What Are Instances?
Instances are containerized environments where you rent dedicated GPUs from Vast.ai’s marketplace. Each instance:- Provides exclusive GPU access (never shared between users)
- Runs your choice of Docker image
- Includes proportional CPU, RAM, and storage
- Connects via SSH, Jupyter, or custom entrypoint
- Bills by the second for actual usage
New to Vast.ai? Start with the Quickstart Guide.
Core Concepts
Pricing
Market-driven rates for GPU, storage, and bandwidth
Instance Types
On-demand, Reserved, and Interruptible options
Templates
Pre-configured environments or custom Docker images
Find & Rent
Find and rent GPUs by model, location, and price
Connect to Instances
SSH, Jupyter, and Entrypoint connection methods
Managing Instances
Start, stop, connect, and monitor your instances
Storage
Container storage and persistent volumes
Data Movement
Move data between instances, cloud, and local storage
Cloud Sync
Sync with Google Drive, S3, and other cloud providers