Vast.ai

Vast.ai is a decentralized marketplace that connects GPU owners with developers seeking compute. Users can pick and choose from various hardware configurations—ranging from consumer RTX cards to high-end V100 or A100 GPUs—often at lower cost points.

Deployment revolves around container images, which you launch with a configurable spec file. Vast.ai uses ephemeral volumes by default, though persistent storage can be attached for extended jobs. The system displays real-time performance stats and reliability ratings, letting you optimize cost against performance. Vast.ai’s main advantage is price flexibility—if you can be patient in selecting GPU hosts, you may significantly cut training expenses. It also offers a CLI and Python library, which allow for automation of deployment, data syncing, and monitoring. This can be a practical solution for developers running short-term experiments or single large training jobs.