Docker Cloud Sandboxes alternatives
The 6 alternatives below are grouped by kind of sandbox, and each says what it does differently from Docker Cloud Sandboxes. Start from whatever made you look: missing GPUs, session limits, self-hosting, pricing or isolation.
Why teams look beyond Docker Cloud Sandboxes
A natural step up for Docker Sandboxes users, but an experimental platform without public pricing for anyone choosing a sandbox from scratch.
- Compute rates, regions and compliance are not published
- The Docker Agentic Platform subscription is labelled experimental
- No host hardware (GPU, display, USB) and no L7 network filtering in the cloud
- Cloud and local state do not interoperate beyond filesystem moves
Docker Cloud Sandboxes alternatives, by kind
Hosted sandbox platforms
SDK-driven sandboxes you create, run code in and destroy through an API.
Daytona
Stateful sandboxes for AI-generated code — Linux containers, Linux and Windows VMs, macOS and GPU sandboxes — with snapshots, volumes and preview URLs.
- Containers or VMs
- BYOC
- GPU
- Pause/resume
How it differs: Long-lived, stateful agent workspaces that need many SDK languages, GPUs, or Windows and macOS sandboxes. The strongest choice for stateful coding-agent workspaces and breadth of sandbox types; note the shift away from open source.
E2B
Open-source cloud sandboxes for AI agents, each a Firecracker microVM, with pause/resume, snapshots and forking.
- Firecracker microVM
- Open source
- Self-hostable
- BYOC
- Pause/resume
How it differs: Code interpreters and short-to-medium-lived agent tasks that need microVM isolation, with an open-source self-host path. The safe default for most agent builders: mature, open source, microVM-isolated and widely supported.
Vercel Sandbox
Firecracker microVM sandboxes on Vercel’s infrastructure, persistent by default and billed on active CPU, with fine-grained egress control.
- Firecracker microVM
- Pause/resume
How it differs: Teams on Vercel and agent builders who want microVM isolation, active-CPU billing and credential brokering. A polished microVM sandbox with standout egress and billing design; the obvious pick for Vercel-centric teams.
Compute platforms with sandboxes
General serverless or app platforms that also offer sandboxes, often with GPUs.
Depot Sandboxes
MicroVM sandboxes on the bare-metal compute behind Depot CI, with a TypeScript SDK, Tailscale networking and a Managed Agents service that hosts Claude Code, Codex, Devin and Amp sessions.
- MicroVM on bare metal
- BYOC
- Snapshots
How it differs: Teams on Depot CI who want agent sandboxes and hosted coding-agent sessions billed from the same minute pool. A sensible add-on for Depot CI customers, less compelling as a standalone sandbox given the file-only snapshots and limited SDK coverage.
Railway Sandboxes
On-demand Linux VMs inside a Railway environment with forks, checkpoints, Docker, private networking to your services and per-second billing; generally available since September 2026.
- Linux VM
- Snapshots
How it differs: Coding agents and test runs that need to reach your Railway databases and services over the private network. The natural sandbox for teams already deploying on Railway, strongest when agents need private-network access to existing services.
Local sandboxes for coding agents
Isolation for agents like Claude Code, Codex or Gemini CLI on your own laptop.
Docker Sandboxes
Docker’s `sbx` CLI for running AI coding agents in microVM sandboxes on your machine, with an experimental Docker-hosted cloud.
- MicroVM
- Self-hostable
- GPU
- Pause/resume
How it differs: Running coding agents unsupervised on a laptop with microVM isolation. The easiest way to give local coding agents a real microVM boundary.
Docker Cloud Sandboxes vs alternatives
| Sandbox | Isolation | Open source | Self-host / BYOC | Cold start (vendor) | Max session | Snapshots / pause | GPU | SDKs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docker Cloud Sandboxes | MicroVM, own kernel | No | No / No | ~100s of ms (claim) | 1 h default TTL | Yes / Yes | No | CLI, JavaScript/TypeScript, REST API |
| Daytona | Containers or VMs | No | Not documented / Yes | <90 ms | Unlimited | Yes / Yes | Yes | Python, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, Java |
| Depot Sandboxes | MicroVM on bare metal | No | No / Yes | Not documented | 2 h default timeout | Yes / No | Not documented | JavaScript/TypeScript, CLI |
| Docker Sandboxes | MicroVM | No | Yes / No | Not documented | Until removed (local) | Yes / Yes | Yes | sbx CLI, TypeScript (cloud), REST API (cloud) |
| E2B | Firecracker microVM | Yes | Yes / Yes | Not documented | 1 h / 24 h (Pro) | Yes / Yes | No | Python, JavaScript/TypeScript |
| Railway Sandboxes | Linux VM | No | No / No | Not documented | No cap (idle 30 min default) | Yes / No | Not documented | JavaScript/TypeScript, CLI, GraphQL API |
| Vercel Sandbox | Firecracker microVM | No | No / No | Milliseconds (claim) | 24 h (Pro) | Yes / Yes | Not documented | JavaScript/TypeScript, Python |
Frequently asked questions
What are the main alternatives to Docker Cloud Sandboxes?
Is there an open-source alternative to Docker Cloud Sandboxes?
Cite this page
Agent Sandboxes. (2026). Docker Cloud Sandboxes alternatives. agentsandboxes.org. Last reviewed November 9, 2026. https://agentsandboxes.org/alternatives/docker-cloud-sandboxes/
Found an error or a missing sandbox? Submit a correction — every entry links to the sources it relies on.