NoMacSimlock alternative
NoMac Simulator vs Simlock
A cloud iPhone for each of your agents, ready in seconds with the Xcode build included, from any machine, at $0.80 an hour. Simlock leases Simulators on Macs you own, set up and run.
An iOS Simulator for your agent, ready in seconds.
$0.80/hour · billed per minute · Xcode build included
7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. Prices checked 31 October 2026 from public list prices.
What Simlock is
Callstack's open-source (MIT) lease manager for iOS Simulators, Android emulators and plugged-in phones, which it calls a self-hosted simulator cloud: each coding agent leases its own device on your Mac, with a queue, a warm pool and a gateway in front of several machines. Agents use its CLI, a local MCP server with five tools or an HTTP API with agent tokens. iOS needs macOS with Xcode, which Simlock never installs for you.
NoMac Simulator vs Simlock at a glance
| NoMac Simulator | Simlock | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the phones run | On NoMac's Macs, ready in seconds | On Macs you own and run, with Xcode you install |
| Building the app | Xcode 27.1 builds your project on the phone's Mac, incremental | Not included: the agent builds on the worker with its own Xcode |
| Getting the app there | A git link, or one command that sends your folder | No upload in its HTTP API; paths are on the worker |
| The screen as text, taps by label | Built in, over MCP, the CLI and REST | Through agent-device, installed on each worker and each agent's machine |
| Isolation between agents | Each phone under its own macOS user and volume, behind a firewall | By agreement; an agent token reaches the whole worker |
| From another machine | Hosted MCP over HTTPS, plus the CLI, REST and a TypeScript SDK | HTTP API with agent tokens; HTTPS needs a reverse proxy you add |
| Cost | $0.80 an hour, billed per minute, build included | Free tool, plus the Macs it runs on |
Why teams choose NoMac Simulator
- ✓No Macs to buy, set up or keep running: your agent starts a cloud iPhone in seconds from macOS, Linux, Windows or a cloud sandbox.
- ✓Your Xcode project builds on the phone's own Mac, sent as a git link or with one upload command. Simlock leaves the build to the agent, and its HTTP API cannot upload a file.
- ✓Each phone runs under its own macOS user, on its own volume, behind a firewall. A Simlock agent token reaches the whole worker, so agents that must not see each other's work need separate Macs.
- ✓The screen as text and taps by label are built in, over a hosted MCP server. Simlock's local MCP server leases devices and runs simctl, and the UI tree and taps come from agent-device.
- ✓A person watches or takes over any phone from a link in the browser, and every session can be replayed.
- ✓Have Macs already? simulator-use, free and MIT, gives each agent its own Simulator and each git worktree its own DerivedData, and moves to a cloud phone in one command.
The verdict
Simlock shares the Macs you already have between your agents. NoMac Simulator gives each agent its own cloud iPhone with the build included, from any machine, with no Mac to own, billed per minute.
Switch in two minutes
Give your agent an iPhone now, from Claude Code or any terminal:
# Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or any MCP client claude mcp add --transport http nomac-simulator https://mcp.nomac.app/simulator # or any terminal npx simulator-use cloud start
Platforms: npm install @nomac/simulator and the API.
Questions
What is the best Simlock alternative for AI agents?＋
NoMac Simulator: a cloud iPhone or iPad Simulator ready in seconds, with the Xcode build on the same Mac, the screen as text and taps by label, at $0.80 an hour, billed per minute. Your agent connects over MCP, the CLI or the REST API.
How much does NoMac Simulator cost?＋
$0.80 an hour, billed per minute, with a one-minute minimum, from prepaid credit that starts at $10 and never expires. Xcode builds are included and waiting for a phone is free. No subscription and no plan to outgrow. 7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.
Which agents can use it?＋
Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and every MCP client connect in one line: https://mcp.nomac.app/simulator. Already connected to NoMac at https://mcp.nomac.app/mcp? The phone is there too. From a terminal or CI it is npx simulator-use cloud start, and platforms use the REST API or the TypeScript SDK, @nomac/simulator.
Can it build my app?＋
Yes. Send a git link or upload the project: Xcode 27.1 builds it on the same Mac as the phone, and a rebuild and run takes about 7 seconds.
Can a person watch the phone?＋
Yes. Share a link to watch or control it live, embed it in your own page, or replay any session with the video beside every step your agent took.
Can my agent get a whole Mac too?＋
Yes, from the same account and credit: NoMac Session gives your agent a full Mac with admin rights for everything beyond the phone, from signing to App Store releases.
Give your agent an iPhone in seconds.
A cloud iOS Simulator with the Xcode build included, over MCP, the CLI or the API. $0.80 an hour, billed per minute. $10 of credit is 12.5 hours.
Get your agent an iPhone7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.