E2B vs Modal: sandbox cost and limits

Choose E2B for the lowest listed example cost: $16.56 for 100 runtime hours.

Updated · 3 sources · Methodology

DimensionWinnerMarginEvidence
100-hour compute costE2B$7.236E2B $16.56 / Modal $23.79612
Maximum configured sessionModal23 hE2B Hobby 1 h / Modal Sandbox 24 h13
First-month signup compute creditsE2B$70E2B $100 / Modal $3012

Performance

ProviderExecution hostLifecycle control
E2B1Managed cloudRemote sandbox API
Modal23Managed cloudRemote sandbox API

E2B · 2 vCPU · 4 GiB · Hobby · 1-hour Hobby session; 20 concurrent sandboxes1

Modal · 1 physical core (2 vCPU) · 4 GiB · 5-minute default lifetime; configurable to 24 hours23

Prices and request cost

ProviderCompute / runtime hour100-hour compute cost
E2B1$0.1656$16.56
Modal2$0.23796$23.796
Cost example: 100 runtime hours, 2 vCPU and 4 GiB nominal memory
E2B$16.56
Modal$23.796

Capabilities and serving conditions

DimensionE2BModal
Serving and capacityThe Hobby tier permits 1 hour per session. Pro raises that ceiling to 24 hours and adds $150/month before compute; the $100 signup credit applies once.1Sandboxes use non-preemptible rates: $0.00003942 per physical-core-second and $0.00000667 per GiB-second, rather than ordinary Function rates.2

When each option fits

E2B

  • E2B Hobby suits short code-execution jobs with 20 concurrent sandboxes; its 1-hour session ceiling is shorter than Modal’s configurable 24-hour lifetime.13

Modal

  • Modal combines Sandbox execution with its Python deployment workflow and image builds; a sandbox can run for up to 24 hours.3

Methodology and sources

E2B / Modal. Compute uses 100 total runtime hours, 2 vCPU and 4 GiB nominal memory, with 100% active CPU, before credits and monthly platform fees. Storage, egress and creation charges are excluded. Modal uses Sandbox non-preemptible rates; its physical core is equivalent to 2 vCPU. Runtime allocation, plan-specific concurrency and lifetime are provider conditions, not a common startup-time column. Published timing statements use different events and do not establish a cross-vendor latency ranking. E2B’s $100 signup credit is one-time; Modal’s $30 allowance recurs monthly. The credit comparison is limited to the first signup month and does not reduce the gross compute example. Session ceilings compare E2B Hobby with Modal Sandbox’s configurable 24-hour maximum, not Modal’s default timeout.

  1. E2B · 2 vCPU · 4 GiB · Hobby specifications and pricing
  2. Modal · 1 physical core (2 vCPU) · 4 GiB specifications and pricing
  3. Modal · Sandbox lifetime

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Evaluate Novita’s managed execution alongside the workload and lifecycle requirements in this comparison.

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