{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "runpod", "name": "Runpod", "vendor": "Runpod", "vendorUrl": "https://www.runpod.io", "kind": "http-api", "category": "gpu-compute", "summary": "Serverless GPU endpoints, queue-based or load-balanced, and rented GPU Pods, billed per second from prepaid credit.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/runpod", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/runpod.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/runpod.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/runpod.json", "repo": "https://github.com/runpod/runpod-python", "license": "MIT", "transports": [ "http", "streamable-http", "stdio" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.runpod.ai/v2", "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "runpod" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "runpod-sdk" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@runpod/mcp-server" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "runpod-flash" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "API key from the console sent as `Authorization: Bearer` to serverless endpoints at api.runpod.ai/v2/\u003cendpoint-id\u003e and to the management REST API v2 at api.runpod.io/v2. Keys can be All, Read Only or Restricted per serverless endpoint. The deprecated GraphQL API takes the key as `?api_key=` in the URL. The hosted MCP server at mcp.getrunpod.io signs in with OAuth (Sign in with Runpod) or takes an API key as a Bearer header; the local `@runpod/mcp-server` reads `RUNPOD_API_KEY`.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "Prepaid credit, billed per second and rounded up to the nearest second, with no data transfer fees and no free tier. Serverless flex workers an hour are 16 GB A4000 class $0.58, L4, A5000 or RTX 3090 $0.69, RTX 4090 $1.10, RTX Pro 4500 $1.15, A6000 or A40 $1.22, RTX 5090 $1.58, L40, L40S or RTX 6000 Ada $1.75, A100 80 GB $2.72, RTX Pro 6000 $3.49, H100 $4.79, H200 $5.93, B200 $8.64, B300 $9.98. Active (always-on) workers are discounted through sales. Pods run from $0.27 an hour (RTX A5000) to $7.89 (B300) on Community or Secure Cloud. Container disk $0.10 a GB-month, volume disk $0.10 running and $0.20 idle, network volumes $0.07 a GB-month under 1 TB and $0.05 above, high-performance $0.14. Default spend cap $80 an hour. Cards, crypto after KYC, prepaid cards at $100 or more a transaction, invoicing above $5,000 (https://www.runpod.io/pricing, https://docs.runpod.io/serverless/pricing, https://docs.runpod.io/accounts-billing/billing).", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "both", "x402": { "level": "no", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 314, "npmWeekly": 21838, "pypiWeekly": 146926, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.runpod.io", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.runpod.io/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://api.runpod.io/v2/openapi.json", "capabilities": [ "compute.gpu", "compute.serverless", "compute.endpoints", "compute.batch", "compute.containers" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "usage-priced", "prepaid", "mcp", "oauth", "llms-txt", "python", "typescript", "async-jobs", "batch", "webhooks", "enterprise" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-15", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 53.5, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 542, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 722, "categoryRank": 9, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 82, "payments": 20, "reliability": 35, "schema": 81, "security": 60, "transparency": 63 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Per-second billing across more than a dozen serverless GPU classes, H100 at $4.79 and A100 80 GB at $2.72 an hour. Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026.", "bestFor": "Cost-sensitive inference and batch work that wants the widest GPU choice, from consumer cards to B300, with an MCP control plane.", "strengths": [ "Per-second billing across more than a dozen serverless GPU classes, H100 at $4.79 and A100 80 GB at $2.72 an hour", "API keys can be Read Only or restricted per serverless endpoint", "OpenAPI file for REST v2, llms.txt and dated release notes with deprecation dates", "Official MCP server, hosted with OAuth or local over stdio", "Valid security.txt and SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 in the trust centre" ], "weaknesses": [ "Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026", "No published rate limits, 429 guidance, error codes or SLA", "The GraphQL API, live until early 2027, takes the API key in the URL", "No free tier, prepaid credit only", "Three APIs in flight, with REST v1 retiring on 15 November 2026" ], "agentNotes": [ "Create a Restricted or Read Only key per endpoint for the agent, not an All key", "Use REST v2 at api.runpod.io/v2 with a Bearer header; avoid GraphQL, which puts the key in the URL", "Fetch `/run` results within 30 minutes and `/runsync` results within 1 minute, or they're gone", "Call `/retry` on a failed job ID rather than submitting a duplicate job", "Check `/health` before relying on an endpoint idle for a week, since max workers drop to 0" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 53.5 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 82, "payments": 20, "reliability": 35, "schema": 81, "security": 60, "transparency": 60 }, "provenanceScore": 66 }, "connect": { "install": "pip install runpod # or npm i runpod-sdk", "http": "curl -X POST \"https://api.runpod.ai/v2/$RUNPOD_ENDPOINT_ID/runsync\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $RUNPOD_API_KEY\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\"input\":{\"prompt\":\"Hello, world!