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CodeSandbox vs WebStorm: A Comprehensive Comparison

Alex Hrymashevych Author by:
Alex Hrymashevych
Last update:
25 Jan 2026
Reading time:
~ 2 mins

CodeSandbox Overview

CodeSandbox is a cloud-based development platform designed to provide developers with an efficient online coding environment. Supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux, it offers multi-file agentic editing and full terminal access, making it a versatile tool for developers working in diverse environments. As a cloud service, CodeSandbox offers seamless migration and a standard privacy policy, ensuring that user data is managed with care. It is particularly appealing to developers who appreciate the flexibility of cloud-based tools and its predictive editing features that enhance coding efficiency. CodeSandbox’s pricing model includes a free tier and a paid plan ranging from free to $20 per month, offering an accessible entry point for individual developers and small teams.

Pros

  • Cloud-based flexibility
  • Multi-file agentic editing
  • Full terminal access
  • Free tier available
  • Seamless migration

Cons

  • No local inference support
  • Limited context window of 64k tokens

WebStorm Overview

WebStorm, developed by JetBrains, is a standalone integrated development environment (IDE) that caters to developers seeking robust local inference capabilities. Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, WebStorm supports a range of language models including GPT-5 and Gemini 2.0, offering a context window of up to 1 million tokens. This feature, along with its multi-file agentic editing and full terminal access, makes it a powerful tool for complex development projects. Although it lacks a free tier, its competitive pricing between $8 and $15 per month makes it an attractive option for professional developers and enterprises. WebStorm requires setup for migration but compensates with an extensive feature set and local inference capabilities.

Pros

  • Local inference support
  • Extensive context window of 1M tokens
  • Supports multiple LLMS
  • Full terminal access
  • Competitive pricing

Cons

  • No free tier
  • Migration requires setup

Comparison Table

Feature CodeSandbox WebStorm
Architecture Type cloud standalone
Supported Os Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Developer CodeSandbox JetBrains
Supported Llms GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise
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 $8 – $15/mo
Config File sandbox.config.json .aicofig
Migration Seamless Requires setup

Conclusion

<p>Both CodeSandbox and WebStorm offer unique features tailored to different developer needs. CodeSandbox excels with its cloud-based model and accessibility, while WebStorm provides robust local inference and support for multiple language models. Depending on the developer's priorities, either tool could serve as an effective development environment.</p>