Modal vs Daytona
| Modal | Daytona | |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | gVisor | Docker container |
| Cold start | 800ms | 90ms |
| Price / vCPU-hr | $0.14 | $0.05 |
| GPU | T4 → B200, incl. H100 | H100 ~$3.95/hr |
| Session limit | Configurable | Persistent (lifecycle-managed) |
| Persistence | Volumes; ephemeral compute | Persistent workspaces, snapshots |
| MCP support | — | Yes |
| Free tier | $30/mo free credits | Free credits |
| Best for | Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. | Teams that want open source, persistent stateful workspaces, and GPU access. |
The verdict
Choose Modal if python/ml workloads and agents that need gpu inside the sandbox. Choose Daytona if teams that want open source, persistent stateful workspaces, and gpu access.
Headline rates rarely equal your bill — idle time, session length, creation fees and GPU minutes dominate. Model your actual workload in the cost calculator.
FAQ
Modal vs Daytona: which is better?
It depends on your priority. Daytona has the faster cold start (90ms vs 800ms), while Daytona is cheaper per vCPU-hour. Modal is best for python/ml workloads and agents that need gpu inside the sandbox. Daytona is best for teams that want open source, persistent stateful workspaces, and gpu access.
Is Modal or Daytona cheaper?
Daytona is cheaper on the headline vCPU-hour rate ($0.05 vs $0.14). Total cost depends on idle time, session length and creation fees — use the cost calculator to model your workload.
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