Compare / E2B vs Daytona
E2B vs Daytona for AI agent sandboxes
Choose E2B for a code-execution workflow built around its interpreter and templates. Choose Daytona when its runtime choices and workspace tools fit the job. Lizard is a third option for fixed-size CPU work. We build Lizard. Prices and limits checked on 4 November 2026; our linked startup benchmark retains its original test date.
Which should you pick?
E2B
A fit for Linux code execution with a dedicated interpreter API and custom templates. Compare Hobby and Pro against the required session length and concurrency.
Daytona
A fit for workspace workflows or runtime requirements such as Windows and GPUs. State, billing and recovery depend on the runtime class.
Lizard
A fit for repeated CPU jobs, coding-agent templates and previews in Firecracker microVMs. Check fixed sizes, US-region availability for Small and plan quotas.
The differences that matter
Equal compute rates, different account costs
For 2 vCPU and 4 GiB, E2B and Daytona each total $0.1656 per running hour before extras. E2B Pro adds $150/month; Hobby has no base fee. Daytona funds usage through its wallet, with deposits affecting tier access. Lizard Small costs $0.0162/hour with a $19 Pro minimum that includes $19 of usage.
Pause depends on the runtime
E2B pause preserves files and memory. Daytona containers keep files across stop/start but clear memory; VM pause can preserve memory. Daytona stopped or paused disk can remain billable. Lizard pause keeps files, memory and processes; Persistent Volumes have separate storage charges.
Network and quotas can decide the plan
E2B Hobby lists 20 concurrent sandboxes and one-hour sessions. Daytona shares CPU, RAM and disk pools by tier and restricts outbound destinations on Tiers 1 and 2. Lizard base Pro supports 20 Small sandboxes and limits fresh starts per minute, hour and day.
Treat startup results as a dated test
Our linked benchmark measured 300 starts per provider on 12 October 2026, from the create request to verified Python output. Its regions, templates and machine sizes differ. Use the raw measurements to inspect that test; run your own task before predicting application performance.
E2B vs Daytona vs Lizard
Figures come from E2B and Daytona docs and pricing pages and from ours; we last checked them on 4 November 2026. E2B pricing · Daytona pricing · AI sandbox pricing calculator
| Compared by | E2B | Daytona | Lizard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute example | 2 vCPU, 4 GiB: $0.1656/hour | 2 vCPU, 4 GiB: $0.1656/hour, before extra disk | Small, 2 vCPU, 4 GB: $0.0162/hour; 5 GB local disk included |
| Plan or funding | Hobby: no base fee. Pro: $150/month plus usage. | Usage-funded wallet; deposits unlock higher tiers. | Pro: $19 with $19 usage; Pro 5x: $99 with $99; Pro 20x: $499 with $499. |
| 1,000 running hours, new account | $165.60 Hobby or $315.60 Pro. | $165.60 before storage and other extras. | $16.20 usage; $19 Pro subtotal. |
| Allocation and runtime | Linux microVMs with custom templates and interpreter APIs. | Several runtime classes; verify the chosen class's isolation and features. | Firecracker microVMs with their own kernels; three fixed sizes. |
| Session lifetime | One hour on Hobby; 24 hours on Pro. Pause/resume resets the window. | Configure lifecycle policy for the runtime; stop and pause differ by class. | SDK/CLI default: five minutes. Explicit creation deadline can be disabled; commands do not extend it. |
| Concurrency | 20 Hobby; 100 Pro before upgrades. | Shared CPU, memory and disk pools by tier. Check effective region quotas. | 20 Small on Pro; 110 Small on Pro 5x; 600 Small on Pro 20x. |
| Memory and files | Pause preserves memory and files; no compute charge while paused. | Containers: stop keeps files, clears memory. VM pause keeps memory; retained disk can cost money. | Pause keeps memory, processes and files; compute stops after pause succeeds. |
| Prepared environments | Custom templates and image builds. | Build and snapshot options depend on runtime class. | Ready templates and private snapshots; no arbitrary Dockerfile sandbox-template builds. |
| GPU work | Check current product support before choosing a GPU workflow. | GPU sandboxes have separate quotas and lifecycle rules. | No GPUs. |
| Result portability | Map interpreter results, errors and files. | Map process sessions, files and state transitions. | Shell commands and stateful Python in Lizard SDK; test output and lifecycle mappings. |
When E2B or Daytona is the better choice
E2B can fit an existing Code Interpreter or custom-template integration with little extra work. Daytona can fit runtime needs that Lizard does not meet, including Windows or GPUs. Lizard provides fixed-size CPU machines; it is not a substitute for those features. Compare total cost only after confirming the required runtime, storage, network access and session behavior.
Start a sandbox and run code
- List required commands, templates, runtime, memory, disk and external destinations.
- Run one acceptance task on the shortlisted providers with the same input and model.
- Test timeout, pause, reconnect and output retrieval; record the final billing state.
- Estimate monthly cost using observed duration and the plan that covers peak load.
- Keep the current provider available while validating a small production rollout.
Frequently asked questions
Their listed CPU and RAM rates tie at $0.1656/hour for 2 vCPU and 4 GiB. E2B Pro adds $150/month; Hobby has no base fee. Daytona storage, tier funding and other charges need separate treatment.
A container stop preserves files but clears memory. VM pause can preserve memory. Identify the runtime class before treating stop and pause as equivalent.
It is a rate comparison, not equal work. Measure the same task, dependencies and acceptance check, including setup and retries. Match plan limits and memory units too.
For the stated 1,000-hour CPU workload, Lizard Small uses $16.20 and a new Pro account pays $19. Its fixed sizes, local disk and start quotas must fit. A small no-fee workload or a required GPU can favor another provider.
1,000 aggregate running hours, at most 20 simultaneous machines and sessions under one hour. It uses base regional prices and excludes introductory credits, models, extra storage, transfer and tax differences. Lizard uses GB and the other allocations use GiB.
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