Compare / E2B vs Modal
E2B vs Modal for AI agents
Pick E2B for fast starts and memory pause: its median was 264 ms versus Modal's 929 ms in our 12 October 2026 test. Pick Modal for GPUs or more regions. Lizard Sandboxes fit CPU work with memory pause at $0.0162/h for 2 vCPU / 4 GiB, before the Pro fee, as of 21 October 2026.
Which should you pick?
E2B
Pick it if you need memory pause, a Code Interpreter SDK or single-machine self-hosting with E2B Embed. E2B has no GPUs on any plan.
Modal
Pick it if you need GPUs on gVisor, a Go SDK or more regions. GPUs may stop without warning and choosing a region costs extra; memory snapshots are alpha and exclude GPUs.
Lizard
Pick it if you want lower CPU compute rates, memory pause and sessions beyond a day. Set --timeout 0 to remove the deadline; the VM still stops after 596 hours.
The differences that matter
E2B returned the first result sooner
In our 12 October 2026 test, E2B had a 264 ms median; Modal had 929 ms. We timed 300 starts per provider from one US East runner, from before the create call until a Python command returned.
Lower compute rates or monthly usage
At 2 vCPU / 4 GiB on 21 October 2026, E2B costs $0.1656/h and Modal $0.238/h without a region pin, before plan, storage and network fees. E2B Hobby includes a one-time $100 credit; Modal Starter includes $30 of compute each month.
Memory pause or alpha snapshots
E2B keeps files and memory on pause by default, free with no time limit. Modal has no pause feature; alpha memory snapshots stop the original, restore a copy and expire after 7 days. They exclude GPUs, need the same machine type and cannot choose a region.
Open-source runtime or GPUs
E2B Embed supports self-hosting on a single machine under Apache-2.0; managed hosting in your cloud requires Enterprise. Modal publishes no self-hosting option, but offers GPUs on gVisor that may stop without warning. E2B has no GPUs.
E2B vs Modal vs Lizard
Figures come from E2B and Modal docs and pricing pages and from ours; we last checked them on 21 October 2026. E2B pricing · Modal pricing
| Compared by | E2B | Modal | Lizard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isolation | Firecracker microVM; own kernel per sandbox | gVisor containers by default; optional VM with own kernel; GPUs: gVisor only | Firecracker microVM; own kernel per sandbox |
| Start time (our test) | 264 ms median, 736 ms p99 | 929 ms median, 1,593 ms p99 | 228 ms median, 477 ms p99 |
| Price, 2 vCPU / 4 GiB | $0.1656/h | $0.238/h, without a region pin | $0.0162/h, disk and egress included |
| Largest size | Hobby: 8 vCPU / 8 GiB; Pro: 8+ vCPU / 8+ GiB via support; Enterprise: custom | CPU and memory: Not published; disk: 512 GiB; GPUs: up to 8, A10: up to 4 | Large: 8 vCPU / 16 GiB / 50 GB disk; no custom sizes |
| Idle and paused billing | Per second on allocated CPU/RAM; idle running billed; paused free; disk included | Idle billing: Not published; no pause feature; snapshot billing: Not published | Idle: billed per second by size; paused: free; attached volumes billed separately |
| Longest session | Hobby: 1 hour; Pro: 24 hours; Enterprise: custom; pause/resume resets clock | 24 hours max via timeout; default: 5 minutes; file snapshots for longer work | Default: 5 min; optional deadline; VM stops after 596 hours |
| Sandboxes at once | Hobby: 20; Pro: 100; add-on sales paused, ask support; Enterprise: 1,100+ | Sandbox limit: Not published; plan container limits: Starter 100, Team 5,000 | Trial: 5; Pro: 100, paused excluded; Enterprise: no fixed limit |
| Pause and resume | Files and memory by default; free, no time limit; files-only mode by request | No pause feature; alpha memory snapshots stop the original and restore a copy | Files, memory, processes, ID and ports kept; free pause; remaining lifetime kept |
| Snapshots and forks | Files and memory; forks; files-only mode by request | Files: many copies; memory: alpha, 7 days, no GPU/region choice, same machine type | Files + running memory; many restores from one snapshot; no separate fork command |
| Custom images | Registry images and Dockerfiles; no multi-stage Dockerfiles | Dockerfiles or registry images; Python image builder; JS/Go: registry images | Ready templates or private snapshots; no Dockerfile or registry-image builds |
| GPUs | None; CPU-only on all plans | gVisor only; may stop without warning; payment method needed; no memory snapshots | None |
| Self-hosting | E2B Embed: single machine; managed hosting in your cloud: Enterprise only | Not published | Managed service only; platform not open source |
| SDKs | JavaScript/TypeScript, Python; Code Interpreter and Desktop SDKs; CLI; REST API | Python, Go, JavaScript/TypeScript; CLI | Lizard SDK: TypeScript, Python; Lizard CLI; REST API; Lizard MCP |
| Regions | US; US West via support; EU/Asia-Pacific: Pro and above, via support | US, Europe, Asia-Pacific; region choice: 1.15x broad / 1.75x narrow | US East (Virginia), EU West (Limburg); same price in both |
When E2B or Modal is the better choice
E2B offers an open-source runtime and self-hosting on a single machine through E2B Embed. Both accept Dockerfiles and registry images and publish SOC 2 Type II reports; E2B excludes multi-stage Dockerfiles. Modal adds GPUs on gVisor that may stop without warning, and a Go SDK. Both offer Asia-Pacific access: E2B requires Pro or above and support; Modal charges extra to choose regions. Lizard has no GPUs, self-hosting or image builds; Lizard SDK supports TypeScript and Python, with regions in US East and EU West.
Start a sandbox and run code
Frequently asked questions
E2B had the lower median in our 12 October 2026 test: 264 ms versus 929 ms. We sell Lizard Sandboxes; see the linked benchmark for settings and data.
E2B on compute at 2 vCPU / 4 GiB: $0.1656/h versus Modal at $0.238/h on 21 October 2026, before plan fees, storage and network, without a Modal region pin. E2B Pro adds $150/month plus usage; Hobby has no fee. Modal Starter has no monthly fee and includes $30 of compute per month.
Modal does; E2B does not, on any plan. Modal GPU sandboxes need gVisor and a payment method, may stop without warning and cannot use memory snapshots.
E2B Embed supports self-hosting on a single machine under Apache-2.0; Modal publishes no self-hosting option. E2B also offers managed hosting in your cloud on AWS, GCP and Azure for Enterprise only. Modal's open-source code covers its client SDK.
Lizard Sandboxes cost $0.0162/h for 2 vCPU / 4 GiB as of 21 October 2026; Pro costs $19/month with $19 of usage included. They keep memory on pause at no charge. E2B adds single-machine self-hosting; Modal adds GPUs on gVisor, which may stop without warning; both accept Dockerfiles, which Lizard does not.
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