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Parasail vs StepFun
StepFun is a Shanghai lab with cheap Apache 2.0 multimodal models. Parasail is a host that could run those open weights, with batch pricing and ZDR terms.
By The Subconscious Team · Updated
Parasail vs StepFun: key differences
StepFun builds models and Parasail runs them, so this is less a contest than a routing choice. StepFun's Step 3.7 Flash is a 198B mixture-of-experts vision-language model with 11B active parameters, 256K context and an Apache 2.0 license, priced at $0.20 in and $1.15 out on StepFun's first-party API. That API is hosted in China. Parasail runs any Hugging Face model, and its per-parameter pricing keys off size and precision, so an open Step model could run there under Parasail's ZDR and SLA agreement.
Which is cheaper depends on the workload. For interactive calls, StepFun's list price is simple and already low. For large offline jobs like video or image understanding across a dataset, Parasail's batch at half of serverless, plus 50% off cached tokens, may undercut it. StepFun's direct API includes selectable reasoning levels, tool use and structured outputs as designed. Parasail's multimodal coverage is text, vision and embeddings, and its performance depends on the aggregated hardware underneath.
What Parasail and StepFun do
Parasail
Parasail calls itself the inference cloud for AI-native startups. It aggregates GPUs across about 40 data centers in 15 countries, runs some clusters of its own, and since July 2026 has deployed d-Matrix Corsair accelerators alongside NVIDIA Hopper and Blackwell, all sold through one OpenAI compatible API. It raised a $32M Series A in April 2026, led by Touring Capital and Kindred Ventures. Customers choose serverless per-token endpoints across about 40 curated models, Elastic Endpoints that scale with traffic and bill tokens at 1.25x serverless rates on selected models, dedicated deployments with negotiated latency SLAs, or batch. Its commit-to-spend model lets one commitment draw down across any model or hardware.
Example models: Kimi K3, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, GLM-5.3, MiniMax M3
Full Parasail profileStepFun
StepFun is a Shanghai AI lab known for efficient multimodal models, with a mix of proprietary API models and open-weight releases. In September 2026 it launched Step 5 Preview, its new flagship for agentic work: a 600B-total, 27B-active mixture-of-experts model with 1M context and text and image input, which Artificial Analysis scores level with Kimi K3. It costs $1.00 in and $2.70 out per million tokens, and its weights followed on Hugging Face in mid-October under the custom StepFun Model License 1.0, which allows commercial use with restrictions. Its cheaper workhorse, Step 3.7 Flash, came out in May 2026 as a 198B mixture-of-experts vision-language model with only 11B active parameters. It has 256K context, selectable reasoning levels, tool use and structured outputs, and it ships under Apache 2.0. StepFun's own API prices it at $0.20 in and $1.15 out per million tokens, and OpenRouter carries it too.
Example models: Step 5 Preview, Step 3.7 Flash
Full StepFun profileShould you choose Parasail or StepFun?
Parasail vs StepFun at a glance
| Attribute | Parasail | StepFun |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | Any Hugging Face model | Open weights (Apache 2.0 or StepFun license) and API models |
| Flagship models | Kimi K3, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, GLM-5.3, MiniMax M3 | Step 5 Preview, Step 3.7 Flash |
| Speed | 600ms p99 real-time budget | ~128 tok/s on Step 3.7 Flash |
| Price | Per-parameter rates; batch 50% off | $0.20 in, $1.15 out (Step 3.7 Flash) |
| Customization | Private Hugging Face repos | Open weights to fine-tune |
| Deployment | Serverless, elastic, dedicated, batch | First-party API, OpenRouter |
| Long context | Varies by model | Up to 1M (Step 5 Preview); 256K on Step 3.7 Flash |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Parasail and StepFun?
StepFun is a Shanghai lab with cheap Apache 2.0 multimodal models. Parasail is a host that could run those open weights, with batch pricing and ZDR terms.
When should I choose Parasail over StepFun?
Running open Step weights outside China; Batch vision jobs over large datasets; Contracts with ZDR terms.
When should I choose StepFun over Parasail?
Simple per-token access to Step 3.7 Flash; Video and speech models from one lab; Reasoning levels and tool use as shipped.
Is Parasail or StepFun cheaper?
Parasail: Per-parameter rates; batch 50% off. StepFun: $0.20 in, $1.15 out (Step 3.7 Flash). The cheaper choice depends on the model and workload.
Which has more context, Parasail or StepFun?
Parasail: Varies by model. StepFun: Up to 1M (Step 5 Preview); 256K on Step 3.7 Flash.
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