Depot alternative
NoMac vs Depot
Depot offers M2 macOS runners for GitHub Actions at $0.08 a minute on its Startup plan and above. NoMac gives your agent an interactive Mac. A comparison.
A Mac for your agent, ready in about a minute.
$0.80/hour · billed by the minute · credit never expires
7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. Prices checked 22 September 2026 from public list prices.
What Depot is
Accelerated builds and GitHub Actions runners. Its macOS runner has an M2 with 8 CPUs, 24 GB and 150 GB of fast disk, at $0.08 a minute, available on the Startup plan and above.
Depot vs NoMac at a glance
| Depot | NoMac | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | GitHub Actions runners | Interactive sessions |
| Price | $0.08/min, Startup plan and above | $0.80/hour by the minute, from $10 |
| Hardware | M2, 8 CPU, 24 GB | A VM slice; smaller than a dedicated machine |
| Agent access | Through CI | MCP, CLI, REST API and SSH |
Choose Depot when
- ·You already use Depot for container builds and want macOS runners from the same vendor.
- ·You want a larger runner than GitHub's standard macOS machine.
- ·Your iOS builds run in GitHub Actions and you want them faster.
Choose NoMac when
- ·You do not have, or want, a paid CI plan to get a Mac.
- ·Your agent needs a shell, not a workflow run.
- ·Your usage is a few hours a week.
The verdict
Depot is a faster runner for teams already in CI. NoMac is a Mac for the moments before CI, when the agent is still working out what to commit.
Try it in two minutes
Keep Depot for what it does best, and give your agent a Mac for everything else. From your project directory:
npm install -g @nomac/cli nomac login nomac start --json nomac sync . nomac ssh -- xcodebuild -list nomac stop --json # or let Claude Code drive it claude mcp add nomac -- npx @nomac/cli mcp
Or give your agent nomac.app/install and it sets itself up.
Questions
What is the best Depot alternative for AI agents?＋
NoMac is built for coding agents: a fresh macOS VM with Xcode and root, started and driven over MCP, CLI, REST API or SSH, at $0.80 an hour, billed by the minute from prepaid credit. It is the better fit when an agent needs a Mac in short bursts. Depot is the better fit when you already use Depot for container builds and want macOS runners from the same vendor.
How much does NoMac cost?＋
$0.80 an hour, billed by the minute, from prepaid credit: $10 buys 12.5 hours, and credit never expires. You pay only while the Mac is ready, with a one-minute minimum; queue and setup are free. No subscription and no overage. 7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.
Can Claude Code, Codex or Cursor use NoMac?＋
Yes. Add the MCP server with one command (claude mcp add nomac -- npx @nomac/cli mcp), or use the hosted MCP endpoint from a cloud sandbox. The agent can start a Mac, run commands, read output and stop it.
Do I need an Apple Developer account?＋
Not to start a Mac, compile, run tests or use the iOS Simulator. Signing and TestFlight uploads need your own Apple Developer membership, as on any Mac.
What happens to my files when I stop?＋
The VM and everything on it is deleted, including anything your agent installed and any credentials you sent. Pull what you need first with nomac pull, rsync or scp.
Stop paying for a Mac that waits for you.
Full macOS with Xcode and root, over MCP, CLI, API or SSH. $0.80 an hour, billed by the minute, deleted when you stop. $10 of credit is 12.5 hours.
Get your agent a Mac7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. Cancel anytime.