Northflank
One-stop deployment platform for applications, databases, AI models, and scheduled tasks with GPU support and multi-cloud capabilities
Visit Website ↗What is Northflank
Northflank is a deployment platform that allows teams to run applications, databases, AI models, and batch/scheduled tasks on cloud infrastructure. It's an all-in-one platform that provides a single security and scheduling model for AI agents, backend APIs, databases, and GPU inference, eliminating the need to stitch together multiple services. This is particularly beneficial for small teams, as it saves them from having to manage Kubernetes, CI/CD, and key management themselves.
The platform supports container deployment and orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, preview environments, GPU workload management, and Kubernetes automation, spanning multiple clouds including AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle, and CoreWeave. A key feature is the "Bring Your Own Cloud" (BYOC) option, which allows deployment to a user's own VPC, keeping data and computation within their own account.
Key Features and Use Cases
Pricing is based on usage, with costs calculated per vCPU, GB of memory, and GPU type. For example, CPU costs $0.01667 per vCPU per hour, memory costs $0.00833 per GB per hour, and GPU costs range from $2.74 per hour for an NVIDIA H100 to $5.87 per hour for a B200. Network and storage costs are additional. This makes Northflank suitable for engineering teams that need to run AI inference, backend services, and databases simultaneously without maintaining multiple infrastructure setups. It's especially useful for organizations with GPU requirements or those who want to keep their computation within their own VPC. Northflank is registered in London, has SOC 2 Type 2 certification, and claims to serve over 2,000 organizations and 80,000 developers in production environments.
Key Features
- Container deployment and orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, and preview environments
- GPU workload management and Kubernetes automation
- Multi-cloud support across AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle, and CoreWeave
- Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) deployment to user's own VPC
- Key and configuration management, auto-scaling, and multi-tenancy support
Pros
- All-in-one platform for applications, databases, AI models, and tasks
- Support for GPU and BYOC, suitable for AI inference and data landing requirements
- Transparent usage-based pricing, SOC 2 Type 2 certified, and scalable
Cons
- Pure usage-based pricing can result in high costs for large GPU workloads
- Steep learning curve for initial setup due to wide range of features
- Not designed specifically for single AI scenarios, trading depth for versatility
Use Cases
- Deploying AI inference, backend APIs, and databases simultaneously
- Managing GPU workloads and auto-scaling
- Deploying computation and data to user's own VPC
- Accelerating development workflows with preview environments and CI/CD
Editor's Note
Northflank is a solid deployment platform that's not just riding the AI trend. Its support for GPU and BYOC makes it well-suited for current AI application needs. While it's not perfect, with drawbacks including high costs for large GPU workloads and a steep learning curve, it's a practical choice for teams that don't want to manage a full suite of infrastructure themselves. We give it 4.1 out of 5.
FAQ
How does Northflank differ from traditional PaaS?
Northflank combines AI models, GPU inference, databases, and applications under a single platform and security model, with support for BYOC deployment to user's own VPC, simplifying the process for teams with both AI inference and backend service requirements.
How is GPU usage priced?
GPU usage is priced based on usage, with costs calculated per hour depending on the GPU type, such as $2.74 per hour for an NVIDIA H100 or $5.87 per hour for a B200. Additional costs apply for CPU, memory, network, and storage.