Category · 16 tools · 4 comparisons
AI inference platforms
Host and serve AI models with managed inference APIs and scalable compute.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 16
- Entry plans
- $0.27–$43.80/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $8/mo
- Free plan
- 8 of 16
- Cheapest paid
- Runpod, $0.27/mo
- Best value score
- Ollama, 9/10
Every tool we cover
API pricing →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 OllamaOllama | 7.6 | $16.67/mo | $500/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 BasetenBaseten | 7.6 | Free* | — | Yes | Yes | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 GroqCloudGroqCloud | 7.5 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Together AITogether AI | 7.4 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DeepInfraDeepInfra | 7.4 | Custom | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 SiliconFlowSiliconFlow | 7.4 | Custom | — | No | — | ReviewPricing |
 SaladCloudSaladCloud | 7.3 | $43.80/mo* | $182.50/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 RunpodRunpod | 7.2 | $0.27/mo | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 fal.aifal.ai | 7.2 | Custom | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Novita AINovita AI | 7.0 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 ReplicateReplicate | 6.9 | Free | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Fireworks AIFireworks AI | 6.8 | $8/mo | $10/mo | No | — | Review |
 SambaNova CloudSambaNova Cloud | 6.7 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 Cerebras InferenceCerebras Inference | 6.4 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewPricing |
 Lambda CloudLambda Cloud | 6.3 | Custom | — | No | — | ReviewPricing |
 HyperbolicHyperbolic | 5.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
Highest scored
OllamaOllama
A convenient local model runtime and API, with less low-level control than some developers want.
BasetenBaseten
Baseten covers more than inference APIs, but teams should verify rates, limits and deployment costs before committing.
GroqCloudGroqCloud
A practical hosted inference API, but model limits and usage costs shape production fit.
AI inference platforms: quick answers
How much do AI inference platforms cost?
Paid plans for the 16 AI inference platforms we track start between $0.27 and $43.80 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $8 a month. 8 of them have a free plan. DeepInfra, SiliconFlow, fal.ai, Cerebras Inference and Lambda Cloud don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 10, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which AI inference platform is the cheapest?
Runpod has the lowest paid entry plan at $0.27 a month, followed by Fireworks AI at $8. If you can live with limits, Ollama, Baseten, GroqCloud and Together AI have a free plan.
Which AI inference platforms have a free plan?
Ollama, Baseten, GroqCloud, Together AI, Novita AI, Replicate, SambaNova Cloud and Hyperbolic have a free plan. Cerebras Inference offers a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which AI inference platform scores highest in our reviews?
Ollama scores highest at 7.6/10. A convenient local model runtime and API, with less low-level control than some developers want.