Run scripts on AWS GPUs, paying only for compute time, with automatic instance management.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Eliminates idle compute costs by terminating instances immediately.
Biggest con
Requires an existing AWS account and basic AWS setup.
TL;DR - crunr
- Runs scripts on your AWS GPU instances, paying only for active compute time.
- Automates instance provisioning, dependency installation, job execution, and termination.
- Free, open-source, and enhances security by keeping AWS keys local and having no backend.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is crunr?
crunr is a free and open-source command-line interface (CLI) tool that allows users to run any script (Python, Node, bash, R, Go, etc.) on their own AWS account, leveraging powerful GPU instances like A100s or g5s. It automates the entire process: spinning up the cheapest matching spot instance, uploading code, installing dependencies, running the job, downloading results, and terminating the instance immediately after completion or failure. This ensures users only pay for the exact seconds their job runs, eliminating idle costs and forgotten instances.
The tool is designed for anyone needing more computational power than their local machine, including ML/AI engineers for training and fine-tuning, data scientists for heavy ETL and batch jobs, startup engineers needing compute without DevOps overhead, and researchers/students running experiments. crunr prioritizes security by ensuring user AWS keys never leave their machine, operating without any crunr servers or backend infrastructure, and utilizing IAM roles for EC2 instances instead of direct access keys. Its open-source nature allows for full auditability and transparency.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Eliminates idle compute costs by terminating instances immediately.
- Simplifies running complex jobs on powerful cloud hardware with a single command.
- Enhanced security as AWS keys remain local and no third-party servers are involved.
- Cost-effective by leveraging AWS spot instances.
- No cloud-specific code rewrites or SDKs required for scripts.
Cons
- Requires an existing AWS account and basic AWS setup.
- Users are responsible for their AWS costs, not crunr.
- Requires Python 3.10+, ssh, and rsync installed locally.
Key Features
One-command script execution on AWSAutomatic provisioning of cheapest matching spot instances (e.g., g5.xlarge)Code upload via rsyncAutomatic dependency installation (pip, apt, npm)Real-time stdout streamingAutomatic output download to local folderAutomatic instance termination upon job completion or crashSupport for various script languages (Python, Node, bash, R, Go)
Pricing
Free
crunr is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
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crunr FAQ
How does crunr ensure I only pay for the exact time my script runs on AWS?
crunr automatically spins up an AWS instance when you execute a command and terminates it immediately after your script finishes running or crashes. This 'run it, ghost it' approach ensures that you are only billed by AWS for the precise seconds the instance was active, eliminating idle time charges.
What types of AWS instances and regions does crunr support for running jobs?
crunr is designed to work with any AWS region and can spin up various instance types, including powerful GPU instances like A100s or g5s, depending on your job's requirements. It automatically selects the cheapest matching spot instance available for your specified needs.
Since crunr has no servers, how does it manage to upload my code and download results?
crunr operates entirely as a local CLI tool. It uses standard tools like rsync to securely upload your code to the provisioned AWS instance and then downloads the results back to your local machine. All communication is direct between your laptop and AWS, without any intermediary crunr backend.
Can I use crunr to run scripts that require specific software dependencies like pip, apt, or npm packages?
Yes, crunr handles dependency management. When it provisions an instance, it automatically installs necessary dependencies using common package managers like pip for Python, apt for Linux packages, or npm for Node.js, based on what your script requires to run successfully.
What happens if my job fails or I want to stop it prematurely?
If your job crashes, crunr will automatically terminate the AWS instance, stopping the billing. If you wish to stop a running job early, you can use the
crunr clean command, which will also terminate the instance and prevent further charges.Source: crunr.com