kitio.aiMLServer vs Stacklok
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. MLServer is completely free, while Stacklok is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- REST and gRPC endpoints
- V2 Inference Protocol
- Multi-model serving
- Adaptive batching
- Prebuilt framework runtimes
- Custom runtimes
- MCP registry
- MCP gateway
- MCP runtime
- AI gateway
- Kubernetes-native deployment
- Open-source agent harness
| Feature | MLServer | Stacklok |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source Python server for serving ML models over REST and gRPC | Kubernetes-native MCP and AI gateway platform for enterprise agents |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Seldon | Stacklok |
| Based in | United Kingdom | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
MLServer is completely free, while Stacklok is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
MLServer
- Standard protocol shared with KServe
- Wide range of ML framework runtimes
- Installs with pip
- Python 3.13 is not yet supported
- Docs page shows few recent updates
- Needs Kubernetes tooling for scaled deployments
Stacklok
- Built by Kubernetes co-creators
- Avoids lock-in to one model vendor
- Fits existing Kubernetes ops
- Requires Kubernetes expertise
- Enterprise pricing not published
- Aimed at platform teams, not end users
Which one should you choose?
Choose MLServer if you want:
- Standard protocol shared with KServe
- Wide range of ML framework runtimes
- Installs with pip
Watch out: python 3.13 is not yet supported.
Choose Stacklok if you want:
- Built by Kubernetes co-creators
- Avoids lock-in to one model vendor
- Fits existing Kubernetes ops
Watch out: requires kubernetes expertise.
MLServer vs Stacklok FAQ
What is the difference between MLServer and Stacklok?
MLServer: Open-source Python server for serving ML models over REST and gRPC. Stacklok: Kubernetes-native MCP and AI gateway platform for enterprise agents. Both are models & apis tools.
Is MLServer or Stacklok cheaper?
MLServer is completely free, while Stacklok is freemium.
Do MLServer and Stacklok have free plans?
MLServer: Yes, fully free. Stacklok: Yes.
Who makes MLServer?
MLServer is made by Seldon, based in United Kingdom.
Who makes Stacklok?
Stacklok is made by Stacklok, based in United States.
Which should I choose, MLServer or Stacklok?
Choose MLServer if you value standard protocol shared with kserve and wide range of ml framework runtimes. Choose Stacklok if you value built by kubernetes co-creators and avoids lock-in to one model vendor.