compare
reviewed
microsandbox gives you an open-source runtime you can embed, run without an account, and checkpoint locally. Docker Sandboxes is proprietary, with a private Docker daemon and ready-made coding-agent integrations. [2][4][21][26]
both isolate each sandbox in a microVM. the difference is how much of the runtime you own and how your application controls it. microsandbox exposes local execution through five language SDKs; Docker centers its local workflow on the sbx CLI and daemon. [2][4][25]
Docker’s local Sandboxes are free, including commercial use. cloud compute and organization governance are separate paid offerings. it also now offers an experimental cloud API and TypeScript SDK. [1][3]
01
Docker Engine, Docker Desktop, and Docker Sandboxes have different terms. Sandboxes’ free local tier does not make its runtime open source. microsandbox’s Apache-2.0 runtime is free to use commercially; hosted compute has separate pricing. [1][4][26][27]
02
microsandbox can save a running local sandbox’s disk and memory, then restore independent children. a running source resumes after capture. Docker’s template CLI documents memory capture for cloud only; its experimental cloud SDK also supports snapshot and restore. [7][9][21]
microsandbox cloud currently restores disk snapshots from stopped persistent sandboxes. full memory checkpoints remain local. neither product makes every local capability available in its cloud backend. [10][20][21]
common questions
local Sandboxes are free, including commercial work. cloud compute uses a pay-as-you-go subscription, and organization governance is paid separately. a Docker account is required. [1][5]
its distribution repository labels the product proprietary. microsandbox’s runtime and SDKs use Apache-2.0. [4][26]
yes. the local runtime supports Windows, alongside macOS on Apple Silicon and Linux with KVM. Windows is no longer labeled preview. guests run Linux. [26]
primary sources
put the boundary on your own machine before you choose anything else.
run it locally