\"}}'", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http runpod https://mcp.getrunpod.io/ --header \"Authorization: Bearer $RUNPOD_API_KEY\"", "config": { "mcpServers": { "runpod": { "args": [ "-y", "@runpod/mcp-server@latest" ], "command": "npx", "env": { "RUNPOD_API_KEY": "${RUNPOD_API_KEY}" } } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/compute.gpu", "tool": "https://letme.dev/runpod" }, "area": "models", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "H100 80 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 4.79, "note": "Billed per second" }, { "item": "H200 141 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 5.93 }, { "item": "B200 180 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 8.64 }, { "item": "A100 80 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 2.72 }, { "item": "L40S 48 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 1.75 }, { "item": "RTX 4090 24 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 1.1 }, { "item": "L4 24 GB serverless flex", "unit": "gpu-hour", "usd": 0.69 }, { "item": "Container disk", "unit": "gb-month", "usd": 0.1 }, { "item": "Network volume under 1 TB", "unit": "gb-month", "usd": 0.07, "note": "$0.05 above 1 TB, $0.14 high-performance" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Runpod, Inc.", "domain": "runpod.io", "domainRegistered": "", "endpointOnVendorDomain": false, "terms": "https://www.runpod.io/legal/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://www.runpod.io/legal/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "https://uptime.runpod.io", "changelog": "https://docs.runpod.io/release-notes", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-09-30", "notes": [ "Terms effective 24 March 2026 name Runpod, Inc. under Delaware law. The privacy policy gives 329 Bryant St #4D, San Francisco.", "Serverless endpoints are served from api.runpod.ai and the management API from api.runpod.io, while the hosted MCP server sits on getrunpod.io.", "security.txt points to trust.runpod.io and expires 2027-01-31.", "The .io registry's RDAP server rate-limited our lookup, so the registration date is unrecorded." ], "score": 66 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/runpod.json", "live": { "slug": "runpod", "probe": { "target": "https://api.runpod.ai/v2", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T19:53:01.050175681Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 50, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 54, "p95ms24h": 111, "samples24h": 272, "samples30d": 1941, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-01", "probes": 109, "ok": 109 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "probes": 271, "ok": 271 }, { "date": "2026-10-04", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 225, "ok": 225 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://uptime.runpod.io", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T19:39:08.700912951Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "runpod/runpod-python", "version": "v1.12.0", "released": "2026-08-10", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:27:52.721885319Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@runpod/mcp-server", "version": "4.0.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:27:51.181072709Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "runpod-sdk", "version": "1.1.2", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:27:50.332110359Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "runpod", "version": "1.12.0", "released": "2026-08-10", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:27:50.147142378Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "runpod-flash", "version": "1.20.0", "released": "2026-09-24", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:27:52.644090717Z" } ], "githubStars": 314, "npmWeekly": 30649, "pypiWeekly": 163037, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://runpod.io/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "valid", "expires": "2027-01-31T23:59:59Z", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:36.644714031Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://docs.runpod.io/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:51.140150765Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "runpod.io", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:06:54.960688955Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.runpod.io/release-notes", "kind": "deprecations", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:23.565650782Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "64302af06aec" }, { "url": "https://docs.runpod.io/serverless/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:25.792000525Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-06T16:08:35.000217664Z", "fingerprint": "e5a52588b7ab" }, { "url": "https://www.runpod.io/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:30:09.061455266Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "4e4c891c31f7" }, { "url": "https://www.runpod.io/legal/privacy-policy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:30:05.013110293Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "00b9defcdf3d" }, { "url": "https://www.runpod.io/legal/terms-of-service", "kind": "terms", "status": 304, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:30:07.057529612Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "4163df004c48" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T19:53:01.050175681Z" } }, "answer": "Vast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories.", "b": { "slug": "vast-ai", "name": "Vast.ai", "vendor": "Vast.ai Inc.", "vendorUrl": "https://vast.ai", "kind": "http-api", "category": "gpu-compute", "summary": "Vast.ai is a marketplace for renting GPUs by the second from independent hosts and data centres, as Docker instances, virtual machines or autoscaling serverless endpoints. Agents use the `vastai` CLI, a Python SDK or a REST API.