What it does
CodeSandbox offers browser sandboxes for quick front-end experiments and VM sandboxes for larger projects that need a fuller development environment. Users can edit in a customized VS Code web editor or connect a CodeSandbox workspace to VS Code Desktop, while previews, tasks, and terminals remain attached to the project. This combination makes it useful for trying a template, collaborating on a prototype, or moving a project toward a Git repository without setting up a local machine first.
Choose the environment that fits the code
Create an account and workspace, then start from a template or import a repository. Build is free; Scale starts at US$170 per month per workspace, with credit-based VM usage. A Browser Sandbox suits a small front-end experiment; a VM Sandbox is the documented starting point for projects that need a broader runtime or Docker support. In the web editor, CodeSandbox embeds a customized VS Code experience and places previews, tasks, and shared terminals in its DevTools panel. A desktop route connects the same workspace to VS Code through its extension.
For example, a developer can fork a template to prototype a React page, run its configured development task, and inspect the preview. If the work grows into a full project, the VM guide describes creating a repository from the sandbox. The useful decision is to choose a browser sandbox for a lightweight playground and a VM when the project needs a full environment.
VM runtime and collaboration capacity depend on workspace allowances; a resource-heavy project can consume credits faster than a short browser experiment. The pricing page also lists the CodeSandbox SDK, a separate programmatic sandbox product; this listing is about the editor and development workspace, not the SDK alone.
Strengths
- Offers both quick browser sandboxes and VM-based environments for more complete application projects.
- The web editor includes preview, task, and terminal tools, while a VS Code Desktop option can connect to the same workspace.
- A VM sandbox can grow into a repository as the prototype needs version control and collaboration.
Watch out for
- VM runtime and collaboration capacity depend on the workspace plan and usage allowances.
Best for
- Developers prototyping a front-end project from a template
- Teams that need a shared cloud development environment without local setup
- People who want to scale an online sandbox into a repository-based project
Sources
- CodeSandbox: Instant Cloud Development Environments (Oct 25, 2026)
- Editors | CodeSandbox (Oct 25, 2026)
- Set up your first VM Sandbox | CodeSandbox (Oct 25, 2026)
- Workspaces | CodeSandbox (Oct 25, 2026)
- CodeSandbox Pricing (Oct 25, 2026)