Quick answer
Modal - Modal wins for most builders who want a generous free tier for Python and AI workloads, while Koyeb wins if you need broader app hosting and a simpler path to general-purpose web services plus Postgres.
How the free tiers compare
Koyeb and Modal both start free, but they optimize for different kinds of builders. Koyeb is the more general cloud host: it covers serverless containers, deployments from any registry or GitHub, automatic scaling, networking features, and an included Postgres offering. Its free tier is capped but broad, with small compute credit, service limits, and 1 TB bandwidth. Modal is narrower but more generous where it matters for ML and compute-heavy Python work. Its free tier includes $30/month in credits, 3 seats, 100 containers, and 10 GPU concurrency, so you can test real workloads before paying. The main tradeoff is scope versus depth: Koyeb gives you more of a traditional app platform, while Modal gives you more free compute and better fit for inference, training, and batch jobs. Once you outgrow free, Modal’s paid entry stays usage-based, while Koyeb mixes flat platform fees with extra compute charges.
Koyeb vs Modal free tier, side by side
| KoyebFTV 40 | ModalFTV 55 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free compute creditsKoyeb’s credit is embedded in Pro; Modal’s free tier is explicitly $30/month. | $10 included compute | $30 / month free compute credits |
| Workspace / user seatsKoyeb’s user cap is higher on the free tier. | Up to 10 users | Up to 3 workspace seats |
| Service / container limitsThese are different units, but both cap the free tier at a moderate scale. | Up to 100 services | 100 containers |
| Concurrent builds / GPU concurrencyKoyeb limits build concurrency; Modal exposes GPU concurrency instead. | 5 concurrent builds | 10 GPU concurrency |
| Database includedKoyeb clearly includes a free Postgres slice; Modal’s input does not mention a database offering. | Serverless Postgres included | Not listed in provided free tier items |
| BandwidthKoyeb includes explicit bandwidth on the free tier. | 1 TB per month included | Not listed in provided free tier items |
| Logs and metrics retentionKoyeb specifies retention; Modal specifies live observability but not retention in the provided data. | 7 days retention | Real-time metrics and logs |
After you outgrow the free tier
Koyeb’s paid path is mixed: a flat platform fee plus extra compute, starting at Pro for $29/mo +compute, then Scale at $299/mo +compute, with Enterprise custom. Modal’s paid path is usage-based: Starter stays at $0 + compute, then Team starts at $250 + compute, with Enterprise custom. For small builders, Modal is usually cheaper to start because its free tier is larger and the entry paid plan keeps the usage-based structure. Koyeb becomes the better fit if you want a more general app platform and can live with smaller included compute.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Koyeb | Modal |
|---|---|---|
| light app or prototype within free creditsBoth products include compute credits, but Modal’s free credit is larger. | Free within tier, then $29/mo +compute if you move to Pro | Free within tier, then $0 + compute / month on Starter |
| moderate production usage above free creditsActual overage cost depends on compute consumed; no per-unit rates were provided. | $29/mo +compute on Pro | $0 + compute / month on Starter |
| team needing more seats and higher included creditsModal’s Team plan is cheaper than Koyeb Scale, but both still add usage-based compute charges. | $299/mo +compute on Scale | $250 + compute / month on Team |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Koyeb when…
- You want to deploy a general web service, API, or full-stack app, not just Python or ML jobs.
- You want built-in Postgres on the same platform as your app.
- You need broader platform features like private networking, service discovery, wildcard domains, and global load balancing.
- You want a cloud host that supports containers from any registry plus GitHub push deploys and Docker builds.
- You are fine with a smaller free credit if your usage is light and mostly about app hosting rather than GPU-heavy compute.
Pick Modal when…
- You are running Python inference, training, or batch processing jobs.
- You expect to use GPUs or need GPU concurrency from day one.
- You want a free tier with more monthly compute credit to experiment before paying.
- You need notebooks, sandboxes, or short-lived workers as part of your workflow.
- You are building an ML prototype where the free tier limits on containers, crons, and web endpoints are enough to start.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, Modal is the better free-tier pick if you are doing Python, ML, or GPU-adjacent work because the included credits are much larger and the starting plan is easy to keep using. Koyeb is the better choice when your project is a general web app or API and you care more about hosting features, Postgres, and deployment flexibility than raw free compute. If you expect to grow into a broader app platform, Koyeb is the safer fit.
Read the full listings: Koyeb and Modal. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.