Replicate is a fast way to call a model. denv is the cluster behind your own.

Replicate is a hosted place to run models, often the first API a prototype calls. You pick a model, you get a prediction, you pay Replicate. That is a good loop when you are finding out if the product even wants the model.

denv starts later. You already know the model, you have or you are about to have GPUs, and you want an OpenAI-compatible endpoint that you operate. denv does not host a public model garden and does not bill per prediction. You pay Lambda, Nebius, AWS, Hetzner or your own hardware. denv charges for the control plane. See pricing.

Stay on Replicate if

You are still changing models every week, traffic is spiky or tiny, or you do not want a Kubernetes cluster. denv’s cold start and its warm-replica cost are the wrong tool for a demo that sleeps all night. denv is also early. A hosted API that is live today beats a control plane that is still rolling out, for that job.

Move when

The model is open-weight, the data cannot sit in a shared API, or you need failover across providers you have contracts with. Then read run inference and the recipes.

This page does not audit Replicate’s current model list or prices. Use their site for that. No speed comparison is published here.