Celesto vs Freestyle

Celesto vs Freestyle: both run each agent in a VM with its own kernel, but Celesto costs 77% less per running hour on the same CPU and memory, lets you pick any size without a paid plan, and includes a CDP browser and a hosted MCP server, while Freestyle snapshots memory, includes monthly free usage, and offers richer networking.

Pick by what the agent needs: a ready browser, MCP control, or a lower hourly price favors Celesto; memory snapshots, custom domains, VPCs, or a monthly free allowance favor Freestyle.

Same 2 vCPU · 4 GB sandbox: $0.030 vs $0.132; Per running hour. 77% or more less on every matched size.
Pick a size: At create; Any of six Celesto sizes on any account. Freestyle VMs start at their snapshot's size; resizing needs a paid plan.
MCP server: Hosted; Celesto's MCP server creates sandboxes and runs commands. No Freestyle MCP server was found.

Start with $5 free Read the quickstart

Any size on any account, with a CDP browser and MCP built in.

A dot marks whoever has the edge on that line.

CelestoFreestyle

Isolation and access

Isolation model: Its own KVM virtual machine and kernel; microVM with a full Linux kernel
Cold boot: Under 2 seconds; p99 under 400 ms, per its docs(Freestyle has the edge)
Shell access: Browser terminal, or celesto computer ssh with no SSH keys; SSH (beta) and reattachable terminal sessions
Docker inside: Supported; Installed in Ubuntu images; nested KVM

Browser and desktop

Desktop view: Live desktop on the browser templates, read-only or with control(Celesto has the edge); Build GNOME, TigerVNC, and noVNC from a guide
Browser over CDP: Built-in Chromium at a CDP URL(Celesto has the edge); Install Chrome from a guide and expose CDP

State and storage

Snapshot and resume: Stop and start keep disk and packages; processes end; Pause and snapshots keep memory and disk(Freestyle has the edge)
Disk per sandbox: 20 to 100 GB by size, included; Up to 32, 64, or 256 GB by plan, billed per GiB-hour
Persistent workspace: CelestoFS, not limited by disk size(Celesto has the edge); No separate volumes found

Network and tools

Egress control: Internet on or off (TypeScript SDK); Allow-rule firewall, VPCs, and WireGuard tunnels(Freestyle has the edge)
Public preview URLs: Up to 4 public HTTPS ports per sandbox; Free or custom HTTPS domains, wildcards, TLS passthrough(Freestyle has the edge)
MCP: Hosted MCP server that creates sandboxes and runs commands(Celesto has the edge); Not found
SDKs and API: Python, TypeScript, CLI, and a REST API(Celesto has the edge); TypeScript, CLI, and a REST API

Price and limits

2 vCPU · 4 GB, per hour: $0.030(Celesto has the edge); $0.132
Choosing a size: Six sizes on any account(Celesto has the edge); Snapshot size; resizing needs Hobby ($50) or Pro ($500)
Free usage: $5 one-time credit, no card; 200 vCPU-hours and 400 GiB-hours a month on every plan(Freestyle has the edge)
Running at once: Up to 10; 10 on Free, 40 on Hobby, 400 on Pro(Freestyle has the edge)

Celesto has the edge Freestyle has the edge

77% less per hour on every matched size.

Each Celesto size next to the same CPU and memory on Freestyle, or its nearest size, per hour.

Running-hour sandbox prices in USD, matched by CPU and memory
Hardware	Freestyle	Celesto
1 vCPU · 2 GB	$0.066/hourResize from the BusyBox image; Hobby or Pro	$0.015/hourMicro, 20 GB disk included
2 vCPU · 4 GB	$0.132/hourThe ubuntu-sm base image, any plan	$0.030/hourStandard, 30 GB disk included
2 vCPU · 8 GB	$0.184/hourResize; Hobby or Pro	$0.040/hourMemory, 40 GB disk included
4 vCPU · 16 GB	$0.368/hourResize; Hobby or Pro	$0.080/hourLarge, 60 GB disk included
8 vCPU · 32 GB	$0.735/hourResize; Pro only, $500 a month	$0.160/hourXL, 100 GB disk included

Freestyle prices are its vCPU and memory rates per hour, before its monthly included usage; disk is billed separately per GiB-hour. Celesto prices include the root disk. Matching CPU and memory does not imply equal performance.

Browser agents and MCP-driven sandboxes run cheaper on Celesto.

Choose Celesto if

You want to pay 77% less per running hour once usage passes a free allowance
You want to choose a sandbox size without a paid plan
Your agent needs a desktop and CDP browser without building the image
Claude Code, Cursor, or another MCP client should drive sandboxes
You use Python as well as TypeScript

Choose Freestyle if

You need snapshots and pause that keep memory and running processes
You need custom domains, VPCs, or WireGuard tunnels
Your usage fits inside 200 vCPU-hours and 400 GiB-hours a month
You need more than 10 sandboxes running at once
Boot time in milliseconds, rather than under 2 seconds, matters to your workload

Questions.

Is Celesto cheaper than Freestyle?

Yes, on list price. Freestyle charges $0.04032 per vCPU-hour and $0.0129 per GiB-hour, which is $0.132 an hour for 2 vCPU and 4 GiB, plus disk. Celesto Standard has the same CPU and memory for $0.030 an hour with a 30 GB disk included, at least 77% less on every matched size. Freestyle includes 200 vCPU-hours and 400 GiB-hours a month on every plan, so very light usage can cost nothing there.

Can I choose the CPU and memory of a Freestyle VM?

A Freestyle VM starts at the size of the snapshot it is created from, such as 2 vCPU and 4 GB for the ubuntu-sm image, and resizing is available on the Hobby and Pro plans. On Celesto you pick any of six sizes, from 1 vCPU and 2 GB to 8 vCPU and 32 GB, when you create the sandbox.

Does Celesto snapshot memory like Freestyle?

No. Celesto keeps the disk, installed packages, and CelestoFS workspace across stop and start, but running processes end. Freestyle's pause and snapshots keep memory and disk, and snapshots are kept until you delete them.

Can my agent use a browser in Celesto or Freestyle?

Celesto's browser-agent template includes a Chromium browser your code drives over CDP by calling computer.browser(), and a live desktop view. Freestyle publishes guides that install Chrome or a GNOME desktop with TigerVNC and noVNC in the VM.

What is a good Freestyle alternative for AI agents?

Celesto is a Freestyle alternative when agents need a ready browser and MCP control: each sandbox is its own virtual machine with a terminal, desktop view, CDP browser, public preview URLs, Docker, and a disk that survives stops, from $0.015 per hour, with Python and TypeScript SDKs. New accounts get a one-time $5 credit with no card.

Start with $5 in credits. No card required.

Start with $5 free Read the quickstart

Freestyle details from its public pricing and documentation, as of October 17, 2026: Pricing · Pricing and limits · Lifecycle · SSH · Firewall · Chrome guide · About. Celesto details come from the current sandbox catalog and feature list. Prices are list rates, not measured performance. Freestyle is a trademark of its owner; Celesto is not affiliated with it.