How to give an AI agent a computer
Agents that write and run code, or that drive a desktop, should work in an isolated environment rather than on your machine. These are your options:
- Sandboxes for running code: E2B, Daytona, and Modal.
- Dev boxes for coding agents: Runloop.
- Computer-use (desktop) agents: Cua.
- General micro-VMs: Fly.io Machines.
Options at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Pricing | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| E2B | Secure cloud sandboxes for running AI-generated code | Free tier ($100 credit); Pro $150/mo + usage | Open source |
| Daytona | Fast sandboxes for running AI code | Usage-based; free start | Partly open source |
| Modal | Serverless compute and sandboxes for AI workloads | Usage-based; $30/mo free credits | Proprietary |
| Runloop | Devboxes for AI coding agents | Usage-based; free trial | Proprietary |
| Cua | Open-source computer-use agent infra and VMs | Free tier; Pro $12/mo | Open source |
| Fly.io | Fast-booting micro-VMs (Machines) used for agent workloads | Usage-based (per second) | Proprietary |
We list what each vendor's own site says. Pricing changes often, so check it on the vendor's site before you commit.