kitio.aiNebius AI Cloud vs Lightning AI
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Nebius AI Cloud starts at See pricing page and Lightning AI starts at $50/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Non-virtualized GPU clusters
- InfiniBand networking
- Managed and serverless inference
- Built-in MLOps tooling
- Spot preemptible VMs
- 24/7 expert support
- Cloud Studios
- One-click GPU switching
- Multi-node training
- Model serving
- Free monthly credits
| Feature | Nebius AI Cloud | Lightning AI |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | GPU cloud for AI training and inference with managed MLOps | Cloud workspaces with GPUs for training and serving models |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | See pricing page | $50/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Nebius | Lightning AI |
| Based in | Netherlands | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Nebius AI Cloud starts at See pricing page and Lightning AI starts at $50/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 30 free credits
- 1 free active Studio
- Single GPUs, pay as you go
Pay as you go
From $0.55 / GPU-hour
- Billed by the second
- T4 to B200 GPUs
- Interruptible discounts
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Nebius AI Cloud
- Purpose-built for AI workloads
- Live spot pricing for cheaper jobs
- Free white-glove proof of concept
- 24/7 support by default
- Usage costs can be hard to predict
- Spot capacity can be interrupted
- Large deals go through sales
Lightning AI
- Ready-to-use ML environments
- Free GPU credits
- From the PyTorch Lightning team
- Free Studios need restarts
- GPU prices above marketplaces
- Credit system takes learning
Which one should you choose?
Choose Nebius AI Cloud if you want:
- Purpose-built for AI workloads
- Live spot pricing for cheaper jobs
- Free white-glove proof of concept
Watch out: usage costs can be hard to predict.
Choose Lightning AI if you want:
- Ready-to-use ML environments
- Free GPU credits
- From the PyTorch Lightning team
Watch out: free studios need restarts.
Nebius AI Cloud vs Lightning AI FAQ
What is the difference between Nebius AI Cloud and Lightning AI?
Nebius AI Cloud: GPU cloud for AI training and inference with managed MLOps. Lightning AI: Cloud workspaces with GPUs for training and serving models. Both are models & apis tools.
Is Nebius AI Cloud or Lightning AI cheaper?
Nebius AI Cloud starts at See pricing page and Lightning AI starts at $50/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Nebius AI Cloud and Lightning AI have free plans?
Nebius AI Cloud: No. Lightning AI: Yes.
Who makes Nebius AI Cloud?
Nebius AI Cloud is made by Nebius, based in Netherlands.
Who makes Lightning AI?
Lightning AI is made by Lightning AI, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Nebius AI Cloud or Lightning AI?
Choose Nebius AI Cloud if you value purpose-built for ai workloads and live spot pricing for cheaper jobs. Choose Lightning AI if you value ready-to-use ml environments and free gpu credits.