Replicate is the better choice for multimodal AI workloads combining image, video, audio, and text with per-second billing that rewards bursty usage patterns. Together AI is the better choice for LLM-focused workloads where predictable token-based pricing, dedicated GPU endpoints, and native fine-tuning from $3/M tokens are priorities.
| Feature | Replicate | Together AI |
|---|---|---|
| Billing Model | Per-second GPU compute pricing from CPU $0.09/hr to H100 $5.49/hr | Token-based serverless pricing from $0.10/M to $2.50/M tokens |
| Primary Focus | Multimodal inference marketplace covering image, video, audio, and language models | LLM inference optimization with dedicated endpoints and fine-tuning infrastructure |
| Fine-tuning | Not a native platform feature; deploy pre-trained or externally fine-tuned models via Cog | Native platform service from $3/M tokens with integrated training-to-serving pipeline |
| Pricing Range | Replicate uses pure pay-as-you-go pricing billed per second of compute. Hardware rates: CPU $0.09/hr, Nvidia T4 $0.81/hr, A100 80GB $5.04/hr, H100 $5.49/hr, 4x H100 $21.96/hr, 8x H100 $43.92/hr. Public models: Flux Schnell $0.003/image, Flux 1.1 Pro $0.04/image, DeepSeek R1 $3.75/1M input tokens. Video: Wan 2.1 480p $0.09/second of video. No subscription required. Enterprise volume discounts via committed spend. | Serverless inference: from $0.10/M tokens (small models) to $2.50/M tokens (large models). Dedicated endpoints: from $0.80/GPU/hour (A100). Fine-tuning: from $3/M tokens. Free tier: $5 in credits. Pay-as-you-go with no minimum. |
| Model Ecosystem | Large community marketplace with diverse models across image, video, audio, and text | Curated selection of popular open-source LLMs optimized for throughput |
| Best For | Teams running multimodal AI workloads with bursty traffic needing per-second billing | Teams focused on LLM workloads needing predictable token-based pricing and fine-tuning |
| Feature | Replicate | Together AI |
|---|---|---|
| Inference Capabilities | ||
| LLM Inference | Available via API; DeepSeek R1 at $3.75/1M input tokens | Core platform strength with optimized throughput; $0.10-$2.50/M tokens |
| Image Generation | Flux Schnell $0.003/image, Flux 1.1 Pro $0.04/image, SDXL and community models | Not a primary platform capability |
| Video Generation | Wan 2.1 480p at $0.09 per second of video output | Not available as a core offering |
| Audio Models | Whisper, MusicGen, and other community audio models | Not a primary modality |
| Infrastructure & Deployment | ||
| GPU Hardware Options | CPU, T4 ($0.81/hr), A100 ($5.04/hr), H100 ($5.49/hr), multi-GPU up to 8x H100 | A100 and H100 configurations; dedicated from $0.80/GPU/hr |
| Custom Model Deployment | Cog containerization for packaging any ML model as an API | Upload and serve custom models on platform infrastructure |
| Dedicated Endpoints | Hardware-tier selection with per-second billing | Dedicated GPU clusters from $0.80/GPU/hour with guaranteed throughput |
| Auto-scaling | Scales to zero when idle; pay only for active compute seconds | Serverless endpoints auto-scale; dedicated endpoints require provisioning |
| Training & Customization | ||
| Fine-tuning | Not a native platform feature; requires external training and Cog deployment | Native service from $3/M tokens with integrated training pipeline |
| Model Library | Large community marketplace with thousands of public models across modalities | Curated selection of popular open-source LLMs optimized for performance |
| Pricing & Access | ||
| Billing Model | Per-second GPU compute time across all hardware tiers | Per-token for serverless; per-GPU-hour for dedicated endpoints |
| Free Tier | No free credits; pay-per-use from the first API call | $5 in free credits for new accounts |
| Enterprise Options | Volume discounts via committed spend agreements | Custom pricing for high-volume enterprise usage |
LLM Inference
Image Generation
Video Generation
Audio Models
GPU Hardware Options
Custom Model Deployment
Dedicated Endpoints
Auto-scaling
Fine-tuning
Model Library
Billing Model
Free Tier
Enterprise Options
Replicate is the better choice for multimodal AI workloads combining image, video, audio, and text with per-second billing that rewards bursty usage patterns. Together AI is the better choice for LLM-focused workloads where predictable token-based pricing, dedicated GPU endpoints, and native fine-tuning from $3/M tokens are priorities.
Choose Replicate if:
Choose Together AI if:
This verdict is based on general use cases. Your specific requirements, existing tech stack, and team expertise should guide your final decision.
Replicate supports LLM inference alongside its multimodal capabilities. Models like DeepSeek R1 are available at $3.75/1M input tokens. However, Replicate's LLM ecosystem is smaller than Together AI's curated selection, and the per-second hardware billing model means LLM costs depend on inference speed and GPU selection rather than a flat per-token rate.
Per-token billing (Together AI) offers more straightforward cost estimation for text workloads because you can calculate costs directly from prompt and completion token counts. Per-second billing (Replicate) depends on model inference speed, hardware tier, and batching behavior, making budgeting less predictable but potentially more cost-effective for short-running tasks.
Together AI's platform is built primarily around large language model workloads. It does not position image or video generation as a core capability. Replicate offers dedicated image generation pricing (Flux Schnell at $0.003/image) and video generation (Wan 2.1 at $0.09/second). If multimodal AI is a significant part of your workflow, Replicate provides substantially more breadth.
Together AI has a clear advantage for fine-tuning, offering native support starting at $3/M tokens with an integrated workflow from data upload through training to serving. Replicate does not offer fine-tuning as a built-in feature; you would need to train externally and deploy via Cog.