CodeSandbox
What it does well
- Deep roots in browser development environments and collaborative coding workflows.
- MicroVM sandboxes with snapshots, cloning, and auto-resume.
- Configurable inactivity and hibernation behavior through a TypeScript SDK.
Sandbox comparison · Reviewed July 2026
CodeSandboxvs Run Cloud
CodeSandbox SDK provides isolated development environments backed by microVMs, snapshots, and configurable hibernation. Run Cloud offers a compatible TypeScript path with a broader mobile-agent workflow.
Run Cloud
Why teams compare
- Hardware-isolated Linux microVMs with snapshot, fork, pause, and resume.
- Browser-controlled iOS simulators on the same product surface.
- A CodeSandbox-shaped compatibility adapter for incremental migration.
Detailed comparison
Different control planes. A practical migration path.
This comparison focuses on architecture and workflow rather than temporary prices or benchmark claims.
| Area | CodeSandbox | Run Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime model | Isolated cloud development environments running on microVM infrastructure. | Firecracker microVMs tuned for agent execution and stateful branching. |
| State | Snapshots support clone, restore, and continuous context through hibernation. | Snapshot, fork, pause, and resume are first-class agent workflow primitives. |
| SDK shape | TypeScript SDK centered on Sandbox and workspace concepts. | Native SDKs plus a @codesandbox/sdk-shaped TypeScript adapter. |
| Product emphasis | Cloud development environments and collaborative coding. | Agent infrastructure spanning Linux compute, iOS simulators, and Xcode builds. |
| Migration path | Existing code imports Sandbox from @codesandbox/sdk. | Change the import path to @run-cloud/sdk/compat/codesandbox. |
Provider details were reviewed against the CodeSandbox SDK overview. Product capabilities change; validate requirements against current vendor documentation.
Choose CodeSandbox
Stay when its platform is the advantage.
- Products closely aligned with CodeSandbox workspaces and browser IDE experiences.
- Teams that want continuous development context after hibernation.
- TypeScript applications already built around @codesandbox/sdk.
Choose Run Cloud
Move when the agent needs more than Linux.
- Agents that need sandbox execution plus native iOS simulator automation.
- Teams migrating a CodeSandbox-shaped TypeScript integration incrementally.
- Mobile build pipelines that continue into signing, export, and TestFlight.
Compatibility layer
Start with the import.
Keep the provider-shaped entry point while you validate lifecycle, network, image, and storage behavior against your application.
@run-cloud/sdk/compat/codesandbox
sandbox.ts
Before
import { Sandbox } from "@codesandbox/sdk";Run Cloud
import { Sandbox } from "@run-cloud/sdk/compat/codesandbox";FAQ
CodeSandbox migration questions.
Is Run Cloud compatible with CodeSandbox SDK?+
Run Cloud provides a TypeScript compatibility entry point shaped like CodeSandbox Sandbox. Core workflows can migrate by changing the import, while workspace-specific and provider-specific behavior should be tested.
Do both products preserve sandbox state?+
Yes, but with different product models. CodeSandbox emphasizes snapshots and hibernating development environments; Run Cloud emphasizes snapshotting and forking agent computers.
When is CodeSandbox the better choice?+
CodeSandbox is compelling when browser IDEs, collaborative cloud development, and existing CodeSandbox workspaces are central to the product.
Why use Run Cloud for mobile agents?+
Run Cloud connects the Linux sandbox to browser-controlled iOS simulators and Xcode builds, reducing the number of infrastructure products needed for mobile coding agents.
More comparisons
Compare the rest of the field.
Test the migration on a real workload.
Bring one sandbox workflow, keep the familiar API shape, and measure the behavior that matters to your agents.
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