Modal vs Vercel: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Modal and Vercel comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Modal
High-performance AI infrastructure for developers to deploy, train, and scale ML workloads.
Best for you if:
- • Programmable AI infrastructure for inference, training, and batch processing.
- • Offers sub-second cold starts, instant autoscaling, and elastic GPU capacity.
Vercel
Frontend cloud platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.2/10 vs 8.5/10)
- • Frontend cloud platform
- • Next.js creators
| At a Glance |  Modal |  Vercel |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 85/100 | 92/100 |
| Feature | Modal | Vercel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 85 | 92 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentServerless | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD |
How Modal and Vercel Compare
Modal
High-performance AI infrastructure for developers to deploy, train, and scale ML workloads.
Free tier available · 85/100 score
Vercel
Frontend cloud platform
Free tier available · 92/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Modal
Want the highest-rated option?
Modal: 85/100. Vercel: 92/100.
Go with: Vercel
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Vercel
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Vercel scores higher: 92/100 vs 85/100.
Key Takeaways
Vercel
- Higher score: 92/100 vs 85
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Modal
The Bottom Line
Vercel (92/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Modal or Vercel better?
Vercel scores 92/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Modal and Vercel used for?
Modal: High-performance AI infrastructure for developers to deploy, train, and scale ML workloads.. Vercel: Frontend cloud platform.
What does Modal cost vs Vercel?
Modal is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Vercel is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.