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Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

Seldon vs Weights & Biases

Seldon logo

Seldon

Machine Learning & Data Science

Deploy, scale, and monitor machine learning models

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weights & Biases logo

Weights & Biases

Machine Learning & Data Science

Developer tools for machine learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Seldon production deployment requires a Kubernetes cluster, whether managed such as GKE, EKS or AKS, or on-premises such as OpenShift; Weights & Biases pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts
  • They diverge on capability: Seldon covers Model serving, Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Seldon and Weights & Biases actually diverge.

Attributes where Seldon and Weights & Biases differ
AttributeSeldonWeights & Biases
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsLinuxWeb, Python SDK, REST API
Founded20142017

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

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 Seldon

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

Only in Weights & Biases

  • Experiment tracking
  • Dataset versioning
  • Model registry
  • Hyperparameter sweeps
  • Collaborative dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Keras

Both cover

  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Seldon

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

Weights & Biases

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

Weights & Biases

  • Pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts
  • Limited integrations compared to some competitors
  • Dashboard customization options limited on lower plans
  • Requires some setup and configuration knowledge

Pricing, plan by plan

Seldon

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

Weights & Biases

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 model seats
    • 5 GB storage
    • 1 GB/month Weave ingestion
  • Pro$60/month
    • 10 seats
    • 100 GB storage
    • Private projects
  • Teams$179/month
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Weights & Biases if

  • You need experiment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Python SDK, REST API.
  • You also want dataset versioning.
Weights & Biases review

Questions people ask

Is Seldon or Weights & Biases better?
Neither clearly leads. Seldon starts at Free and Weights & Biases at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Seldon or Weights & Biases?
Seldon starts at Free and Weights & Biases at Free.
Does Seldon or Weights & Biases run on more platforms?
Seldon runs on Linux. Weights & Biases runs on Web, Python SDK, REST API.
Can I use Seldon for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Seldon best used for?
Seldon is most often used for serving and routing machine learning models on kubernetes, building multi-step inference pipelines with a/b tests and explainers. Of those, serving and routing machine learning models on kubernetes and building multi-step inference pipelines with a/b tests and explainers are not what Weights & Biases is typically brought in for.
What can Seldon do that Weights & Biases cannot?
Seldon covers Model serving, A/B testing, Canary deployments, Outlier detection. Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking, Dataset versioning, Model registry, Hyperparameter sweeps. Both handle Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Weights & Biases: Does Weights & Biases have a free plan?

Yes. The Free tier includes 5 model seats, 5 GB storage, and 1 GB/month Weave ingestion. Academic users get unlimited tracked hours, 200 GB storage, and 100 seats at no cost.

Source
Weights & Biases: What are the paid plans for Weights & Biases?

Pro starts at $60/month with 10 seats and 100 GB storage. Team plans start at $179/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.

Source
Weights & Biases: What machine learning features does W&B provide?

Weights & Biases captures hyperparameters, metrics, and model outputs automatically. Features include experiment tracking, interactive Reports for sharing findings, Artifacts for managing datasets and models, advanced hyperparameter sweeps, and model deployment tools.

Source
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