Microsoft Dev Box vs Okteto

Microsoft Dev Box provides developers self-service access to ready-to-code cloud workstations. Organizations can configure environments using YAML image definitions, custom Azure Compute Gallery images, or Azure Marketplace images. Developers can manage multiple boxes through a portal for separate projects, workloads, or tasks. Administrators can use autostop schedules and hibernation to control costs, and each provisioned box automatically enrolls in Microsoft Intune. Identity uses Microsoft Entra ID, with optional on-premises Active Directory Domain Services support; disks are encrypted by default with a platform-managed key. Network choices include Microsoft-hosted connections and customer-managed Azure networks. Users can connect with Windows App on listed desktop and mobile systems or through a browser. Windows Subsystem for Linux is supported for Linux development scenarios. Dev Box is in maintenance mode, with no additional features planned, and Microsoft recommends Windows 365 for virtualized developer environments. The service fully retires at 17:00 UTC on September 18, 2028; its closing-down period begins at 16:00 UTC on September 14, 2026. It requires work or school accounts, not personal accounts or guest access through Microsoft Entra B2B collaboration.

Okteto provides isolated, production-like environments on a team's infrastructure where developers and AI agents can build, run, and test changes against real services and data. Its environments run on Kubernetes and use an Okteto Manifest to configure build, deployment, development, and test workflows. Developers can deploy applications in the cloud and see local code changes reflected there. For pull requests, Okteto can create a unique, shareable application environment for code review, automated end-to-end testing, and stakeholder feedback. It works with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Copilot, and agents that can run a command. Preview workflows can connect with GitHub, GitLab, and CircleCI. External Resources can link applications, databases, message brokers, serverless functions, security infrastructure, and reporting dashboards to Kubernetes development environments. Starter is free for five seats; Scale and Enterprise pricing is on request. Self-hosted deployment is listed for Open Source, Scale, and Enterprise, while Bring Your Own Cloud is listed for Enterprise. The CLI covers macOS, Linux, and Windows, but the dashboard does not support mobile browsers.