| Provider | Best For | SDK Languages | Max Runtime | Cold Start | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modal | Python ML workloads, high-scale | Python, JS/TS (beta), Go (beta) | 24 hours | Sub-second | $0.000014/core/sec |
| E2B | Quick AI agent integration | Python, JS/TS | 24 hours (Pro) | ~150ms | $100 free credits |
| Daytona | Full-featured dev environments | Python, TypeScript | Unlimited | ~90ms | $200 free credits |
| Cloudflare | Edge execution, global distribution | TypeScript | Configurable | 2-3 seconds | $5/month base |
| Vercel | Next.js ecosystem integration | TypeScript | 5 hours (Pro) | Fast | $0.128/CPU hour |
| Beam | Serverless GPU + sandboxes | Python, TS (beta) | Unlimited | 2-3 seconds | 15 hours free |
| Blaxel | Ultra-fast standby resume | Python, TypeScript | Unlimited | ~25ms | $200 free credits |
| Provider | Python | TypeScript/JS | Go | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modal | Primary | Beta | Beta | No |
| E2B | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Daytona | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cloudflare | No | Primary | No | No |
| Vercel | No | Primary | No | Python (limited) |
| Beam | Primary | Beta | No | No |
| Blaxel | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Provider | Max Runtime | Cold Start | Scale to Zero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modal | 24 hours | Sub-second | Yes |
| E2B | 24 hours | ~150ms | Yes |
| Daytona | Unlimited | ~90ms | Yes |
| Cloudflare | Configurable | 2-3s | Yes |
| Vercel | 5 hours | Fast | Yes |
| Beam | Unlimited | 2-3s | Yes |
| Blaxel | Unlimited | ~25ms | Yes |
| Provider | GPU Support | Self-Host | Persistence | Custom Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modal | Extensive | No | Snapshots | SDK-defined |
| E2B | No | Open-source | Yes | Templates |
| Daytona | Yes | Enterprise | Yes | Docker/OCI |
| Cloudflare | No | No | Limited | Docker |
| Vercel | No | No | Ephemeral | Yes |
| Beam | Extensive | Open-source | Volumes | Docker |
| Blaxel | No | No | Snapshots | Yes |
| Provider | Hourly Cost | CPU Rate | RAM Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| E2B | $0.0828 | $0.000014/vCPU/s | $0.0000045/GiB/s |
| Daytona | $0.0828 | $0.000014/vCPU/s | $0.0000045/GiB/s |
| Blaxel | $0.0828 | Bundled | $0.0000115/GB/s |
| Cloudflare | $0.0900 | $0.000020/vCPU/s | $0.0000025/GiB/s |
| Modal | $0.1193 | $0.00003942/core/s* | $0.00000672/GiB/s |
| Vercel | $0.1492 | $0.128/CPU-hr | $0.0106/GB-hr |
| Beam | $0.2300 | $0.190/core/hr | $0.020/GB/hr |
*1 vCPU + 2GB RAM for 1 hour. Modal prices per physical core (= 2 vCPU). Cloudflare requires $5/mo base plan.
Note: Actual costs vary significantly based on usage patterns, included credits, and additional features.
Top Pick: Blaxel or E2B
- Blaxel: Best for stateful agents needing fast resume
- E2B: Best for quick integration, great SDKs
Top Pick: Modal or Beam
- Both offer GPU support alongside sandboxing
- Modal has better cold starts, Beam offers self-hosting
Top Pick: Cloudflare Sandbox
- Built on global CDN infrastructure
- Best for latency-sensitive, globally distributed users
Top Pick: Vercel Sandbox
- Native integration with AI SDK and platform
- Simplest setup for existing Vercel users
Top Pick: Daytona
- Full Git and LSP support
- Best for AI-assisted coding workflows
Top Pick: E2B or Daytona
- Generous free credits ($100-$200)
- Open-source options available
The AI sandbox space is rapidly maturing, with each provider carving out distinct niches. When choosing a provider, consider:
- Your primary SDK language - Modal and Beam favor Python (though both have beta TypeScript SDKs); Cloudflare and Vercel favor TypeScript
- Runtime requirements - Need GPUs? Modal or Beam. Need unlimited runtime? Daytona or Blaxel
- Cold start sensitivity - Blaxel leads at 25ms; E2B and Daytona follow at ~90-150ms
- Existing ecosystem - Already on Vercel? Use Vercel Sandbox. On Cloudflare? Use their SDK