Paperspace was one of the first cloud GPU platforms for machine learning, known for its simple virtual machines (“Core”) and Jupyter notebooks (“Gradient”). In 2023 it was acquired by DigitalOcean, and since 2024 its GPU offering has been folded into DigitalOcean’s AI platform. So is Paperspace still worth using in 2026?
Table of Contents
Paperspace in 2026: What Changed?
- Paperspace is now part of DigitalOcean. New AI customers are pointed to DigitalOcean’s GPU Droplets and Gradient AI platform.
- Existing Paperspace machines still run, and Paperspace pricing is still published in DigitalOcean’s documentation.
- Windows templates are no longer available to new users, and the legacy APIs were retired in favour of a newer API.
Paperspace GPU Pricing (September 2026)
| GPU | Paperspace Machines | DigitalOcean GPU Droplets |
|---|---|---|
| RTX A4000 / RTX 4000 Ada | $0.76/hr (A4000) | $0.76/hr (RTX 4000 Ada) |
| RTX A5000 | $1.38/hr | – |
| RTX A6000 / RTX 6000 Ada | $1.89/hr (A6000) | $1.57/hr (RTX 6000 Ada) |
| L40S | – | $1.57/hr |
| A100 | $3.09/hr | – |
| H100 | $5.95/hr | $4.41/hr |
| AMD MI300X | – | $2.59/hr |
As the table shows, DigitalOcean GPU Droplets are now the better deal for most GPUs, especially the H100.
DigitalOcean GPU Droplets (the Paperspace Successor)
- GPU Droplets: RTX 4000/6000 Ada, L40S, H100, H200, AMD MI300X
- Gradient AI platform for agents and inference
- Simple pricing and a clean console
- RTX 4000 Ada $0.76/hr · L40S $1.57/hr · MI300X $2.59/hr · H100 $4.41/hr
Pros
- Easy for beginners
- Cheaper than legacy Paperspace machines
- Integrates with DigitalOcean storage, databases and Kubernetes
Cons
- H100 more expensive than specialist GPU clouds
- No monthly dedicated GPU servers
Who Should Still Use Paperspace?
If you already have Paperspace machines and workflows, you can keep using them. New users should start on DigitalOcean GPU Droplets, or compare the specialist GPU clouds below, which are often cheaper.
Paperspace Alternatives
| Provider | Why Choose It | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| RunPod | Cheapest hourly GPUs with notebooks and templates | $0.22/hour |
| Vast.ai | Marketplace prices | ~$0.30/hour (RTX 4090) |
| GPU Mart | Monthly dedicated GPU servers | $21/month |
| HOSTKEY | EU GPU servers, hourly or monthly | €70/month |
| Lambda | H100 and B200 cloud for AI teams | $1.09/hour (A6000) |
FAQ
Paperspace has been merged into DigitalOcean. Existing machines still work, but new AI customers are directed to DigitalOcean GPU Droplets and the Gradient AI platform.
The old free Gradient notebook tier is no longer the main offer. For free GPUs, see our free GPU VPS guide (Kaggle, Google Colab, Lightning AI).
For hourly use, RunPod and Vast.ai are usually the cheapest. For always-on servers, GPU Mart and HOSTKEY monthly plans cost less.
Verdict
Paperspace pioneered easy cloud GPUs, but in 2026 it lives on as part of DigitalOcean. New users get better prices on DigitalOcean GPU Droplets or on specialist GPU clouds like RunPod, and better monthly value from GPU Mart or HOSTKEY.
Prices were checked in September 2026 and change often. Always confirm current pricing on the provider’s website before you order.