A hosted CVAT alternative with SAM3 and built-in training.
Get CVAT-grade annotation without running the infrastructure. SAM3 point, box, and text prompts, managed model training, and inference endpoints, on a free tier with monthly compute and no credit card.
Pictograph vs CVAT
Where the two differ for a team that wants to annotate, train, and ship without managing servers.
| Pictograph | CVAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted, managed GPUs | Self-host | |
| SAM3 point, box, and text prompts | – | |
| Built-in model training | – | |
| Inference deployments | – | |
| Visual and content search | – | |
| Agent tool registry | 32 tools | – |
| Multi-format export | ||
| Open source, self-hostable | – | |
| Free tier with hosted compute | Self-host |
Where Pictograph fits
Teams who want CVAT-grade annotation without standing up and maintaining the infrastructure. Pictograph is hosted with managed GPUs, so there is no install, no upgrades, and no servers to keep alive. SAM3 point, box, and text prompts, model training, and inference deployments live in one place, and you can start on a free tier with monthly compute and no credit card.
Where CVAT leads
CVAT is open source and self-hostable, which gives you full control of your own infrastructure and data residency. If your priority is running everything on hardware you own, keeping data inside your network, or auditing and modifying the source, CVAT is the stronger fit. Pictograph focuses on the hosted, no-infra lane.