Comparison
| Container disk | Volume disk | Network volume | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Lost on stop/restart | Retained until Pod deleted | Retained independently |
| Mount path | System-managed | /workspace (default) | /workspace (replaces volume disk) |
| Performance | Fastest (local) | Fast (local) | Variable (network) |
| Shareable | No | No | Yes (across Pods) |
| Resizable | Yes | Increase only | Yes |
| Cost | $0.10/GB/month | $0.10/GB/month (running) | $0.07/GB/month |
| $0.20/GB/month (stopped) | |||
| Best for | OS, temp files, cache | Models, datasets, checkpoints | Shared data, portable storage |
Container disk
The container disk provides temporary storage for the operating system and session data. It’s created when a launches and is cleared when the Pod stops. Use it for temporary files, caches, and data that doesn’t need to persist between sessions.Volume disk
The volume disk provides persistent storage that is retained throughout the Pod’s lease. Data stored in the/workspace directory survives Pod stops and restarts, but is deleted when the Pod is terminated. This is ideal for storing models, datasets, and checkpoints that you need to access across multiple sessions.
Network volume
Network volumes provide permanent storage that exists independently from any Pod. You can attach a network volume to multiple Pods, transfer it between machines, and retain your data even after deleting a Pod. This makes network volumes ideal for shared datasets, collaborative workflows, and portable storage. Learn more about network volumes.Network volumes must be attached during Pod creation and cannot be detached later. When attached, the network volume replaces the volume disk at
/workspace.Modify storage capacity
You can adjust your Pod’s storage capacity at any time:- Navigate to the Pods page.
- Click the three dots next to your Pod and select Edit Pod.
- Adjust the container or volume disk size. Note that volume disk size can only be increased, not decreased.
- Click Save to apply your changes.
Transfer data
You can export data from your Pod to external cloud providers including AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure, and Dropbox. Click the Cloud Sync button on the Pod page to get started. For detailed instructions, see Export data.Runpod is not designed for long-term cloud storage. We recommend backing up critical data to your local machine or a dedicated cloud storage provider.