Quick answer
CodeSandbox - CodeSandbox wins for most builders because its free tier is broader and more flexible for general-purpose coding and sandboxing, while PHPSandbox is the better pick only if you specifically need a PHP-only notebook workflow.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. CodeSandbox is a browser-first development environment with both Browser Sandboxes and VM Sandboxes, plus SDK access, private sandboxes, VS Code extension support, and enough VM time to prototype real apps. Its free tier is more about breadth and runtime flexibility, but it is capped on workspace size and monthly VM credits. PHPSandbox is much narrower: it is a PHP notebook and editor with a small but usable free allowance, public repos, and community support. It fits PHP demos, quick experiments, and shareable notebook-style projects better than full app prototyping. The paid path also diverges fast: CodeSandbox jumps to a $170 workspace plan, while PHPSandbox stays at $6/month for Personal Pro.
CodeSandbox vs PHPSandbox free tier, side by side
| CodeSandboxFTV 48 | PHPSandboxFTV 39 | |
|---|---|---|
| Members / workspacePHPSandbox free tier description does not list a team member limit. | Up to 5 | Not stated |
| Monthly compute allowanceCodeSandbox explicitly meters VM credits; PHPSandbox free tier does not list a comparable compute quota. | 40 hours of monthly VM credits | Not stated |
| Sandbox / notebook countThese are not directly equivalent, but they show the scope difference. | Unlimited Browser Sandboxes and Unlimited VM Sandboxes | 10 notebooks |
| Per-item runtime limitsPHPSandbox is explicit about notebook timeout. | Not stated | 5 minutes timeout per notebook |
| Per-item memory / storageDifferent product models, so this is directional rather than apples-to-apples. | VM specs up to 4 vCPUs and 8 GiB RAM | 1 GB memory per notebook; 1 GB storage per notebook |
| Private projectsPHPSandbox free plan includes public repositories only. | Private Sandboxes | Not included on free plan |
| SupportPHPSandbox free plan explicitly includes community support. | Not stated | Community support |
| Credit card requiredBoth inputs explicitly say no_cc_required is false, so a card is required. | false | false |
After you outgrow the free tier
CodeSandbox and PHPSandbox both use flat monthly pricing for their first paid tier, but the jump is very different. CodeSandbox’s first paid plan is Scale at $170 per workspace per month, with larger workspace limits and access to on-demand VM credits at $0.15 per hour. PHPSandbox’s first paid plan is Personal Pro at $6 per month, adding unlimited notebooks and private features. The cost gap is large from the start, so PHPSandbox is dramatically cheaper for solo PHP work, while CodeSandbox is the more expensive step-up for teams or heavier VM usage.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | CodeSandbox | PHPSandbox |
|---|---|---|
| Solo developer upgrading from free for private workBoth first paid plans are flat-priced, so usage level does not change the monthly fee in the provided data. | $170/mo | $6/mo |
| Small team needing a paid collaboration workspacePHPSandbox pricing is not described per seat in the provided data. | $170/mo for one workspace | $6/mo |
| Need for more runtime headroom than the free tierCodeSandbox is the only product here with a stated usage-based add-on rate. | $170/mo plus $0.15 per additional VM credit hour if using on-demand credits | $6/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick CodeSandbox when…
- You want to prototype a frontend or full-stack app in the browser, not just PHP.
- You need private sandboxes and a VS Code extension on a free plan.
- You want VM-based testing or isolated runtime experiments with up to 4 vCPUs and 8 GiB RAM.
- You are okay with a capped free quota but need broader sandbox tooling and SDK access.
- You are working with a team of up to 5 members in one workspace.
Pick PHPSandbox when…
- You only need a PHP editor and runtime for small experiments or demos.
- You want a notebook-style workflow with permanent preview URLs.
- You are fine with public repositories on the free tier.
- You are testing Composer-based PHP projects from the browser.
- You want the cheapest upgrade path after free, especially for solo use.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, CodeSandbox is the better free-tier choice because it gives you a broader development environment, private sandboxes, and actual VM-based runtime flexibility before you pay. PHPSandbox wins when your use case is clearly PHP and you want the cheapest path to private notebooks and unlimited notebooks. If you are deciding where to start for general prototyping, CodeSandbox is the safer default. If you are specifically building or testing PHP, PHPSandbox is the more direct fit and much cheaper after upgrade.
Read the full listings: CodeSandbox and PHPSandbox. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.