The short answer
A charge from MODAL LABS* CLOUD GPU corresponds to serverless Python cloud compute, NVIDIA GPU execution (A100/H100), or fine-tuning workloads from Modal Labs, Inc.
Why it shows up like this
The statement descriptor MODAL LABS* CLOUD GPU indicates a cloud compute fee charged by Modal Labs, Inc. for serverless Python execution and high-performance GPU hardware usage.
Software developers and machine learning engineers use Modal to run artificial intelligence inference, model fine-tuning, and batch data pipelines on graphics processing units without managing underlying servers. Billing is consumption-based, measuring exact container execution time per second across CPU memory and hardware accelerators like NVIDIA A100 or H100 chips beyond a monthly free credit tier. When your scripts execute intensive workloads or persistent storage volumes remain active, charges post automatically to your linked payment card.
If you do not recognize this charge, check with members of your software engineering team who might have registered a corporate credit card for AI development work. You can log into your Modal account dashboard via GitHub to inspect compute metrics, review Stripe invoices, or terminate running container applications. Keeping close track of your monthly statements ensures complete financial security and prevents unexpected surprises from recurring charges.
Don’t recognize it? Common scenarios
Unexpected charges usually arise when AI model training scripts consume resources exceeding the monthly free credit tier or when persistent volumes stay active continuously.
- A Python script or AI pipeline executed heavy GPU workloads (such as FLUX, Stable Diffusion, or vLLM) on Modal.
- Usage exceeded the monthly $30 free compute credit allowance on an active workspace.
- A persistent volume was retained across scheduled serverless cron jobs.
How to locate the invoice and cancel
You can halt billing immediately by terminating active applications via the command line interface or deleting persistent volumes in your account dashboard settings.
- Log in to Modal Dashboard Open modal.com and log in with your GitHub account.
- Review Workspace Billing review to Settings > Billing to view GPU hour breakdowns and download past Stripe receipts.
- Stop Apps and Delete Volumes Run 'modal app stop' via the CLI or terminate running apps and persistent volumes in the web dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Modal measure GPU compute costs?
Modal bills per second of container runtime based on allocated hardware (e.g., T4, A10G, A100, or H100 GPUs).
Can I receive a refund from Modal Labs?
Metered cloud GPU seconds and persistent volume fees are non-refundable. Stopping apps halts billing immediately.
Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention
If you find an unauthorized charge and confirm no engineering personnel ran jobs on the platform, contact your financial institution to secure your payment card.
Independent reference — not affiliated with Modal Labs, Inc.. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- Modal Pricing & GPU Hardware Rates https://modal.com
- CFPB: Disputing Unrecognized Charges https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Reviewed Aug 15, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges