Modal
Last verified 2026-07-26
Modal is the ML/Python-first platform in this category and stands out for running GPUs (T4 through B200) inside the sandbox. It uses gVisor isolation, sub-second cold starts, and integrates natively with the OpenAI Agents SDK. Reportedly ~$300M annualized revenue.
Key specs
| Isolation | gVisor |
| Cold start | 800ms |
| Price / vCPU-hr | $0.14 |
| Pricing model | Per-second usage |
| GPU | T4 → B200, incl. H100 |
| Session limit | Configurable |
| Persistence | Volumes; ephemeral compute |
| Languages | Python (first-class), others via containers |
| MCP support | n/a |
| Integrations | OpenAI Agents SDK |
| Deployment | Managed cloud |
| Free tier | $30/mo free credits |
| Core price | ~$0.14/vCPU-hr |
| Revenue | ~$300M ARR (reported) |
Strengths
- GPU inside the sandbox
- Sub-second cold start
- Excellent Python ergonomics
- Native OpenAI Agents SDK
Trade-offs
- Python-centric
- Higher per-core price
Best for: Python/ML workloads and agents that need GPU inside the sandbox.
How Modal works
Modal is a Python-first serverless compute platform, and its Sandboxes use gVisor, a user-space kernel that intercepts syscalls to isolate the workload without booting a full VM. Cold start is under a second. The feature that sets it apart is GPUs inside the sandbox, from T4 up to B200, which most sandboxes in this category do not offer. Compute is ephemeral; persistent data lives in Volumes you attach. It integrates natively with the OpenAI Agents SDK. This suits Python and ML workloads, and agents that need accelerated inference in the same environment as their code.
Pricing in practice & watch-outs
At roughly $0.14 per vCPU-hour, Modal's core compute costs more per core than the CPU-focused sandboxes here, so for plain code execution you pay a premium. What you get back is GPUs in the same place, which can justify the rate if your agent actually needs them. The other constraint is language: Modal is built around Python and treats it as first-class, with other languages running through containers, so a JavaScript or TypeScript team gets less of the ergonomic benefit. There are $30 a month in free credits to test against before committing.
Head-to-head
Alternatives to Modal
See the full Modal alternatives comparison →
Sources: Modal pricing ↗ · Modal Sandboxes docs ↗
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