dyad vs e2b
Two of the top projects in App builder starters, side by side: who leads on each score part and who each one suits, then setup, license, activity and what each review found.
dyad
Desktop app that builds apps from prompts on your own machine
e2b
SDKs for running AI-generated code in isolated cloud sandboxes
Verdict
dyad ranks higher, 65 to 55. Of the 5 score parts we measure for both, dyad leads on 4, e2b on none and 1 is even.
- Adoptiondyad leads by 11 points, 61 to 50.
- FreshnessEven at 100.
- Maintenancedyad leads by 6 points, 89 to 83.
- Easy to rundyad leads by 17 points, 17 to 0: a wide gap.
- Agent-readydyad leads by 15 points, 85 to 70: a wide gap.
Pick dyad if you are
Developers wanting a local Lovable/v0-style app builder with their own keys
- Runs locally as a desktop app, with no sign-up needed to download
- Bring your own API keys, so no hosted-platform lock-in
Pick e2b if you are
Developers who need sandboxed code execution for agents or app builders
- Official JavaScript/TypeScript and Python SDKs with a matching sandbox API
- Separate Code Interpreter and Desktop SDKs cover code execution and computer use
| What we compare | dyad | e2b |
|---|---|---|
| Score parts, out of 100 | ||
| Adoption | 61, popular | 50, popular |
| Freshness | 100, active | 100, active |
| Maintenance | 89, healthy | 83, healthy |
| Easy to run | 17, hard | 0, hard |
| Agent-ready | 85, ready | 70, partly |
| Facts from GitHub and the README | ||
| Stars | 21.9k | 14.4k |
| License | custom license (read the license) | Apache-2.0 (permissive) |
| Last commit | Oct 2026 | Oct 2026 |
| Last release | Oct 2026 | Oct 2026 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Docker | No | Yes |
| GPU | Not stated | Not stated |
| arm64 or Apple Silicon | Mentioned | Not stated |
dyad
Dyad is a local, open-source prompt-to-app builder, positioned as an alternative to Lovable, v0 and Bolt that runs on your own computer. It ships as a downloadable app for Mac and Windows and uses your own AI API keys, with no sign-up. Code outside src/pro is Apache 2.0; src/pro is under the Functional Source License 1.1.
Who it is for: Developers wanting a local Lovable/v0-style app builder with their own keys
Strengths
- Runs locally as a desktop app, with no sign-up needed to download
- Bring your own API keys, so no hosted-platform lock-in
- Mac and Windows builds available
- Code outside src/pro is Apache 2.0 licensed
Weaknesses
- src/pro is fair-source (FSL 1.1), not fully open-source
- README does not list supported models or providers
- No Linux build mentioned in the README
- Desktop only; no Docker or self-hosted web deployment mentioned
- TypeScript
- Needs Your own AI provider API keys
- env example file
e2b
E2B provides JavaScript and Python SDKs that start isolated cloud sandboxes and run shell commands inside them. Companion packages add a Code Interpreter (runCode/run_code) and a Desktop SDK for mouse, keyboard and screenshot control. The runtime can be self-hosted with Terraform on AWS, GCP, Azure or a generic Linux machine; the hosted service needs an API key.
Who it is for: Developers who need sandboxed code execution for agents or app builders
Strengths
- Official JavaScript/TypeScript and Python SDKs with a matching sandbox API
- Separate Code Interpreter and Desktop SDKs cover code execution and computer use
- Self-hosting supported on AWS, GCP, Azure and generic Linux via Terraform
- Apache-2.0 license; cookbook repo has examples for several LLMs and frameworks
Weaknesses
- Hosted use requires an E2B account and API key
- Self-hosted runtime lives in a separate repo, e2b-dev/runtime
- README gives no resource requirements, pricing or sandbox limits
- Provides sandboxes only; agent logic and LLM integration are left to you
- Python
- Needs E2B API key (hosted), Terraform (self-hosting)
- Docker
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