Vast ai

What is Vast ai

Vast.ai is a cloud GPU rental marketplace that helps teams run machine learning training, fine-tuning, and inference at a fraction of traditional cloud costs. Its simple search interface lets you compare GPU instances across independent providers, filtering by GPU model, VRAM, CPU, memory, region, and price. The platform offers on-demand, interruptible, and reserved pricing so you can balance cost and uptime. With a focus on security and compliance, Vast.ai partners with data centers compliant with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001. Real-time DLPerf benchmarks provide transparent hardware performance data.

Vast ai Main Features

• Cloud GPU marketplace: Compare and rent GPUs from multiple providers to optimize price and performance.
• Flexible pricing: Choose on-demand, interruptible (preemptible), or reserved instances to match budget and reliability needs.
• DLPerf benchmarking: Real-time, automatic performance metrics for popular deep learning workloads to inform instance selection.
• Security and compliance: Access GPU cloud resources hosted by partners aligned with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001 requirements.
• Cost optimization: Marketplace dynamics and interruptible capacity can reduce cloud compute spend by 3–5X.
• Granular filtering: Find the right hardware by GPU type, VRAM, CPU, RAM, storage, bandwidth, and location.
• Scalable compute: Spin up multiple instances for distributed training, hyperparameter search, or batch inference.
• Transparency: Clear specs and live pricing to avoid overprovisioning and minimize idle resources.

Who Should Use Vast ai

Vast.ai suits AI startups, research labs, data science teams, and enterprises that need affordable, flexible GPU compute for deep learning training and inference. It is useful for experimentation, short-term bursts, and cost-sensitive workloads such as fine-tuning models, computer vision pipelines, LLM evaluation, and media processing, as well as for enterprises with compliance-driven deployments.

How to Use Vast ai

1. Create an account and complete any required verification and billing setup.
2. Open the search interface and filter by GPU model, VRAM, CPU, memory, region, and budget.
3. Review DLPerf results and instance details to assess expected performance.
4. Select a pricing option: on-demand for stability, interruptible for lowest cost, or reserved for predictable capacity.
5. Configure instance parameters (storage, image, networking) according to your workload needs.
6. Launch the instance and connect using the provided connection details (e.g., SSH or other supported methods).
7. Deploy your training or inference workflow, monitor performance, and adjust as needed.
8. Shut down or release instances promptly to control costs.

Vast ai Industry Use Cases

AI teams use Vast.ai to train and fine-tune language models, diffusion models, and vision systems without long-term commitments. Media and entertainment studios leverage GPU capacity for video processing and rendering. Research institutions run reproducible experiments on specific GPU types validated by DLPerf. Enterprises prototype generative AI and deploy batch inference while relying on data center partners aligned with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001 for regulatory needs.

Vast ai Pricing

Vast.ai follows a marketplace, pay-as-you-go model with on-demand, interruptible, and reserved pricing. Rates vary by provider, hardware, and region, and are billed based on instance type and usage duration. Interruptible instances typically offer the lowest cost but may be reclaimed, while reserved options provide predictable capacity at negotiated rates. Availability and minimums depend on the selected provider. Check current marketplace listings for live pricing.

Vast ai Pros and Cons

Vast ai FAQs

• What is an interruptible instance?

  An interruptible (preemptible) instance offers lower prices in exchange for the possibility of termination when capacity is needed. It suits resilient workloads that use checkpointing or can restart.

• How does Vast.ai reduce GPU costs?

  By aggregating capacity from multiple providers and offering interruptible options, the marketplace increases competition and utilization, often lowering effective hourly rates.

• What is DLPerf?

  DLPerf is a real-time, automatic benchmarking system that reports hardware performance on representative deep learning tasks, helping you choose the right instance.

• Can I run both training and inference?

  Yes. You can select GPUs and configurations suited for large-scale training, fine-tuning, or cost-effective batch and real-time inference.

• Does Vast.ai support compliance requirements?

  Vast.ai partners with data centers that align with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001. Choose providers and regions that match your organization’s compliance needs.