Deci AIReleased May 2023Custom
We don't benchmark YOLO-NAS.
It is an open-weight model from Deci AI under a custom license, and weights license restricts commercial use (Deci's consent needed). Test it side by side in the Playground.
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YOLO-NAS is an object detection model developed by Deci AI, released in May 2023 as part of the super-gradients open-source training library. The architecture was generated using Deci's proprietary Neural Architecture Search technology, AutoNAC, which searches for network structures that balance accuracy and inference latency on target hardware. This produced three model sizes (small, medium, and large) featuring quantization-friendly blocks that reduce accuracy loss when converting weights to INT8 precision for deployment on edge devices and mobile hardware.
YOLO-NAS runs as a hosted REST endpoint through Roboflow Workflows. Pick a task, then hand the prompt to your coding agent or copy the code. Deploying the workflow into a free Roboflow workspace replaces the your-workspace and YOUR_API_KEY placeholders with your own.
Add the Roboflow MCP server
claude mcp add --transport http roboflow https://mcp.roboflow.com/mcp
Run /mcp and authorize Roboflow in your browser when the OAuth flow opens.
Start a new Claude Code session so the MCP loads, then paste the prompt below (it works the same in any agent).
Deploy this workflow to your Roboflow workspace to use it.
Integrate the Roboflow "YOLO-NAS" workflow into my app.
- Endpoint: POST https://serverless.roboflow.com/<your-workspace>/workflows/yolo-nas-object-detection-coco-medium
- Auth: send my Roboflow API key as `api_key` in the request body, read from the ROBOFLOW_API_KEY env var (never hardcode).
- Body: { "api_key": ..., "inputs": { `image`: { type: "url" | "base64", value } } }.
With the Roboflow MCP connected, call `workflows_get` on "yolo-nas-object-detection-coco-medium" to read the exact input schema (the source of truth), then `workflows_run` on a sample image to confirm the output shape before writing code (the MCP is authenticated, so this needs no key). Without the MCP, use the contract above.
Before running the app, set up these keys so it does not error at runtime:
- `ROBOFLOW_API_KEY` (sent as `api_key`) from https://app.roboflow.com/settings/api
Create a .gitignore'd .env with these variables, using placeholder values for any I haven't given you. Then pause and tell me directly, in your reply: the full path to the .env file, exactly which keys I need to paste in, and the link to get each one. Wait for me to confirm I've added them before you run anything. Do not run the app until I confirm.
Then add the integration to my codebase: match my project's language, framework, and conventions; read every key from environment variables (never hardcode); add basic error handling; and include a small runnable example. If you can't tell what language my project uses, ask me.pip install inference-sdkDeploy this workflow to your Roboflow workspace to use it.
# 1. Import the library
from inference_sdk import InferenceHTTPClient
# 2. Connect to your workflow
client = InferenceHTTPClient(
api_url="https://serverless.roboflow.com",
api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)
# 3. Run your workflow on an image
result = client.run_workflow(
workspace_name="your-workspace",
workflow_id="yolo-nas-object-detection-coco-medium",
images={
"image": "YOUR_IMAGE.jpg" # Path to your image file
},
use_cache=True # cache workflow definition for 15 minutes
)
# 4. Get your results
print(result)Deploy this workflow to your Roboflow workspace to use it.
const response = await fetch('https://serverless.roboflow.com/your-workspace/workflows/yolo-nas-object-detection-coco-medium', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
api_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
inputs: {
"image": {"type": "url", "value": "IMAGE_URL"}
}
})
});
const result = await response.json();
console.log(result);Deploy this workflow to your Roboflow workspace to use it.
curl --location 'https://serverless.roboflow.com/your-workspace/workflows/yolo-nas-object-detection-coco-medium' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"api_key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"inputs": {
"image": {"type": "url", "value": "IMAGE_URL"}
}
}'YOLO-NAS ships under a custom, model-specific license rather than a standard permissive or restrictive one, so the YOLO-NAS license has to be read directly. Custom model licenses range from effectively permissive to research-only.
Uncertainty around licensing can delay or stop a project, and acceptable-use policies attached to custom licenses are binding terms rather than guidance. Review them alongside the YOLO-NAS license before production deployment.
The YOLO-NAS training code is Apache 2.0, but Deci's pre-trained YOLO-NAS weights are under Deci's own license, which doesn't allow commercial use without Deci's consent. Check that license before you ship anything built on the released weights.
Do not hesitate to reach out with questions for your commercial project. Our team will help you start solving business problems on the first call. See Roboflow commercial licensing for the models included in each plan.
Talk to salesThe YOLO-NAS training code (super-gradients) is Apache 2.0, but Deci's pre-trained YOLO-NAS weights are under Deci's own license, which doesn't allow commercial use without Deci's consent. YOLO-NAS is not Apache-licensed as a whole.
If you train with Roboflow Train, commercial usage is allowed because we do not use the Deci weights. If you train your own model outside the Roboflow platform, ensuring adherence to the Deci YOLO-NAS license is your responsibility.
To learn more about model licensing with Roboflow, refer to our Licensing guide.
Custom licenses are model-specific. Always check the per-model License Notes section above and the linked official license text.
License information is provided as a guide and is not legal advice.
Usage
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YOLO-NAS comes in 3 sizes: Small (640×640), Medium (640×640), Large (640×640). Smaller variants run faster on constrained hardware; larger ones trade speed for accuracy. You can switch sizes in the demo to compare them on the same image.
Yes. The demo on this page runs YOLO-NAS in the free Roboflow Playground: upload an image and see results in seconds. A free account unlocks unlimited runs.