Modal vs Vercel Sandbox
| Modal | Vercel Sandbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | gVisor | Firecracker microVM |
| Cold start | 800ms | 400ms |
| Price / vCPU-hr | $0.14 | $0.128 |
| GPU | T4 → B200, incl. H100 | No |
| Session limit | Configurable | 45min (Hobby) / 24h (Pro) |
| Persistence | Volumes; ephemeral compute | Persistent by default |
| MCP support | n/a | n/a |
| Free tier | $30/mo free credits | Included allowance on Hobby |
| Best for | Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. | Teams already on Vercel building JS/TS AI apps. |
The verdict
Choose Modal for Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. Choose Vercel Sandbox for teams already on Vercel building JS/TS AI apps.
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 Vercel Sandbox: which is better?
It depends on your priority. Vercel Sandbox leads on both cold start (400ms vs 800ms) and the headline vCPU-hour price. Modal is best for Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox. Vercel Sandbox is best for teams already on Vercel building JS/TS AI apps.
Is Modal or Vercel Sandbox cheaper?
Vercel Sandbox is cheaper on the headline vCPU-hour rate ($0.128 vs $0.14). Total cost depends on idle time, session length and creation fees. Model your workload in the cost calculator.
Still choosing between Modal and Vercel Sandbox?
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