Comparison · Open source vs API
Subtitle Removal API vs Self-Hosted Inpainting
Open-source inpainting models exist, and they are genuinely capable. The gap between 'the model runs' and 'the service runs reliably at scale' is where the API wins — and where most self-hosting cost actually hides.
What open source gives you
Models like E2FGVI, ProPainter and STTN are published with weights and papers, and community forks run them on consumer GPUs. For a fixed, controlled workload, self-hosting is absolutely viable — many teams do it well.
The real cost breakdown
| Self-hosted | mlslabs API | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU hardware | 1× A100/4090+ per lane; idle cost between bursts | $0 — we scale workers to your queue |
| VRAM per job | 6–16 GB depending on model & resolution | None on your side |
| Model ops | Checkpoints, versions, retraining glue | Handled; quality shipped continuously |
| Queue & retries | You build them | Native async jobs, webhooks, auto-retry |
| Cost shape | Fixed monthly infra + your time | Per minute of video, failed jobs refunded |
| Data control | Full — media never leaves your env | Media leaves your env (S3 in/out) |
When self-hosting is right
Data-residency mandates, air-gapped pipelines, or an existing GPU fleet with spare capacity. If the compute is already paid for and idle, marginal cost approaches zero.
When the API is right
Variable volume, tight deadlines, teams without GPU ops, or workloads where a queue, retries and webhooks matter more than the model itself. The API also removes the 'who retrains and when' question from your roadmap.
Honest numbers
FAQ
Common questions
Can I run inpainting on my own GPU?
Yes — open-source video inpainting models run on consumer GPUs. Expect to own the whole service layer: queues, retries, monitoring, model updates.
Is the API cheaper than a GPU machine?
At low volume, a free-tier API is cheaper; at very high sustained volume, owned GPUs can win. The break-even depends on utilization — the API's advantage is paying only for what you use.
What if my media must stay on-prem?
Then self-host, or talk to us about private deployment. The API defaults to hosted processing with object-storage transfer.
Keep exploring
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