Modal vs Convex
Agent-native side-by-side. Scores are curated estimates on a 0–10 scale. Lock-in: higher = worse. Prefer JTBD picks via /api/decide when choosing for a job.
| Dimension | Modal | Convex |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| Capability fit | 9.0 | 8.6 |
| Price / performance | 8.2 | 8.0 |
| Latency / reliability | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Developer & agent DX | 9.6 | 9.2 |
| Privacy / data retention | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Lock-in risk (higher = worse) | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Maturity / track record | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Pricing | As of 2026-10-24 (modal.com/pricing, fetched 2026-10-24): Python-native serverless GPU/CPU billed per second of compute ('You never pay for idle resources'). GPU list rates per second: H100 SXM5 '$0.001097', H200 SXM '$0… | As of 2026-09-14 (convex.dev/pricing): Free & Starter $0 + PAYG — 1–6 developers, included function calls/bandwidth with overages (~$2.20/1M function calls, action compute $0.33/GB-hr bands). Professional $25/developer/m… |
| Tagline | Depot darling for Python agent backends and bursty GPU jobs. If you think in functions not VMs, start here. | Great TS agent product backend when you want reactive state+actions together. Prefer Supabase/Neon when… |
Modal
Depot darling for Python agent backends and bursty GPU jobs. If you think in functions not VMs, start here. Strengths: Best-in-class Python DX for serverless compute; GPUs + sandboxes + cron in one model; Scale-to-zero economics.
Strengths
- Best-in-class Python DX for serverless compute
- GPUs + sandboxes + cron in one model
- Scale-to-zero economics
Weaknesses
- Premium vs raw RunPod $/GPU-sec sometimes
- Python-centric (polyglot harder)
- Less classic VM control
Convex
Great TS agent product backend when you want reactive state+actions together. Prefer Supabase/Neon when SQL/pgvector portability matters more than reactivity. Strengths: Reactive backend that fits agent UIs + tool actions in one system; Built-in vector search / crons / auth for agent products; Generous free tier for pr
Strengths
- Reactive backend that fits agent UIs + tool actions in one system
- Built-in vector search / crons / auth for agent products
- Generous free tier for prototypes
Weaknesses
- Professional per-developer pricing adds up
- Not a drop-in Postgres; mental model shift
- Business floor $2.5k/mo
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