Sandbox comparison · Reviewed July 2026
Cloudflare Sandbox exposes container execution to Workers applications with sessions and configurable sleep behavior. Run Cloud provides hardware-isolated microVMs and a multi-product agent runtime.
Compatibility layer
Keep the provider-shaped entry point while you validate lifecycle, network, image, and storage behavior against your application.
import { getSandbox } from "@cloudflare/sandbox";import { getSandbox } from "@run-cloud/sdk/compat/cloudflare";Detailed comparison
This comparison focuses on architecture and workflow rather than temporary prices or benchmark claims.
| Area | Cloudflare Sandbox | Run Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime model | Cloudflare containers exposed through the Sandbox SDK and coordinated from Workers. | KVM-backed Firecracker microVMs with a dedicated kernel and filesystem. |
| State | Explicit sessions preserve shell state; containers sleep after inactivity. | Snapshot, fork, pause, and resume preserve and branch agent environments. |
| SDK shape | TypeScript-first @cloudflare/sandbox API used with Workers bindings. | Native APIs plus a Cloudflare-shaped TypeScript compatibility adapter. |
| Platform scope | Tightly integrated with Workers and Cloudflare application infrastructure. | Standalone agent compute with iOS simulator and Xcode build products. |
| Migration path | Existing code imports getSandbox from @cloudflare/sandbox. | Change the import to @run-cloud/sdk/compat/cloudflare and replace binding-specific setup. |
Provider details were reviewed against the Cloudflare Sandbox SDK documentation. Product capabilities change; validate requirements against current vendor documentation.
Choose Cloudflare Sandbox
Choose Run Cloud
FAQ
Cloudflare documents Sandbox as a container-based product integrated with its developer platform. Run Cloud describes its Linux runtime as KVM-backed Firecracker microVMs with a dedicated kernel.
The compatibility adapter preserves a Cloudflare-shaped Sandbox import, but Workers bindings and Durable Object coordination are Cloudflare-specific and need replacement at the application boundary.
It is a natural fit when your control plane already runs on Workers and you want sandbox execution integrated with Cloudflare bindings and operations.
Run Cloud is useful when you want a standalone microVM runtime or need the same agent platform to provide iOS simulators and cloud Xcode builds.
More comparisons
Bring one sandbox workflow, keep the familiar API shape, and measure the behavior that matters to your agents.