Smelt Cloud vs AWS
Compared bare-metal to bare-metal: AWS publishes EC2 .metal instances, the closest like-for-like to a Smelt node. AWS bills the server, then storage and metered egress on top; Smelt includes NVMe and free egress in a flat node rate. The figures below are AWS public on-demand list prices.
AWS figures verified Apr 5, 2026
| Dimension | AWS EC2 (bare metal) | Smelt Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Comparable node | r7i.metal-24xl — 48 cores / 768 GB | Compute — 64 cores / 512 GB |
| Larger node | m7a.metal-48xl — 96 cores / 768 GB | Compute Max — 128 cores / 1 TB |
| Monthly price (compute only) | $4,636 – $8,124 on-demand ($1,830 – $3,207 3-yr) | Pricing Coming Soon — NVMe + egress included |
| Storage | Billed separately (e.g. +$600/mo for 12 TB gp3) | NVMe included with the node |
| Egress | Metered per GB | Free on the included transfer allowance |
| Commitment for best price | 1- or 3-year reserved | Month-to-month, annual, or 3-year |
Comparisons match the closest AWS configuration by cores and memory (compute) or by cost per terabyte (storage), and normalize for included storage and egress. Specs for both sides are shown so you can judge the fit.
Smelt Cloud as a AWS alternative
Engineers evaluate Smelt Cloud as an AWS alternative for steady-state compute — the workloads that run continuously and never needed to autoscale. Even on AWS bare metal, storage and egress are billed separately and metered. Smelt is a whole dedicated server at a flat rate with NVMe and free egress included. Keep AWS for burst, edge, and managed services; move the always-on baseline to Smelt.
Like-for-like bare metal
Both are dedicated bare metal with full physical cores, so the comparison is fair on tenancy. Smelt matches or exceeds the core count of the comparable AWS .metal instances.
Storage and egress included
Even on AWS bare metal, a 12 TB gp3 volume adds around $600 per month and egress is metered on top. On Smelt, NVMe and a transfer allowance ship with the node and egress is free.
Predictable, not metered
AWS list prices for these metal instances range from roughly $4,600 to $8,100 per month before storage and traffic. Smelt is a flat node rate with the extras included.
Where AWS is the better fit
AWS autoscales to zero, spans dozens of regions today, and carries the deepest compliance and managed-service catalog in the industry. For highly bursty workloads, many-region requirements, or AWS-specific managed products, AWS is the right answer. Smelt wins on steady-state compute that runs continuously.
Questions, answered.
Is this a fair bare-metal comparison?
Yes. We compare against AWS EC2 .metal instances, which expose full physical cores like a Smelt node, so the comparison is bare-metal to bare-metal. If you instead compare against an AWS VM, note that AWS counts vCPUs (two vCPUs per physical core), so double the vCPU figure to compare physical cores.
What is Smelt's compute price?
Public pricing is published before the charter cohort closes; charter applicants receive it during the application process. The comparison here is on configuration and inclusions (cores, memory, included storage, free egress); the price line is shown as Coming Soon rather than asserting a figure we have not published.
When should I stay on AWS?
For bursty workloads that autoscale, many-region footprints, or AWS-specific managed services and compliance. Use AWS for burst and edge, and run your steady-state baseline on Smelt.
- AWS EC2 on-demand pricing — verified Apr 5, 2026
AWS and other names are trademarks of their respective owners. Smelt Cloud is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by AWS. Figures shown are the competitor's public list prices as of the dates above and may change; Smelt figures are effective rates described in our documentation. This comparison is provided for informational purposes.
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