smolvm is an open-source engine and CLI for running isolated, hardware-virtualized Linux microVMs that boot in under a second.
It allows developers to run untrusted code, manage agent sandboxes, and create portable, stateful VM artifacts that run identically on local machines or in the cloud.
- 01
Sub-second cold starts with hardware-isolated microVMs
- 02
Portable.smolmachine artifacts compatible with OCI registries
- 03
Branching and checkpointing for rewinding or cloning live VM states
- 04
CUDA API remoting for GPU-accelerated workloads without guest drivers
- 05
Embeddable SDKs for Node.js and Python with no external daemon required
Freemium
smolvm is open-source and free for local use. smol cloud is a managed service with usage-based billing ($0.04/machine-hour base fee plus consumption for vCPU, memory, disk, and network) and tiered plans (Pro, Startup) for higher limits and support.
Best for
Running untrusted or model-generated code, coding agent sandboxes, persistent development environments, and GPU-accelerated workloads that require VM-level isolation.
Not ideal for
Workloads requiring direct hardware GPU passthrough or scenarios where a shared-kernel container approach is sufficient and preferred for lower overhead.
A powerful, developer-centric tool that bridges the gap between local development and cloud deployment by providing a consistent, high-performance microVM runtime for AI agents and isolated compute.
Version 1.15.0 introduced enhanced branching and incremental checkpointing capabilities, allowing users to save, rewind, and branch live machine states mid-execution.
As of
Is smolvm free?+
smolvm is Freemium. smolvm is open-source and free for local use. smol cloud is a managed service with usage-based billing ($0.04/machine-hour base fee plus consumption for vCPU, memory, disk, and network) and tiered plans (Pro, Startup) for higher limits and support. Check the official site for current plans.
Is smolvm open source?+
smolvm is not listed as open source on ai.dosa.dev - it is Freemium.
How much does smolvm cost?+
smolvm is open-source and free for local use. smol cloud is a managed service with usage-based billing ($0.04/machine-hour base fee plus consumption for vCPU, memory, disk, and network) and tiered plans (Pro, Startup) for higher limits and support. Pricing changes often - verify on the official site.
Who is smolvm best for?+
Running untrusted or model-generated code, coding agent sandboxes, persistent development environments, and GPU-accelerated workloads that require VM-level isolation.
Who is smolvm not ideal for?+
Workloads requiring direct hardware GPU passthrough or scenarios where a shared-kernel container approach is sufficient and preferred for lower overhead.
What are the best smolvm alternatives?+
The closest smolvm alternatives on ai.dosa.dev are Pieces for Developers, agenttrace, Vibe Kanban - all listed under Developer Productivity & Workflow.
Who makes smolvm?+
smolvm is developed by smol machines. It is listed in the Developer Productivity & Workflow category on ai.dosa.dev.
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