AI Code Sandbox Benchmark 2026: Modal vs E2B vs Daytona vs Cloudflare vs Vercel vs Beam vs Blaxel
We evaluate seven leading AI code sandbox providers across developer experience and pricing to help you choose the right environment for executing AI-generated code.
As AI agents become more sophisticated, they increasingly need secure environments to execute code. Whether you're building a coding assistant, running AI-generated scripts, or powering code evaluation pipelines, choosing the right sandbox provider is critical for both developer experience and cost efficiency.
In this comprehensive benchmark, we evaluate seven leading AI code sandbox providers across two key dimensions: Developer Experience (DX) and Pricing.
TL;DR Summary
| 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 |
Feature Comparison Matrix
SDK & Language Support
| 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 |
Runtime & Performance
| 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 |
Key Features
| 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 |
Pricing Comparison (Normalized)
| 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.
Recommendations by Use Case
For AI Coding Agents (Code Generation + Execution)
Top Pick: Blaxel or E2B
- Blaxel: Best for stateful agents needing fast resume
- E2B: Best for quick integration, great SDKs
For ML/AI Inference Workloads with Sandboxing
Top Pick: Modal or Beam
- Both offer GPU support alongside sandboxing
- Modal has better cold starts, Beam offers self-hosting
For Global Edge Distribution
Top Pick: Cloudflare Sandbox
- Built on global CDN infrastructure
- Best for latency-sensitive, globally distributed users
For Next.js/Vercel Ecosystem
Top Pick: Vercel Sandbox
- Native integration with AI SDK and platform
- Simplest setup for existing Vercel users
For Development Environments with AI
Top Pick: Daytona
- Full Git and LSP support
- Best for AI-assisted coding workflows
For Startups/Budget-Conscious Teams
Top Pick: E2B or Daytona
- Generous free credits ($100-$200)
- Open-source options available
Conclusion
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
The winner depends on your specific needs, but all seven providers offer production-ready solutions for running AI-generated code securely.
Last updated: January 2026