Celestial AI vs Nebius
Which Infrastructure AI tool is better in 2026?
Celestial AI
Photonic Fabric optical interconnect for AI infrastructure
Nebius
Full-stack AI cloud with large-scale GPU clusters for training and inference
Side-by-side
Nebius is the more established option (raised $700M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Celestial AI | Nebius |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Photonic Fabric optical interconnect for AI infrastructure | Full-stack AI cloud with large-scale GPU clusters for training and inference |
| Foundedi | 2020🏆 | 2024 |
| HQi | Santa Clara, United States | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Employeesi | — | 1000🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 77 | 77 |
| Total fundingi | $515M | $700M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series C1 · Mar 2025 | private_placement · Dec 2024 |
| Valuationi | — | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Pricing not disclosed | Pricing not disclosed |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Pricing not disclosed | Pricing not disclosed |
| Pricing summaryi | Custom | Free trial |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Celestial AI and Nebius.
| Capability | Celestial AI | Nebius |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | 4 (Python, REST API, CLI, Terraform) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Celestial AI
- More mature (2020)
🔵 Strengths of Nebius
- Has raised more capital ($700M vs $515M)
- Offers a free trial
- Newer company (2024)
Which should you choose?
Choose Nebius if price matters most — it starts at Free trial, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Infrastructure tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Nebius if you want the most established option — it has raised $700M, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
Frequently asked questions
Celestial AI vs Nebius — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Celestial AI is the leaner option; Nebius has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Celestial AI cheaper than Nebius?
No — Nebius's cheapest paid plan is Free trial, while Celestial AI's is Custom.
Do Celestial AI and Nebius offer free plans?
Celestial AI: Paid only. Nebius: Free trial only.
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