vs ReplicateUp to 68% savings

Fleek vs Replicate: Model Hosting Cost Comparison (2026)

50-70% cheaper on optimized models vs Replicate

TL;DR

Replicate has thousands of community models—amazing variety. Fleek is 50-70% cheaper on the models we optimize. Use Replicate for experimentation and niche models. Use Fleek for production workloads on supported models.

Replicate pioneered the "run any model via API" approach. Their community model ecosystem is unmatched—thousands of models from fine-tuned checkpoints to experimental research. If you need access to a specific model, Replicate probably has it.

Fleek takes a different approach. Instead of hosting everything, we focus on optimizing a curated set of production-ready models. Fewer models, but significantly lower costs on the ones we support.

This comparison helps you understand when Replicate's variety wins, and when Fleek's focused optimization makes more sense.

Pricing Comparison

ModelFleekReplicateSavings
FLUX.1 Dev~$0.008/image$0.025/image68%
FLUX.1 SchnellSimilar pricing~$0.003/image$0.003/image0%
Stable Video Diffusion~$0.08/video$0.25/video68%
Llama 3.1 70B~$0.20/M tokens~$0.45/M tokens56%

Replicate pricing varies by model and changes frequently. Community models may have different rates than official versions. Fleek pricing is consistent across all supported models.

How Each Platform Works

How Fleek Works

Fleek optimizes a curated set of production-ready models on Blackwell GPUs. Every model gets custom precision tuning, efficient batching, and continuous optimization. The result is significantly lower cost on the models we support.

The tradeoff: fewer models. If we don't support the model you need, you'll need to look elsewhere.

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How Replicate Works

Replicate hosts thousands of models from the community and official sources. Anyone can push a model using Cog (their container format), making it easy to share fine-tuned checkpoints and experimental work.

Pricing is per-prediction with model-specific rates. Popular models get hardware optimization; long-tail models run on general infrastructure. The variety is unmatched, but costs vary widely.

Feature Comparison

Fleek Advantages

  • 50-70% cheaper on supported models
  • Consistent GPU-second pricing
  • Every model is production-optimized
  • Custom model deployment at the same rate
  • Predictable costs for capacity planning
  • Private model optimization coming soon—same pricing

Replicate Strengths

  • Thousands of community models
  • Easy model deployment with Cog
  • Great for experimentation and prototyping
  • Fine-tuned checkpoints readily available
  • Strong community and documentation
  • Niche models you won't find elsewhere

When to Use Each

Use Fleek when...

  • Running production inference on common models
  • Cost optimization is critical
  • You've settled on specific models
  • High-volume, predictable workloads
  • Custom model deployment is needed

Use Replicate when...

  • You need access to niche or experimental models
  • Rapid prototyping across many models
  • Exploring fine-tuned community checkpoints
  • Model variety is more important than cost
  • You want to deploy your own models easily

Switching from Replicate

Migration Difficulty:Easy

API calls are similar between platforms. The main consideration is whether Fleek supports the specific models you're using. For supported models, migration is straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fleek have as many models as Replicate?

No, Replicate has thousands of models from the community. Fleek supports a curated set of production-ready models that we've optimized. If model variety is your priority, Replicate wins. If cost on specific models matters, Fleek wins.

Can I deploy custom models on Fleek like with Replicate's Cog?

Fleek supports custom model deployment at $0.0025/GPU-sec, but the process is different from Replicate's Cog. Contact us for custom deployment details.

Which is better for prototyping?

Replicate's model variety makes it excellent for prototyping—you can test dozens of models quickly. Once you've settled on a model, switching to Fleek for production can save 50-70%.

Do community models work on Fleek?

Fleek doesn't have Replicate's community model ecosystem. If you need a specific fine-tuned checkpoint from the Replicate community, you'll need to use Replicate for that model.

Can Fleek optimize private or proprietary models?

Coming soon. We're building support for any model—not just the open-source ones we showcase. Upload your fine-tuned weights or proprietary model, and we'll apply the same optimization. Same $0.0025/GPU-sec pricing, no custom model premium. Launching in the coming weeks.

The Verdict

Replicate and Fleek optimize for different things. Replicate maximizes model access—if a model exists, Replicate probably has it. Fleek maximizes cost efficiency—fewer models, but 50-70% cheaper on what we support.

For production workloads on common models (FLUX, Llama, DeepSeek), Fleek's cost savings add up fast. For experimentation, niche models, and community checkpoints, Replicate's variety is hard to beat.

Many teams use both: Replicate for discovery and prototyping, Fleek for production cost optimization.

Note: Fleek is actively expanding model support with new models added regularly. Features where competitors currently have an edge may become available on Fleek over time. Our goal is universal model optimization—supporting any model from any source at the lowest possible cost.

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