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vast-ai", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vast-ai.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vast-ai.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/vast-ai.json", "repo": "https://github.com/vast-ai/vast-cli", "license": "Proprietary service under Vast.ai's Terms of Use Agreement. The `vastai` CLI and Python SDK on GitHub are MIT", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://console.vast.ai/api/v0", "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "vastai" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "API key from the console's Keys page, sent as `Authorization: Bearer` to https://console.vast.ai/api/v0, or stored once with `vastai set api-key`. Access is self-serve after a browser signup and email verification. A key has full account access by default. Scoped keys take any of 11 permission categories (`instance_read`, `instance_write`, `billing_write` and others) and constraints that narrow an endpoint to resource IDs. Keys are shown once, and can be reset or deleted with immediate effect. The rate-limit page names an `api_key` query parameter as part of a caller's identity, while the authentication page documents only the header.", "pricing": "usage", "pricingNotes": "Prepaid credit with a $5 minimum deposit and no free tier or trial found. Each host sets its own rate per listing, so there is no fixed price list. Live rates are public at vast.ai/pricing and through `vastai search offers`. GPU time bills per second while an instance runs, storage per second while it exists (stopped included) and bandwidth per byte. Interruptible rentals are bid-priced and reserved rentals are prepaid for 1, 3 or 6 months. Serverless adds no fee on top of instance rates. Spent credit is not refunded (https://docs.vast.ai/guides/reference/billing.md, https://docs.vast.ai/guides/instances/pricing.md, checked 2026-10-08).", "priceSummary": "Pay per use", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs index, llms.txt, the agent pricing page or the OpenAPI file (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 223, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": 32699, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.vast.ai", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.vast.ai/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.vast.ai/api-reference/openapi.json", "capabilities": [ "compute.gpu", "compute.containers", "compute.serverless", "compute.endpoints" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "marketplace", "usage-priced", "prepaid", "api-key", "scoped-keys", "openapi", "llms-txt", "python", "cli", "agent-skill", "serverless", "spot", "status-page", "soc2" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-02", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 62.6, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 331, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 722, "categoryRank": 4, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 57, "maintenance": 81, "payments": 20, "reliability": 65, "schema": 78, "security": 72, "transparency": 62 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "API keys can be limited by permission category and by resource ID, the REST API has a public OpenAPI 3.1 file, and the CLI ships weekly with a skill file for coding agents. Machines belong to independent hosts, prices move with the market, rate-limit thresholds are unpublished, and there is no SLA or free tier.", "bestFor": "Cost-sensitive training, batch work and self-managed inference where the agent can search listings, set a price cap and tolerate host variance or interruption.", "strengths": [ "API keys take 11 permission categories and per-endpoint constraints on resource IDs, and can be reset or deleted at once", "Public OpenAPI 3.1 file with 89 operations, llms.txt and Markdown docs pages", "MIT CLI and Python SDK, v1.8.3 on 2 October 2026, with 12 tagged releases since 27 July 2026", "Per-second billing, with serverless workers charged at the same rates as rented instances", "Vulnerability disclosure policy with safe harbour and triage within 5 business days, and an account audit log from the CLI" ], "weaknesses": [ "No SLA. The terms say availability is not guaranteed and the service can change without notice", "Rate-limit thresholds are unpublished and 429 responses carry no `Retry-After` header", "No free tier. Credit is prepaid with a $5 minimum deposit after a browser signup and email verification", "Hosts are independent. The security FAQ says individual hosts may have less formal security than Secure Cloud data centres", "The terms of 1 September 2026 prohibit scripts and automated access to the services without a separate written agreement, which conflicts with the public API" ], "agentNotes": [ "Create a scoped key with `vastai create api-key --permissions` for the agent. A default key has full account access, billing and key management included", "Pass `--raw` on every CLI command for JSON output, and `-y` on `vastai destroy instance`, which otherwise waits for a confirmation prompt", "Register an SSH key with `vastai create ssh-key` before creating an instance, or the host is unreachable", "Destroy instances