== SANDBOX PROVIDER COMPARISON (5 PROVIDERS) ==
Benchmarked with real API calls. Includes performance, persistence, snapshots, images, and pricing.
== 1. PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS ==
| Provider |
Cold Start |
Cmd Exec |
File I/O |
Python |
| E2B |
0.515s BEST |
0.539s |
0.512s |
0.288s |
| Daytona |
0.753s |
0.975s |
0.386s BEST |
0.220s BEST |
| Sprites |
~1s (wake) |
0.970s |
0.957s |
0.543s |
| Modal |
1.512s |
1.913s |
2.278s |
0.222s |
| Blaxel |
2.9s / 25ms |
0.539s |
0.992s |
N/A |
== 2. FILESYSTEM ==
| Provider |
Access |
Persistence |
How It Works |
| E2B |
Full Linux FS |
Ephemeral |
SDK: filesystem.write/read/list. Full /home/user access. Lost on kill. |
| Daytona |
Full Linux FS |
Optional |
SDK: fs.upload/download/list. Direct file ops + Git. Persistent option. |
| Sprites |
Full Linux FS BEST |
Persistent |
CLI: sprite cp, sprite exec. 100GB disk. Checkpoints at /.sprite/ |
| Modal |
Container FS |
Volumes |
Mount Volumes at paths. NetworkFileSystem for shared. Up to 1TB. |
| Blaxel |
Full Linux FS |
Standby |
SDK: fs.write/read. Memory preserved on standby. Volumes for long-term. |
== 3. SPIN DOWN / SCALE TO ZERO ==
| Provider |
Behavior |
Resume Time |
| Blaxel |
1s idle -> standby BEST |
<25ms resume |
| Modal |
Immediate scale-to-zero |
~1-2s cold start |
| Sprites |
Auto-hibernate when idle |
~1s wake |
| E2B |
Configurable timeout |
Default 300s, max 24h (Pro) / 1h (Hobby) |
| Daytona |
Configurable |
Scales to zero on inactivity |
== 4. SNAPSHOTS / CHECKPOINTS ==
| Provider |
Support |
Details |
| Sprites |
Full checkpoint/restore BEST |
~300ms to create, last 5 at /.sprite/checkpoints, git-like versioning |
| Modal |
Filesystem snapshots |
snapshot_filesystem() creates Image, memory snapshots in preview |
| Blaxel |
Standby state |
Full memory state preserved during standby (like hibernation) |
| E2B |
Templates only |
No runtime snapshots. Pre-build custom templates with CLI. |
| Daytona |
None |
No snapshot support. Use persistent storage for state. |
== 5. CUSTOM IMAGES ==
| Provider |
Support |
Details |
| Modal |
Excellent BEST |
modal.Image with pip_install, run_commands, from_dockerfile |
| E2B |
Templates |
e2b template build - custom Dockerfile-based templates |
| Daytona |
Docker images |
Custom Docker images supported |
| Blaxel |
Custom images |
blaxel/base-image or custom Dockerfiles |
| Sprites |
Pre-configured |
Firecracker-based, comes with Claude pre-installed |
== 6. PRICING AT SCALE ==
All calculations assume 1 vCPU + 1GB RAM sandbox, billed per-second
Per-Second Rates:
| Provider |
CPU/s |
Memory/GB/s |
Total/s (1vCPU+1GB) |
Per Hour |
| Sprites |
$0.00000228 |
(included) |
$0.00000228 |
$0.008 CHEAPEST |
| Blaxel |
(memory-based) |
$0.0000115 |
$0.0000115 |
$0.041 |
| E2B |
$0.000014 |
$0.0000045 |
$0.0000185 |
$0.067 |
| Modal |
$0.00003942 |
$0.00000672 |
$0.00004614 |
$0.166 |
| Daytona |
Per-second (pricing not public) |
$30-200 free credits |
Scenario: 1 Sandbox x 24 Hours
| Provider |
Cost |
Notes |
| Sprites |
$0.20 CHEAPEST |
Hibernates when idle (no cost) |
| Blaxel |
$0.99 |
<25ms resume, pay only when active |
| E2B |
$1.60 |
Configurable timeout |
| Modal |
$3.98 |
Scale-to-zero available |
Scenario: 1000 Sandboxes x 1 Hour Each
| Provider |
Cost |
Notes |
| Sprites |
$8.20 CHEAPEST |
Fly.io shared-cpu-1x rates |
| Blaxel |
$41.40 |
+ fast cold start from standby |
| E2B |
$66.60 |
Fastest cold start (0.5s) |
| Modal |
$166.00 |
Best for GPU workloads |
Scenario: 1000 Sandboxes x 24 Hours (Heavy Usage)
| Provider |
Cost |
Monthly Equivalent |
| Sprites |
$197 CHEAPEST |
~$5,900/mo at this rate |
| Blaxel |
$994 |
~$29,800/mo |
| E2B |
$1,598 |
~$47,900/mo |
| Modal |
$3,994 |
~$119,800/mo |
GPU Pricing (Modal - per hour):
T4: $0.59 A10G: $1.10 L4: $0.80
A100: $2.50 H100: $3.95 B200: $6.25
COST OPTIMIZATION TIPS:
- Use scale-to-zero (Modal, Blaxel) to avoid idle costs
- Sprites hibernates automatically - best for intermittent usage
- E2B: set shorter timeouts for ephemeral tasks
- Blaxel: <25ms resume = near-zero idle cost
== 7. GIT-LIKE FEATURES ==
| Provider |
Feature |
| Sprites |
Checkpoint versioning (v0, v1, v2...) - git-like restore |
| Daytona |
Built-in Git SDK (add, commit, push) |
| Modal |
Filesystem snapshots as Images |
GREEN = Excellent/Native
ORANGE = Partial/Available
RED = None/N/A