy, scale, and monitor machine learning models

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PyTorch dynamic computation graph can be less efficient for production inference than static graphs; Seldon production deployment requires a Kubernetes cluster, whether managed such as GKE, EKS or AKS, or on-premises such as OpenShift
  • They diverge on capability: PyTorch covers Dynamic computation graphs, Seldon covers Model serving.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PyTorch and Seldon actually diverge.

Attributes where PyTorch and Seldon differ
AttributePyTorchSeldon
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSLinux
Founded20162014

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

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 PyTorch

  • Dynamic computation graphs
  • Automatic differentiation
  • GPU acceleration
  • Distributed training
  • TorchScript
  • TorchVision
  • TorchText
  • TorchAudio

Only in Seldon

  • Model serving
  • A/B testing
  • Canary deployments
  • Outlier detection
  • Model explainability
  • Kubernetes
  • Istio
  • Prometheus

Both cover

  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

PyTorch

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

Seldon

  • Serving and routing machine learning models on Kubernetesnot PyTorch
  • Building multi-step inference pipelines with A/B tests and explainersnot PyTorch

Where each one falls short

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

PyTorch

  • Dynamic computation graph can be less efficient for production inference than static graphs
  • Requires more manual code for distributed training compared to some alternatives
  • Documentation focused heavily on research use cases rather than production deployment

Seldon

  • Production deployment requires a Kubernetes cluster, whether managed such as GKE, EKS or AKS, or on-premises such as OpenShift
  • The documented components carry both minimum and maximum supported versions, so newer Kubernetes and dependency versions are not automatically supported
  • Dataflow Pipelines need an additional component that the docs recommend avoiding installing when pipelines are not used
  • The Docker Compose install is offered as a lightweight alternative for environments without Kubernetes rather than as a production path

Pricing, plan by plan

PyTorch

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PyTorch review.

Seldon

Free
  • Seldon CoreFree
    • Open source
    • Kubernetes deployment
    • Model serving
  • Seldon DeployFree
    • Enterprise features
    • GUI
    • Monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose PyTorch if

  • You need dynamic computation graphs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want automatic differentiation.
PyTorch review

Choose Seldon if

  • You need model serving.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want a/b testing.
Seldon review

Questions people ask

Is PyTorch or Seldon better?
Neither clearly leads. PyTorch starts at Free and Seldon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PyTorch or Seldon?
PyTorch starts at Free and Seldon at Free.
Does PyTorch or Seldon run on more platforms?
PyTorch runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. Seldon runs on Linux.
Can I use PyTorch for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PyTorch best used for?
PyTorch is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what Seldon is typically brought in for.
What can PyTorch do that Seldon cannot?
PyTorch covers Dynamic computation graphs, Automatic differentiation, GPU acceleration, Distributed training. Seldon covers Model serving, A/B testing, Canary deployments, Outlier detection. Both handle Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PyTorch: Is PyTorch free and open source?

Yes. PyTorch is an open source machine learning framework that is completely free to use. It was originally created and open-sourced by Facebook (now Meta) in 2016.

Source
PyTorch: What platforms does PyTorch support?

PyTorch supports Linux, Windows, and macOS. It provides strong GPU acceleration through CUDA and other backends for high-performance computing.

Source
PyTorch: Can I use PyTorch for production deployments?

Yes. PyTorch provides graph-based execution, distributed training, mobile deployment, and quantization features to support production deployments.

Source
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