E2B
What it does well
- Purpose-built agent sandboxes with mature Python and TypeScript SDKs.
- Declarative templates for repeatable prebuilt environments.
- Runtime snapshots that capture filesystem and memory for one-to-many restores.
Sandbox comparison · Reviewed July 2026
E2Bvs Run Cloud
E2B offers secure Linux sandboxes, templates, desktop environments, and runtime snapshots for agents. Run Cloud adds a compatible migration path and joins Linux compute with iOS simulators and Xcode builds.
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 E2B-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 | E2B | Run Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime model | Secure isolated Linux VMs created from E2B templates or snapshots. | Firecracker microVMs exposed as agent computers with stateful lifecycle controls. |
| State | Templates for reproducible bases; snapshots capture live filesystem and memory state. | Snapshots and copy-on-write forks support checkpoints and parallel branches. |
| SDK shape | Python and TypeScript Sandbox APIs with commands, files, PTY, and networking. | Native SDKs plus an E2B-compatible Python Sandbox adapter. |
| Computer use | Linux desktop sandboxes are available for visual agent workflows. | Browser-controlled iOS simulators complement Linux computer-use workloads. |
| Migration path | Existing code imports Sandbox from e2b. | Switch to run_cloud.compat.e2b and validate template and network-specific behavior. |
Provider details were reviewed against the E2B Sandbox snapshots documentation. Product capabilities change; validate requirements against current vendor documentation.
Choose E2B
Stay when its platform is the advantage.
- Agent teams already standardized on E2B templates and SDK conventions.
- Applications that want E2B Desktop sandboxes for Linux computer-use flows.
- Workloads built around E2B network policy, volumes, and template tooling.
Choose Run Cloud
Move when the agent needs more than Linux.
- Products that need both Linux agent sandboxes and real iOS simulator control.
- Teams migrating E2B-shaped lifecycle code without a full integration rewrite.
- Workflows that need sandbox forks and a direct path to cloud Xcode builds.
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.compat.e2b
sandbox.py
Before
from e2b import SandboxRun Cloud
from run_cloud.compat.e2b import SandboxFAQ
E2B migration questions.
Is Run Cloud an E2B replacement?+
Run Cloud includes an E2B-shaped compatibility adapter for core Sandbox workflows. It is an incremental migration path rather than a promise that every E2B template, desktop, or network option behaves identically.
Do both platforms support snapshots?+
Yes. E2B documents runtime snapshots containing filesystem and memory state, alongside declarative templates. Run Cloud uses snapshots and forks to checkpoint and branch agent work.
When is E2B the better fit?+
E2B is a strong fit when your team already depends on its template ecosystem, Linux desktop product, or mature Python and TypeScript SDK surface.
What is different about Run Cloud?+
Run Cloud combines Linux agent compute with iOS simulator sessions and Xcode builds, making it useful when an agent must both edit code and exercise the resulting mobile app.
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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