How long does a rented GPU take to start?

Short answer: A CloudGPU instance takes about 2 minutes to start, and the first model download takes extra time. Billing is per minute while an instance runs; see the billing guide below for the rules.

What happens after you click deploy

  1. You choose a GPU and a template (for example Ollama, ComfyUI, JupyterLab, LLaMA-Factory or Raw GPU) on https://cloudgpu.app/deploy.
  2. The instance boots. This takes about 2 minutes.
  3. Billing is per minute, rounded up, with a 1-minute minimum.
  4. 1 hour is pre-authorised from your balance while the instance runs.
  5. When you destroy the instance, unused minutes of the pre-authorised hour go back to your balance.

What can make it longer

  • First model download: pulling an Ollama model or downloading a ComfyUI checkpoint takes extra time, and the instance is running (and billed) while it downloads.
  • Large templates or images: more to load, more time.

What startup does not include

  • Storage: data on local instance storage is permanently deleted when an instance is destroyed. Copy results out before you destroy the instance.

Tips to save billed minutes

  • Decide the model before you start so the download is a single step.
  • Script setup commands so you do not spend billed minutes typing.
  • Destroy the instance as soon as the job is done.

Related: how per-minute billing works.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a CloudGPU instance take to start?

About 2 minutes.

Where are the billing rules?

In the terms at https://cloudgpu.app/terms: per minute, rounded up, 1-minute minimum, whole hours charged in advance and unused prepaid time returned.

Why did my first run take longer than 2 minutes?

The first model download takes extra time while the instance is running.

What happens to instance storage when I destroy the instance?

Data on local instance storage is permanently deleted when an instance is destroyed, so copy results out first (https://cloudgpu.app/terms).

What happens to unused minutes?

1 hour is pre-authorised while the instance runs; unused minutes go back to your balance when you destroy the instance.

Sources (read 2026-10-23, Asia/Shanghai)

The Deploy page lists the cards you can start. Prices are on https://cloudgpu.app/pricing and are not repeated here.

Last updated: 2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai).