{"id":"distributed-cheap-gpu","slug":"distributed-cheap-gpu","name":"Ultra-cheap interruptible GPUs","shortName":"Ultra-cheap interruptible GPUs","problemStatement":"Batch/vision jobs that can restart; minimize $/GPU-hr on consumer or spot capacity.","whenNotTopPick":"Need SLA, multi-node IB, or customer PII guarantees.","categoryIds":["cat-gpu-cloud"],"depotPickProviderId":"salad","depotPickRationale":"Pure pricePerf; reliability intentionally discounted.","runnersUpIds":["vast-ai","tensordock","oblivus"],"weights":{"capabilityFit":0.22,"pricePerformance":0.25,"latencyReliability":0.15,"developerDx":0.12,"privacyPosture":0.08,"lockInRisk":0.08,"maturity":0.1},"methodologyNotes":"Pure pricePerf; reliability intentionally discounted.","tags":["distributed"],"depth":{"whenNotToUse":{"text":"Need SLA, multi-node IB, or customer PII guarantees.","source":"editorial `whenNotTopPick` (data/jtbds.json)"},"whenNotToUseReason":null,"runnerUp":{"providerId":"vast-ai","name":"Vast.ai","overallForJob":7.2,"pickOverallForJob":6.96,"beatsPickOn":["capabilityFit","pricePerformance","developerDx","lockInRisk","maturity"],"source":"first resolvable entry of the job's editorially ranked `runnersUpIds`; scores are stored job-weighted scores"},"runnerUpReason":null,"lockIn":{"pickLockInRisk":3.5,"runnerUpLockInRisk":2.5,"scale":"0–10 stored curated estimate; higher = more lock-in (worse)","pickExitSignals":[],"runnerUpExitSignals":[],"pickNotes":[],"selfHostFallback":[],"migration":"Runner-up Vast.ai has lower stored lock-in risk (2.5 vs 3.5, 0–10, higher = more lock-in).","migrationReason":null,"derivedFrom":"stored lockInRisk scores, provider tags (oss, self-host, openai-compat, open-models), free rows that list this job, and verbatim provider notes. No migration guide was invented."}},"freshness":{"pick":{"score":{"asOf":"2026-10-19","ageDays":9,"stale":false,"staleAfterDays":30,"reason":null},"lastReviewed":{"asOf":"2026-10-19","ageDays":9,"stale":false,"staleAfterDays":30,"reason":null},"sourceCheck":{"checkedAt":"2026-10-27","sourceUrls":3,"sourcesReachable":3,"pricingRows":6,"pricingRowsReconfirmed":0,"note":"A source re-check confirms the page is reachable and, for pricing rows, that the stored amount and SKU name appear on it. It does not re-derive or change the score.","reason":null}}},"depotPick":{"id":"salad","slug":"salad","name":"SaladCloud","tagline":"Promoted high on official /pricing floor ($0.015/GPU-hr). Depot interruptible ultra-cheap GPU pick…","overall":6.96},"runnersUp":[{"id":"vast-ai","slug":"vast-ai","name":"Vast.ai","tagline":"Cheapest GPUs if your job can die and restart. Never put customer PII training here without eyes wide open.","overall":7.2},{"id":"tensordock","slug":"tensordock","name":"TensorDock","tagline":"Cheap GPU peer to Vast/RunPod community. Fine for interruptible training/batch; not regulated PII.","overall":7.23},{"id":"oblivus","slug":"oblivus","name":"Oblivus","tagline":"Price-check peer to Nebius/RunPod for on-demand H100s. Validate support and regions.","overall":7.28}]}