How to Rent a GPU | SimplePod

Here you can learn how to set up a cloud-based GPU environment. Setting up a cloud GPU with SimplePod is quick and user-friendly. By following these steps, you can efficiently rent a GPU, monitor its performance and manage your billing.

Step 1

Choose your Pre-Configured Software Option and GPU rental:

Explore tab in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can browse available templates for servers.

Nerdylive/stableswarm template details after clicking on this template card from explore tab in the SimplePod dashboard.

Step 2

Automatic vs. Custom ComfyUI Workflow Configuration

Find Instances tab in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can select what GPU you want to rent.

Automatic Setup (View Template)

Apply default ComfyUI configuration instantly for a fast launch.

After clicking 'Edit and Use' in template details: Template group configuration form in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can edit template settings.

Custom Setup (Edit & Use)

Tailor node graphs, environment variables, and advanced tool options for a fully custom template configuration.

Step 3

Launch ComfyUI Cloud AI Instance & Provisioning

Template details modal in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can learn about template you selected

01.

Click Use Template on the ComfyUI card.

Find Instances list in the SimplePod dashboard, with template already selected

02.

In the Instance Selector, choose your CPU/GPU tier—perfect for both lightweight inference and heavy-duty model training.

Find Instances list in the SimplePod dashboard, with template selected and Buy Instance Summary section opened

03.

Hit Run to provision your cloud AI instance.

Global Templates List in My templates tab

Note:

While provisioning, explore My Templates to revisit past setups or discover new Global Templates.

Step 4

Billing Dashboard & Cost Management

Switch to the Billing tab to review your account balance, linked payment methods, and auto-deposit settings. Consult the List of usage for a complete history of launched instances and deposit records, essential for cloud AI cost monitoring.

Billing tab in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can manage your account balance and payment methods.

Step 5

Monitoring Cloud Instance: CPU, GPU & System Metrics

Under My Instances, you’ll see real-time metrics:

Instance details accessed from My Instances tab in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can monitor your instance, change its settings, and manage your server.

CPU & GPU utilization
Console access and system information

Instance details with host information and instance price sections visible

Current hourly rate and estimated cost

Step 6

Configure the ComfyUI Environment: Quick vs. Customized Installation

Click Configure UI to open the setup console. Choose between:

SwarmUI installer with installation paths to choose

Quick Install for one-click AI environment deployment
Customized Installation for granular control (user roles, network settings, advanced flags)

Step 7

AI Model Installation & Download

SwarmUI installer with backend configuration options

Select New User or Advanced User profile.

SwarmUI installer with download models switches

Choose the AI models you need (e.g., Stable Diffusion, ControlNet).

SwarmUI installer final installation section

Click Next and wait for model installation to finish. This prepares your workspace for AI content generation.

Step 8

Generate AI Content with ComfyUI: Prompt to Image & Video

ComfyUI work window with active model selection

In the work window, select your active model.

ComfyUI work window with parameters section selected

Adjust parameters such as output resolution, sampling method, or the image-to-video feature.

ComfyUI work window with prompt input field selected

Enter a descriptive prompt.

ComfyUI work window with Generate button selected and progress indicator visible

Click Generate and watch the progress indicator.

Step 9

Save Outputs & Export Results

Review your generated images or videos in the gallery. Click Save or Download to export files to your local machine or preferred cloud storage.

ComfyUI gallery with generated images and videos

Step 10

Delete Instance & Release Resources

Once your work is complete, return to My Instances, click Delete Instance, and confirm. This frees up all cloud resources and prevents unnecessary charges, ensuring a clean environment for your next session.

Instance details accessed from My Instances tab in the SimplePod dashboard with Delete Instance button selected

Confirm delete modal in the SimplePod dashboard, where you can confirm deletion of instance

Renting a GPU on SimplePod