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Cheapest way to train a small model from scratch in 2026?

Reddit r/LocalLLaMA / 3/13/2026

💬 OpinionDeveloper Stack & InfrastructureTools & Practical Usage

Key Points

  • The post seeks the cheapest way to train a small model (<1B parameters) from scratch, noting that a local RTX 4070Ti isn't sufficient for full training runs.
  • It inquires about affordable cloud GPU options and lists potential providers such as vast.ai, runpod, Lambda Labs, and Google Colab Pro, while asking if there are other viable options.
  • The author requests rough cost estimates for training a ~1B parameter model to aid budgeting.
  • The discussion is posted on Reddit (r/LocalLLaMA) and includes a link to the thread for further context.

I want to train a small model (<1B parameters) from scratch for a specific use case.

My local GPU is an RTX 4070Ti which I know isn't enough for full training runs.

What are the cheapest cloud GPU options right now?

- vast.ai

- runpod

- Lambda Labs

- Google Colab Pro

- something else?

Any rough cost estimates for training a ~1B param model would help too.

Thanks

submitted by /u/Illustrious-Song-896
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