Docker Sandboxes vs InstaVM

Docker Sandboxes costs $0.07 per vCPU-hour and InstaVM costs $0.0504 per vCPU-hour. Docker Sandboxes runs microVMs. InstaVM runs Firecracker microVMs.

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Docker Sandboxes

Cloud microVM sandboxes for coding agents, run by Docker.

Isolation: MicroVM
Free tier: One-time promotional credit for cloud compute
Max session: Not listed

Visit site Docker Sandboxes profile

InstaVM

Hardware-isolated microVMs for AI agent code.

Isolation: Firecracker microVM
Free tier: $50 credit
Max session: Not listed

Visit site InstaVM profile

What is different

8 fields differ. The rest are the same or not listed.

Field

Docker Sandboxes

InstaVM

vCPU, per hour: Docker Sandboxes: $0.07; InstaVM: $0.0504
RAM, per GiB-hour: Docker Sandboxes: Included; InstaVM: $0.0162
Free tier: Docker Sandboxes: One-time promotional credit for cloud compute; InstaVM: $50 credit
Paid plan from: Docker Sandboxes: Pay as you go; InstaVM: $100 / month
Billing: Docker Sandboxes: Bundled machine time; InstaVM: Per second
Concurrent sandboxes: Docker Sandboxes: Up to 10; InstaVM: Up to 100
Isolation: Docker Sandboxes: MicroVM; InstaVM: Firecracker microVM
SDKs: Docker Sandboxes: JavaScript / TypeScript; InstaVM: Python, TypeScript

Full comparison

18 fields, at each provider's list price

Docker Sandboxesdocker.com/products/docker-sandboxesdocker.com

InstaVMinstavm.io/pricing

Pricing

vCPU, per hour: Docker Sandboxes: $0.07; InstaVM: $0.0504
RAM, per GiB-hour: Docker Sandboxes: Included; InstaVM: $0.0162
Storage: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: $0.0002 per GiB-hour after 10 free GiB
Free tier: Docker Sandboxes: One-time promotional credit for cloud compute; InstaVM: $50 credit
Paid plan from: Docker Sandboxes: Pay as you go; InstaVM: $100 / month
Billing: Docker Sandboxes: Bundled machine time; InstaVM: Per second

Limits

Max session: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: Not listed
Idle stop: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: Not listed
Largest sandbox: Docker Sandboxes: 16 vCPU · 32 GiB; InstaVM: Not listed
Concurrent sandboxes: Docker Sandboxes: Up to 10; InstaVM: Up to 100

Platform

Isolation: Docker Sandboxes: MicroVM; InstaVM: Firecracker microVM
GPU: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: Not listed
Snapshots: Docker Sandboxes:; InstaVM:
Pause and resume: Docker Sandboxes:; InstaVM:

Developer

SDKs: Docker Sandboxes: JavaScript / TypeScript; InstaVM: Python, TypeScript
Integrations: Docker Sandboxes: MCP; InstaVM: Not listed

Trust

License: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: Not listed
BYOC: Docker Sandboxes: Not listed; InstaVM: Not listed

Hourly cost

One sandbox running for one hour

Size

Docker Sandboxes

InstaVM

1 vCPU · 2 GiB: Docker Sandboxes: $0.070; InstaVM: $0.083
2 vCPU · 4 GiB: Docker Sandboxes: $0.140; InstaVM: $0.166
4 vCPU · 8 GiB: Docker Sandboxes: $0.280; InstaVM: $0.331

Compute only, at list rates.

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Which one fits

Based on the fields above

Docker Sandboxes fits when

You want to pay only for usage, with no plan fee.
You use MCP.
You want the lower list price: $0.140 against $0.166 an hour for 2 vCPU and 4 GiB.

InstaVM fits when

You need a desktop in the sandbox.
You need SOC 2 Type II.

More comparisons

See all comparisons

Docker Sandboxes

InstaVM

What is different

Full comparison

Pricing

Limits

Platform

Developer

Trust

Hourly cost

Which one fits

Docker Sandboxes fits when

InstaVM fits when

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