kitio.aiSambaNova Cloud vs Chutes
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. SambaNova Cloud starts at See pricing page and Chutes starts at See pricing page. 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
- RDU-based inference
- OpenAI-compatible API
- Prompt caching
- Private SambaStack
- Free tier
- OpenAI-compatible API
- Custom chute deployment
- Decentralized GPU supply
- Popular open models
- Usage-based billing
| Feature | SambaNova Cloud | Chutes |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast inference for large open models on SambaNova's RDU chips | Decentralized serverless inference for open models on Bittensor |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | SambaNova Systems | Rayon Labs |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Both offer: OpenAI-compatible API.
Pricing compared
SambaNova Cloud starts at See pricing page and Chutes starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
Serverless models
From $0.039 / 1M input tokens
- Pay per token
- Open models like Qwen, DeepSeek, Kimi
- No free tier, prepaid top-up
Private Chutes
From $1.80 / GPU hour
- Deploy your own private chute
- Pay per second
- One-time deploy fee (3x hourly)
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
SambaNova Cloud
- Fast on very large models
- Free tier available
- Private deployment option
- Small model catalog
- Less community tooling
- Company strategy shifted often
Chutes
- Low prices on open models
- Easy OpenAI-style API
- Wide model selection
- Capacity errors at peak times
- Free tier was removed
- Decentralized setup raises trust questions
Which one should you choose?
Choose SambaNova Cloud if you want:
- Fast on very large models
- Free tier available
- Private deployment option
Watch out: small model catalog.
Choose Chutes if you want:
- Low prices on open models
- Easy OpenAI-style API
- Wide model selection
Watch out: capacity errors at peak times.
SambaNova Cloud vs Chutes FAQ
What is the difference between SambaNova Cloud and Chutes?
SambaNova Cloud: Fast inference for large open models on SambaNova's RDU chips. Chutes: Decentralized serverless inference for open models on Bittensor. Both are models & apis tools.
Is SambaNova Cloud or Chutes cheaper?
SambaNova Cloud starts at See pricing page and Chutes starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do SambaNova Cloud and Chutes have free plans?
SambaNova Cloud: Yes. Chutes: No.
Who makes SambaNova Cloud?
SambaNova Cloud is made by SambaNova Systems, based in United States.
Who makes Chutes?
Chutes is made by Rayon Labs.
Which should I choose, SambaNova Cloud or Chutes?
Choose SambaNova Cloud if you value fast on very large models and free tier available. Choose Chutes if you value low prices on open models and easy openai-style api.