RentGPU RentGPU
GPU finden →
Tool · Run a model

Self-host vs API — at what volume does renting a GPU win?

Open-weight models can run on rented GPUs (~$1–$4/hr for an A100 / H100) or via per-token APIs. Plug in your numbers; we'll show the breakeven curve.

Qwen: Qwen3 VL 8B Instruct
10,000 100,000,000
10,000 100,000,000
Monthly input tokens
30,000,000
@ 1,000,000/day
Monthly output tokens
15,000,000
@ 500,000/day
Self-host GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
needs 22 GB VRAM
Self-host monthly
$87
24/7 on cheapest provider

API pricing — cheapest first

Monthly bill at 30,000,000 input + 15,000,000 output tokens.

Provider $/M in $/M out Monthly vs self-host
Alibaba DashScope
$0.08 $0.5 $9.9 −$77.29 Open →
Together AI
$0.18 $0.68 $15.6 −$71.59 Open →
OpenRouter
$0.25 $0.75 $18.75 −$68.44 Open →

Self-host on Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090

Cheapest fitting GPU for Qwen: Qwen3 VL 8B Instruct at FP16. Live at Vast.ai at $0.121/hr → $87/month at 24/7 utilisation.

Related tools