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What You Need to Rent a GPU in 2026: Sign-Up, Verification and Payment on Each Platform

What each GPU rental platform asks for before you can rent: email, phone, card, ID checks, GPU quotas and minimum deposits. GPUFlow, Vast.ai, RunPod, SaladCloud, Lambda, TensorDock, AWS and Google Cloud compared.

Before you rent your first GPU, every platform asks for something: an email address, a card, sometimes a phone number, and on the big clouds a quota request that can take days. This article lists what each one asks for, so you can pick one that gets you started today.

Everything was checked in September 2026 on the platforms’ own docs. Sources are at the end.

The quick comparison

PlatformTo create an accountBefore you can rentID check for rentersMinimum to start
GPUFlowEmail and password, or Google or GitHubConfirm your email, add credits by cardNone in the renter steps$10 top-up, no fee
Vast.aiEmailVerify your email, add creditNot in the docs$5 deposit
RunPodEmailAdd creditOnly before a first crypto payment1 hour of credit; $100 per transaction with a prepaid card
SaladCloudPortal accountAdd a billing method to your organizationNot in the docsTop-ups from $5
LambdaAccountAdd a credit cardNot in the docs$10 card pre-authorization, refunded
TensorDockAccountDeposit moneyThe terms allow account checks”As little as $5”
AWSEmail, phone PIN check, payment method, CAPTCHARequest a GPU quota: new accounts start at 0Not for most accountsPay as you go
Google CloudAccount with billingRequest GPU quota; free-trial accounts get noneNot for most accountsPay as you go

“Not in the docs” means we didn’t find an ID requirement for renters in that platform’s documentation. Platforms can still ask for checks when something looks unusual.

The small platforms: minutes, not days

Vast.ai, RunPod, SaladCloud, TensorDock and GPUFlow are all prepaid. You add money first and spend it by the second or minute. Because you can’t run up a bill you haven’t paid for, they don’t need to check your credit or your company.

What they do differ on:

  • Email verification. Vast.ai and GPUFlow both require it before you can rent or add credits. Check your spam folder if the email doesn’t arrive.
  • Payment methods.
    • Vast.ai: card, BitPay, Crypto.com.
    • RunPod: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, crypto, and invoicing for payments over $5,000.
    • SaladCloud: card, or USDC, USDT and RENDER on Solana.
    • Lambda: major credit cards only, and only in supported countries.
    • GPUFlow: cards through Stripe.
  • Where your money goes if you don’t use it. SaladCloud credit expires 12 months after purchase. GPUFlow credits don’t expire.

The big clouds: plan for a quota request

AWS and Google Cloud don’t block you at sign-up. They block you at the GPU.

  • AWS: the quota for “Running On-Demand G and VT instances” (the instance family with the NVIDIA L4 and A10G) starts at 0 vCPUs on new accounts. You ask for more in the Service Quotas console. AWS also raises quotas automatically as an account builds up usage.
  • Google Cloud: free-trial accounts get no GPU quota. Once the project has billing history, quota requests are granted more readily. Quota is per region, and preemptible GPUs need their own quota.

If you need a GPU today, don’t start with a new AWS or Google Cloud account.

Signing up on GPUFlow, step by step

GPUFlow is built for the “I need an AI model in five minutes” case. What you get is an OpenAI-compatible API key for a GPU, not a machine.

  1. Create an account at gpuflow.app with a username, your email address and a password, or with Google or GitHub.

    The GPUFlow sign-up form with the username, email and password fields highlighted

  2. Confirm your email. Click the link in the email GPUFlow sends you. You can’t add credits until you do.

  3. Add credits on Dashboard → Payments, from $10 to $500 by card through Stripe. 1 credit = $0.01, and there’s no fee.

    The GPUFlow Payments page with the amount buttons and the Continue to payment button highlighted

  4. Rent a GPU for the number of hours you want, and copy your API key. You pay by the second; if you end early, the rest goes back to your credits.

The full walkthrough with every screen is in the docs: rent a GPU, step by step.

If you want to rent out a GPU instead

Being paid is where identity checks come in. Payment companies are required to know who they send money to.

  • GPUFlow: to cash out, you set up a payout account with Stripe, which checks your identity and asks for your bank details. Payouts work in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the European Economic Area.
  • Vast.ai: hosts are paid through Wise, PayPal or Stripe, and those services handle identity checks.
  • Salad: rewards go out through PayPal, gift cards and other options.

More on what hosting pays in what your gaming GPU can earn.

Before you pay: a short checklist

  1. Confirm your email first, so you’re not stuck at the payment step.
  2. Check that your country and card are supported. Lambda, for example, only accepts payments from a list of countries.
  3. Know your bank’s foreign transaction fee. Most platforms charge in US dollars. More on hidden costs.
  4. Start small. Add enough for a few hours, test, then add more.

Sources

All checked in September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to verify my identity to rent a GPU?

Usually not as a renter. Vast.ai, RunPod, Lambda and GPUFlow ask for an email address and a payment method. RunPod asks for KYC verification before your first crypto payment. Identity checks are more common for people who get paid, such as GPU providers cashing out.

Why can't I start a GPU instance on a new AWS account?

New AWS accounts start with a quota of 0 vCPUs for On-Demand G and VT instances, the family with NVIDIA GPUs like the L4 and A10G. You request an increase in the Service Quotas console, or wait for AWS to raise it based on usage.

What is the minimum deposit to rent a GPU?

Vast.ai's minimum deposit is $5. SaladCloud top-ups start at $5. GPUFlow top-ups start at $10 with no fee. Lambda places a $10 pre-authorization on your card. RunPod needs at least one hour of credit for the machine you choose, and $100 per transaction for prepaid cards.

Can I rent a GPU without a credit card?

On some platforms. Vast.ai accepts crypto through BitPay and Crypto.com. RunPod accepts crypto after KYC, and invoicing for payments over $5,000. SaladCloud accepts USDC, USDT and RENDER on Solana. Lambda accepts major credit cards only. GPUFlow accepts cards through Stripe.