when finished. A stopped instance still bills storage, and a zero balance without a saved card leads to deletion", "Back off on HTTP 429 yourself when calling REST directly. The CLI retries 429 three times from 0.15 seconds", "Filter searches with `verified=true` or the Secure Cloud option for sensitive data, and set a `dph_total` price cap" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 62.6 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 57, "maintenance": 81, "payments": 20, "reliability": 65, "schema": 78, "security": 72, "transparency": 45 }, "provenanceScore": 79 }, "connect": { "install": "pip install vastai", "http": "curl -s -H \"Authorization: Bearer $VAST_API_KEY\" \\\n \"https://console.vast.ai/api/v0/users/current/\"", "claudeCode": "/plugin marketplace add vast-ai/vast-claude-plugin\n/plugin install vastai" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/compute.gpu", "tool": "https://letme.dev/vast-ai" }, "area": "models", "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Vast.ai Inc.", "domain": "vast.ai", "domainRegistered": "2017-12-16", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://vast.ai/terms", "privacy": "https://vast.ai/privacy", "statusPage": "https://status.vast.ai", "changelog": "https://github.com/vast-ai/vast-cli/releases", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The Terms of Use Agreement, version date 1 September 2026, names Vast.ai Inc. and its affiliates, covers the website and the rental service, and is governed by California law with JAMS arbitration in the Los Angeles area.", "The privacy policy, version date 18 June 2025, names Vast.ai Inc. and a Privacy Officer at contact@vast.ai. It is written for users of the website and contains an unfilled `[INSERT HYPERLINK]` placeholder.", "A Data Processing Agreement at vast.ai/data-processing-agreement forms part of the terms, with standard contractual clauses and five named sub-processors (Stripe, Google, Meta, Twitter, Microsoft).", "The REST API answers at console.vast.ai and serverless routing at run.vast.ai, both on the vendor's domain. Rented machines belong to independent hosts.", "vast.ai/.well-known/security.txt returns 404. A vulnerability disclosure policy dated 23 July 2025 at vast.ai/vulnerability-disclosure-policy sends reports to security@vast.ai.", "No API changelog was found in the docs index. The changelog link is the CLI and SDK repository's release list, which has no CHANGELOG file.", "RDAP for vast.ai gives a registration date of 2017-12-16." ], "score": 79 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vast-ai.json", "live": { "slug": "vast-ai", "probe": { "target": "https://console.vast.ai/api/v0", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T19:53:05.315409291Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 341, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 340, "p95ms24h": 407, "samples24h": 27, "samples30d": 27, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 27, "ok": 27 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.vast.ai", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T19:39:18.949416936Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.vast.ai/guides/instances/pricing.md", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:43.22968168Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "7cd305f9206a" }, { "url": "https://vast.ai/privacy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:25:30.293684318Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "afe890f5aa20" }, { "url": "https://vast.ai/terms", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:25:32.570996649Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "652ca94c3dd7" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T19:53:05.315409291Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Runpod", "b": "Vast.ai Inc.", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://api.runpod.ai/v2", "b": "https://console.vast.ai/api/v0", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Pay per use", "b": "Pay per use", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "MIT", "b": "Proprietary service under Vast.ai's Terms of Use Agreement. The `vastai` CLI and Python SDK on GitHub are MIT", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-09-15", "b": "2026-10-02", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2026-03-24", "b": "2026-09-01", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2025-08-07", "b": "2025-06-18", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "314 stars, 22k npm/wk, 147k PyPI/wk", "b": "223 stars, 33k PyPI/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "3/5 (2)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Vast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Runpod or Vast.ai?" }, { "answer": "Runpod takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. Vast.ai needs an API key.", "question": "Do Runpod and Vast.ai need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Runpod has a hosted endpoint at https://api.runpod.ai/v2 and Vast.ai at https://console.vast.ai/api/v0.", "question": "Can an agent call Runpod and Vast.ai without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": null, "also": [ "Runs on your own machine" ], "goodFor": "Cost-sensitive inference and batch work that wants the widest GPU choice, from consumer cards to B300, with an MCP control plane.", "slug": "runpod", "watchFor": "Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 65 against 35", "Agent ergonomics, 57 against 47", "Security \u0026 auth, 72 against 60" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Cost-sensitive training, batch work and self-managed inference where the agent can search listings, set a price cap and tolerate host variance or interruption.", "slug": "vast-ai", "watchFor": "No SLA. The terms say availability is not guaranteed and the service can change without notice" } ], "job": { "capability": "compute.gpu", "name": "Compute gpu" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Baseten vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Baseten vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Beam vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Beam vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Cerebrium vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Cerebrium vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-runpod.json", "title": "CoreWeave vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "CoreWeave vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Koyeb vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Koyeb vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Lambda Cloud vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Lambda Cloud vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Modal vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Modal vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Northflank vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Northflank vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-vast-ai" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-runpod.json", "title": "Replicate Deployments vs Runpod", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-runpod" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-vast-ai.json", "title": "Replicate Deployments vs Vast.ai", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-vast-ai" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 30, "edge": "vast-ai", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "runpod": 35, "vast-ai": 65, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 3, "edge": "runpod", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "runpod": 81, "vast-ai": 78, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 10, "edge": "vast-ai", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "runpod": 47, "vast-ai": 57, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 12, "edge": "vast-ai", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "runpod": 60, "vast-ai": 72, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 0, "edge": "", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "runpod": 20, "vast-ai": 20, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 1, "edge": "runpod", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "runpod": 82, "vast-ai": 81, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 1, "edge": "runpod", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "runpod": 63, "vast-ai": 62, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Vast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Both do compute gpu.", "verdicts": { "runpod": "Per-second billing across more than a dozen serverless GPU classes, H100 at $4.79 and A100 80 GB at $2.72 an hour. Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026.", "vast-ai": "API keys can be limited by permission category and by resource ID, the REST API has a public OpenAPI 3.1 file, and the CLI ships weekly with a skill file for coding agents. Machines belong to independent hosts, prices move with the market, rate-limit thresholds are unpublished, and there is no SLA or free tier." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai.min.md" }, "markdown": "Vast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Both do compute gpu.\n\n- Runpod: grade D, 53.5/100, rank #542 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/runpod.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/runpod.json\n- Vast.ai: grade B, 62.6/100, rank #331 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vast-ai.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/vast-ai.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Runpod (D)\n\nGood for: Cost-sensitive inference and batch work that wants the widest GPU choice, from consumer cards to B300, with an MCP control plane.\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Runs on your own machine\n\nWatch for: Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026\n\n### Vast.ai (B)\n\nGood for: Cost-sensitive training, batch work and self-managed inference where the agent can search listings, set a price cap and tolerate host variance or interruption.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 65 against 35\n- Agent ergonomics, 57 against 47\n- Security \u0026 auth, 72 against 60\n\nWatch for: No SLA. The terms say availability is not guaranteed and the service can change without notice\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Runpod | Vast.ai | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 35 | 65 | Vast.ai +30 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 81 | 78 | Runpod +3 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 47 | 57 | Vast.ai +10 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 60 | 72 | Vast.ai +12 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 20 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 82 | 81 | Runpod +1 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 63 | 62 | Runpod +1 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **53.5 · D** | **62.6 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Runpod | Vast.ai |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Runpod | Vast.ai Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.runpod.ai/v2` | `https://console.vast.ai/api/v0` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | MIT | Proprietary service under Vast.ai's Terms of Use Agreement. The `vastai` CLI and Python SDK on GitHub are MIT |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-09-15 | 2026-10-02 |\n| Terms last updated | 2026-03-24 | 2026-09-01 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-08-07 | 2025-06-18 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | yes |\n| Popularity | 314 stars, 22k npm/wk, 147k PyPI/wk | 223 stars, 33k PyPI/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Runpod.