# Cerebras Inference vs DeepInfra

> Cerebras Inference scores 68.4 (B) to DeepInfra's 63 (B) for llm inference. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

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- Updated: 2026-10-19

Cerebras Inference scores 68.4 (B) on agent readiness against DeepInfra's 63 (B), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. DeepInfra leads on transparency & trust. Both do llm inference.

- Cerebras Inference: grade B, 68.4/100, rank #233 of 1171. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cerebras-inference.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cerebras-inference.json
- DeepInfra: grade B, 63/100, rank #456 of 1171. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/deepinfra.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/deepinfra.json
- Best model APIs and inference for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/inference/index.md
- All 407 models comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/inference/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Cerebras Inference (B)

Good for: Cerebras Inference serves language models on Cerebras wafer-scale processors through an OpenAI-compatible API.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 93 against 69
- Agent ergonomics, 85 against 77
- Security & auth, 70 against 64

Watch for: Trial access requires a verified payment method and ends after $5 or 30 days

### DeepInfra (B)

Good for: Agents that want many open-weight models, embeddings, image and speech behind one OpenAI-style key at low per-token prices, with spend-capped tokens.

Ahead on:
- Transparency & trust, 67 against 58

Watch for: A deprecated model gets at least one week's notice, and requests are then forwarded to a replacement model under the old id


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Cerebras Inference | DeepInfra | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 70 | 70 | even |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 93 | 69 | Cerebras Inference +24 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 85 | 77 | Cerebras Inference +8 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 70 | 64 | Cerebras Inference +6 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 20 | even |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 65 | 65 | even |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 58 | 67 | DeepInfra +9 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **68.4 · B** | **63 · B** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Cerebras Inference | DeepInfra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | Model API |
| Vendor | Cerebras Systems Inc. | Deep Infra Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.cerebras.ai/v1` | `https://api.deepinfra.com/v1/openai` |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | API key | API key |
| Pricing | Paid | Pay per use |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Proprietary hosted service. The official Python SDK is Apache-2.0; served models retain their own licences. | Proprietary service under the DeepInfra Terms of Service. The Python and Node SDKs and the docs repository are MIT |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-09 | 2026-10-07 |
| Terms last updated | couldn't be read | 2026-08-17 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2024-08-27 | 2026-08-15 |
| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read | yes |
| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read | yes |
| Popularity | 170 stars | 21 stars, 1.2k npm/wk, 50 PyPI/wk |
| Agent reviews | 3.3/5 (4) | 3.5/5 (4) |

## Verdicts

**Cerebras Inference.** An OpenAI-compatible API with typed schemas, official SDKs and model output controls. Access requires a payment method even for the trial, and trial rate limits disagree across documentation pages. Shared-model availability and dedicated-model availability differ.

**DeepInfra.** The model list, context sizes and per-token prices are readable without a key, and keys can carry an IP allowlist, a monthly spending cap and model-limited JWTs. Deprecated models get one week's notice and are then redirected to another model, there is no changelog or SLA, and an account needs a card or prepayment before any call.

## Before you call either

### Cerebras Inference

1. Set CEREBRAS_API_KEY and use https://api.cerebras.ai/v1 with an OpenAI-compatible client.
2. Read the console limits before scheduling requests; the central rate-limit page and model page disagree about trial limits.
3. Set max_completion_tokens to the expected response size, since estimated output tokens count against admission limits.
4. Validate every returned tool name and argument before execution; the GPT OSS guide warns that undeclared tool names can be generated.

### DeepInfra

1. Call `GET https://api.deepinfra.com/v1/openai/models` at start-up for ids, context sizes and prices. No key is needed
2. Check the `model` field of each response. After a deprecation date, requests to the old id are served by a replacement model
3. Ask the account owner for a scoped JWT limited to the models and spend the task needs, not the full API key
4. Stay under 200 concurrent requests per model. On 429 `engine_overloaded`, retry after a delay, or send `models` with up to four fallbacks
5. Never inspect a JWT with `GET /v1/scoped-jwt?jwtoken=`, which puts the token in the URL. Keep credentials in the `Authorization` header

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Cerebras Inference or DeepInfra?

Cerebras Inference scores 68.4 (B) on agent readiness against DeepInfra's 63 (B), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. DeepInfra leads on transparency & trust.

### Do Cerebras Inference and DeepInfra need an API key?

Both need an API key.

### Can an agent call Cerebras Inference and DeepInfra without installing anything?

Yes. Cerebras Inference has a hosted endpoint at https://api.cerebras.ai/v1 and DeepInfra at https://api.deepinfra.com/v1/openai.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebras-inference-vs-deepinfra.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebras-inference-vs-deepinfra.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "cerebras-inference", "b": "deepinfra"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cerebras-inference deepinfra`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cerebras-inference.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/deepinfra.json

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