Modal vs Runloop
| Modal | Runloop | |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | gVisor | microVM |
| Cold start | 800ms | 400ms |
| Price / vCPU-hr | $0.14 | $0.108 |
| GPU | T4 → B200, incl. H100 | No |
| Session limit | Configurable | Configurable |
| Persistence | Volumes; ephemeral compute | Git-style disk snapshots + branching |
| MCP support | n/a | Yes |
| Free tier | $30/mo free credits | Free basic |
| Best for | Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. | Coding-agent builders needing eval harnesses and massive parallelism. |
The verdict
Choose Modal for Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. Choose Runloop for coding-agent builders needing eval harnesses and massive parallelism.
Headline rates rarely equal your bill. Idle time, session length, creation fees and GPU minutes dominate. Model your actual workload in the cost calculator.
FAQ
Modal vs Runloop: which is better?
It depends on your priority. Runloop leads on both cold start (400ms vs 800ms) and the headline vCPU-hour price. Modal is best for Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. Runloop is best for coding-agent builders needing eval harnesses and massive parallelism.
Is Modal or Runloop cheaper?
Runloop is cheaper on the headline vCPU-hour rate ($0.108 vs $0.14). Total cost depends on idle time, session length and creation fees. Model your workload in the cost calculator.
Still choosing between Modal and Runloop?
Tell us your workload and we'll point you to the better fit, then connect you with real pricing from the one you pick. No spam.