CodeSandbox: A Cloud-Based Development Environment
CodeSandbox is a popular cloud-based development environment that supports Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Developed by CodeSandbox, it is designed to facilitate seamless coding experiences by providing agentic editing with multi-file support and full terminal access. This tool caters to developers who prefer a cloud architecture, ensuring that projects are always accessible and easily shareable. With predictive edits and a context window of 64k tokens, CodeSandbox offers a robust set of features for efficient development. The privacy mode adheres to a standard privacy policy, and the tool is certified with SOC2 Type II for enterprise-grade security. The pricing ranges from free to $20 per month, making it accessible for both individual developers and teams. Configurations are managed through a ‘sandbox.config.json’ file, ensuring smooth project migration and setup.
Pros
- ✓ Cloud-based architecture for easy access and collaboration.
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- ✓ Offers predictive edits and full terminal access.
- ✓ Free tier available with options up to $20/month.
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification ensures enterprise-level security.
Cons
- ✕ Limited context window of 64k tokens compared to some other tools.
- ✕ No support for local inference or LLMs.
Cursor: A Standalone Development Powerhouse
Cursor is a versatile standalone development tool compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports a wide range of language models including GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o, GPT-5 (High MAX), Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini, cursor-small, and Supermaven, offering developers a high level of flexibility and power. Cursor’s architecture allows for a massive context window of 1 million tokens, significantly enhancing its capabilities in handling large projects or datasets. Like CodeSandbox, Cursor provides agentic editing with multi-file support and full terminal access. The tool is also certified with SOC2 Type II, ensuring compliance with enterprise security standards. Cursor’s pricing is competitive, ranging from free to $20 per month, and it supports seamless migration with configurations managed through a ‘.cursorrules’ file.
Pros
- ✓ Standalone architecture supports extensive LLMs and custom models.
- ✓ Massive context window of 1 million tokens.
- ✓ Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification for security and compliance.
- ✓ Free tier available with upgrade options.
Cons
- ✕ Standalone architecture might require more setup compared to cloud solutions.
- ✕ No support for local inference.
Comparison Table
| Feature | CodeSandbox | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | cloud | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | CodeSandbox | Cursor |
| Supported Llms | – | GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o, GPT-5 (High MAX), Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini, cursor-small, Supermaven |
| Custom Model | – | cursor-small |
| Context Window | 64k tokens | 1M tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free – $20/mo | Free – $20/mo |
| Config File | sandbox.config.json | .cursorrules |
| Migration | Seamless | Seamless |
Conclusion
Both CodeSandbox and Cursor offer compelling features for developers, each excelling in different areas. CodeSandbox is ideal for those seeking a cloud-based solution with easy accessibility, while Cursor provides extensive support for language models and a larger context window for more demanding projects. Your choice will depend on whether you prioritize cloud accessibility or advanced LLM support.