What is a full VM?

A full VM is a complete virtual machine with its own kernel, init system and disk. It behaves like a server you rent, so tools such as systemd, Docker and SSH work as usual.

Updated Oct 13, 2026

What a full VM gives an agent

The agent gets a whole machine. It can install system packages, run services in the background, start Docker containers and open an SSH session. Nothing has to be adapted to a restricted environment.

How it differs from a microVM

A microVM is cut down to start fast and to pack many sandboxes on one server. A full VM keeps the complete operating system. It usually takes longer to start and is meant to stay around.

Compared with other isolation types

How each type keeps sandboxes apart

Type	Own kernel	Example	Providers
MicroVM		Firecracker	43
Container	No	Docker, OCI	10
User-space kernel	In user space	gVisor	5
Full VMThis term		KVM	19

Providers that use full VMs

6 of 19

All Full VM sandboxes

Provider

Isolation

vCPU / hr

GiB / hr

Free tier

Max session

GPU

Hugging Face SandboxesIsolated cloud machines for running AI-generated code.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.005
GiB / hr
Included
Free tier
Not listed
Max session
24 hours
GPU
boatPersistent Ubuntu VMs with SSH, Docker and a desktop.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.009
GiB / hr
Included
Free tier
Free trial with 25 hours
Max session
No limit
GPU
No
tamaLinux VMs with GPUs, billed by the second.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.012
GiB / hr
$0.006
Free tier
Not listed
Max session
Not listed
GPU
SailboxesPersistent Linux VMs for long-horizon AI agents.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.015
GiB / hr
$0.008
Free tier
$5 credit each month
Max session
No limit
GPU
Not listed
ixCloud VMs with up to 100 vCPUs, billed by usage.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.029
GiB / hr
$0.011
Free tier
Not listed
Max session
Not listed
GPU
Not listed
VersLinux computers you can branch, checkpoint, and restore.
Isolation
Full VM
vCPU / hr
$0.040
GiB / hr
Not listed
Free tier
Starting credit
Max session
Not listed
GPU
Not listed