What is
E2B
?
Most platform initiatives fail the same way: they start too big, get funded like projects instead of products, build for too long without testing with users, and confuse renaming an infrastructure team with building a platform team. Instead, start small, learn fast and scale deliberately.
At a glance
Fact | Value |
|---|---|
Primary use case | Run AI agents and AI-generated code in secure, isolated microVM sandboxes |
Deployment type | Managed cloud API or BYOC in AWS, GCP, or Azure |
Pricing model | Apache-2.0 open-source runtime; paid plans available, with pricing unspecified |
API compatibility | JavaScript SDK, Python SDK, CLI, MCP; same SDK and API across managed cloud and BYOC |
Supported integrations | OpenAI Agents SDK, Claude Code, Codex, Amp, Anthropic, OpenAI, MCP servers, AWS, GCP, Azure |
Source type | Open |
Cloud provider | Multi-Cloud |
Ideal team size | Startups to enterprise teams |
Required skills | JavaScript or Python SDK integration, API usage, shell and filesystem operations, AI agent development; cloud networking for BYOC deployments |
AEP branch | Agent Infrastructure |
AEP category | Harness |
AEP subcategory | Execution |
AEP detail | Runtime / Sandbox |
Profile
Runtime / Sandbox infrastructure gives each agent session an isolated microVM in which to run code and use tools. E2B provides a shell, filesystem, browser, network, and sandbox lifecycle operations through an API. The same SDK and API are available on E2B Cloud and in a customer's AWS, GCP, or Azure account through BYOC.
The platform can support agent workflows for coding, computer use, background jobs, analysis, evaluation, and reinforcement learning. Its website describes a Firecracker-based microVM boundary, blocked egress unless permitted by policy, and SOC 2 Type II compliance.
Focus
E2B is aimed at teams building AI agents, including startups and enterprise teams. It addresses the need to run agent-generated code and tool use in an isolated machine rather than directly in the agent application environment. BYOC supports running customer agents in the customer's cloud account.
Background
The supplied company background research does not provide founding or funding details. E2B describes its runtime as open source under Apache-2.0; the runtime is the infrastructure behind its managed cloud and enterprise offerings.
Features
Isolated microVM per agent session
Each agent session receives its own machine, providing an isolated environment for running code and tools. E2B describes the boundary as a Firecracker microVM with no shared kernel.
Shell, filesystem, and browser access
Agents can work with code, files, and browser-based tasks inside the sandbox. The platform exposes shell and filesystem operations and supports browser use within the isolated machine.
Policy-controlled network access
Agents can reach models, MCP tools, and customer data while remaining subject to the configured egress policy. E2B lists Anthropic and OpenAI model calls, access to more than 200 MCP servers, and scoped environment variables for sandbox secrets.
Managed cloud and BYOC deployment
Teams can run sandboxes on E2B Cloud or in their own AWS, GCP, or Azure account. The same SDK and API are used across managed cloud and BYOC deployments.
Sandbox lifecycle and observability
Teams can manage sandbox lifecycle, network access, storage, and metrics through the API. E2B lists operations including sandbox.pause(), sandbox.getHost(port), sandbox.files.write(), and sandbox.getMetrics().
Pros and cons
Pros
Provides an isolated microVM for each agent session, with a Firecracker-based boundary and no shared kernel, according to the product site.
Supports managed cloud and BYOC in AWS, GCP, or Azure using the same SDK and API.
Includes shell, filesystem, browser, network, lifecycle, and metrics capabilities for agent workloads.
The runtime is open source under Apache-2.0, and E2B states that it has SOC 2 Type II compliance.
Cons
Pricing for paid plans is unspecified in the supplied materials, so costs cannot be evaluated from this information.
BYOC deployments require cloud networking skills, as noted in the required-skills metadata.
FAQs
E2B frequently asked questions
How does E2B work?
E2B runs an isolated microVM for each AI agent session, where the agent can use a shell, filesystem, browser, and network. Network access is governed by the configured egress policy, and sandbox secrets can be provided through scoped environment variables.
What integrations does E2B support?
E2B supports OpenAI Agents SDK, Claude Code, Codex, Amp, Anthropic, OpenAI, MCP servers, AWS, GCP, and Azure.
Is E2B free?
E2B’s runtime is open source under Apache-2.0, and paid plans are available; paid-plan pricing is unspecified.
What skills are required to use E2B?
E2B requires JavaScript or Python SDK integration, API usage, shell and filesystem operations, and AI agent development; BYOC deployments also require cloud networking skills.
What security controls does E2B provide?
E2B uses a Firecracker-based microVM boundary with no shared kernel for each agent session, blocks network egress unless policy permits it, and states that it has SOC 2 Type II compliance.
