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Meta vs Nebius
A closed model API in preview against a European AI cloud. Meta offers Muse Spark and a data-sharing discount; Nebius offers 60+ open models, raw GPUs and EU placement.
By The Subconscious Team · Updated
Meta vs Nebius: key differences
Nebius and Meta already have a relationship on the supply side: Meta signed a capacity agreement with Nebius worth up to about $27B in March 2026. As developer products, though, they are different. Nebius's Token Factory serves 60+ open models such as Llama, Qwen, DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi and GPT-OSS from $0.06 per million input tokens, with dedicated endpoints at a 99.9% SLA and EU or US placement, plus raw GPUs on the same account. Meta's Model API serves its own closed Muse Spark 1.3 at $1.25 in and $4.25 out with 1M context.
Data handling is the sharpest difference. Meta's Contributor tier drops prices about 95% if Meta can train on your prompts and completions, which rules it out for most business traffic. Nebius sells in-region placement and sovereignty to regulated European buyers, and lets teams serve an uploaded fine-tune at base token prices. Nebius has no free trial and a $25 minimum first payment. Meta's API is still in preview. European enterprises and teams that want open models on an SLA go to Nebius. Teams trying a new agentic model cheaply go to Meta.
What Meta and Nebius do
Meta
Meta has moved from open Llama releases toward its own closed API. Meta Superintelligence Labs builds the Muse family, and in July 2026 Meta opened a public preview of the Meta Model API with Muse Spark 1.1, a multimodal reasoning model aimed at agentic coding, tool use and computer use. The current lineup runs through Muse Spark 1.3 with a 1M token context. Standard pricing is $1.25 in and $4.25 out per million tokens, with cached input at $0.15, and the endpoint speaks OpenAI Chat Completions, Anthropic Messages and a stateful agentic format.
Example models: Muse Spark 1.3, Muse Glimmer
Full Meta profileNebius
Nebius is an Amsterdam-headquartered AI cloud and the strongest European alternative to the US hyperscalers. It sells raw NVIDIA GPU compute, from H100s at $2.15 an hour preemptible up to GB300 NVL72 racks, and it has begun adding Vera Rubin. Hyperscale buyers back it: a Microsoft capacity deal worth about $17.4B in September 2025, then a Meta agreement worth up to about $27B in March 2026.
Example models: DeepSeek V3, GPT-OSS
Full Nebius profileShould you choose Meta or Nebius?
Meta
Choose Meta for
- Near-free prototyping when data sharing is acceptable
- A single multimodal model with image and speech add-ons
- Teams that want a closed model over an open catalog
Nebius
Choose Nebius for
- EU data residency for regulated buyers
- Serving fine-tuned open checkpoints with an SLA
- Growing from tokens into raw GPU training
Meta vs Nebius at a glance
| Attribute | Meta | Nebius |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | Closed API; open Muse Glimmer | Open weights, 60+ models |
| Flagship models | Muse Spark 1.3, Muse Glimmer | DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, GPT-OSS |
| Speed | ~145–233 tok/s on Muse Spark 1.3 | Among top hosts on throughput |
| Price | $1.25 in, $4.25 out; Contributor tier cheaper | From $0.06 per 1M input |
| Customization | Open Muse Glimmer weights to fine-tune | Serve uploaded fine-tunes |
| Deployment | Meta Model API (preview) | Token Factory, dedicated, raw GPUs |
| Long context | 1M | Varies by model |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Meta and Nebius?
A closed model API in preview against a European AI cloud. Meta offers Muse Spark and a data-sharing discount; Nebius offers 60+ open models, raw GPUs and EU placement.
When should I choose Meta over Nebius?
Near-free prototyping when data sharing is acceptable; A single multimodal model with image and speech add-ons; Teams that want a closed model over an open catalog.
When should I choose Nebius over Meta?
EU data residency for regulated buyers; Serving fine-tuned open checkpoints with an SLA; Growing from tokens into raw GPU training.
Is Meta or Nebius cheaper?
Meta: $1.25 in, $4.25 out; Contributor tier cheaper. Nebius: From $0.06 per 1M input. The cheaper choice depends on the model and workload.
Which has more context, Meta or Nebius?
Meta: 1M. Nebius: Varies by model.
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