** Per-second billing across more than a dozen serverless GPU classes, H100 at $4.79 and A100 80 GB at $2.72 an hour. Data-centre outages of 6 to 24 hours in each of July, August and September 2026.\n\n**Vast.ai.** API keys can be limited by permission category and by resource ID, the REST API has a public OpenAPI 3.1 file, and the CLI ships weekly with a skill file for coding agents. Machines belong to independent hosts, prices move with the market, rate-limit thresholds are unpublished, and there is no SLA or free tier.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Runpod\n\n1. Create a Restricted or Read Only key per endpoint for the agent, not an All key\n2. Use REST v2 at api.runpod.io/v2 with a Bearer header; avoid GraphQL, which puts the key in the URL\n3. Fetch `/run` results within 30 minutes and `/runsync` results within 1 minute, or they're gone\n4. Call `/retry` on a failed job ID rather than submitting a duplicate job\n5. Check `/health` before relying on an endpoint idle for a week, since max workers drop to 0\n\n### Vast.ai\n\n1. Create a scoped key with `vastai create api-key --permissions` for the agent. A default key has full account access, billing and key management included\n2. Pass `--raw` on every CLI command for JSON output, and `-y` on `vastai destroy instance`, which otherwise waits for a confirmation prompt\n3. Register an SSH key with `vastai create ssh-key` before creating an instance, or the host is unreachable\n4. Destroy instances when finished. A stopped instance still bills storage, and a zero balance without a saved card leads to deletion\n5. Back off on HTTP 429 yourself when calling REST directly. The CLI retries 429 three times from 0.15 seconds\n6. Filter searches with `verified=true` or the Secure Cloud option for sensitive data, and set a `dph_total` price cap\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Runpod or Vast.ai?\n\nVast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories.\n\n### Do Runpod and Vast.ai need an API key?\n\nRunpod takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. Vast.ai needs an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Runpod and Vast.ai without installing anything?\n\nYes. Runpod has a hosted endpoint at https://api.runpod.ai/v2 and Vast.ai at https://console.vast.ai/api/v0.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"runpod\", \"b\": \"vast-ai\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare runpod vast-ai`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/runpod.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/vast-ai.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Runpod or Vast.ai\n\n- [Baseten vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Baseten vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/baseten-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Beam vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Beam vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/beam-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Cerebrium vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Cerebrium vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cerebrium-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [CoreWeave vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-runpod.md)\n- [CoreWeave vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coreweave-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Koyeb vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Koyeb vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/koyeb-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Lambda Cloud vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Lambda Cloud vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lambda-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Modal vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Modal vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/modal-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Northflank vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Northflank vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/northflank-vs-vast-ai.md)\n- [Replicate Deployments vs Runpod](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-runpod.md)\n- [Replicate Deployments vs Vast.ai](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/replicate-deploy-vs-vast-ai.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-08", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Runpod vs Vast.ai", "url": "" } ], "description": "Vast.ai scores 62.6 (B) on agent readiness against Runpod's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Both do compute gpu. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Runpod D 53.5", "Vast.ai B 62.6", "scores" ], "h1": "Runpod vs Vast.ai", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-runpod-vs-vast-ai.png", "path": "/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Runpod vs Vast.ai for AI agents, D 53.5 vs B 62.6 | Anchor Terminal", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/runpod-vs-vast-ai" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2050, "slim": 580 }, "version": 1 }