6 best Modal alternatives for ML, LLMs, and AI app deployment

In 2022, Erik Bernhardsson introduced Modal, a platform that simplifies running Python in the cloud by eliminating the need for complex infrastructure setup like Dockerfiles or Kubernetes. It allows users to write code and let Modal handle aspects such as scaling and scheduling, making it popular among machine learning engineers and indie developers for quick, frictionless development. However, as projects grow, Modal's limitations, such as lack of support for full applications, CI/CD, and networking capabilities, become apparent. For those seeking alternatives, platforms like Northflank, Replicate, Anyscale, RunPod, Baseten, and AWS SageMaker offer different solutions tailored to specific needs, such as full-stack AI development, public model sharing, budget-friendly GPU compute, or enterprise-grade MLOps. Northflank stands out for its combination of full-stack support and GPU orchestration, making it a compelling choice for developers wanting both speed and production-ready capabilities without vendor lock-in.