use.computer alternative
NoMac vs use.computer
use.computer sells macOS sandboxes for computer-use agents, with screenshots, mouse and keyboard control. NoMac is a developer Mac for coding agents. How they differ.
A Mac for your agent, ready in about a minute.
$9.99/month for 5 hours every week · billed by the second · no overage
7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. Prices checked 22 September 2026 from public list prices.
What use.computer is
macOS sandboxes on dedicated M4 Mac minis, reserved for 24 hours or more with up to two VMs per Mac, controlled through an SDK in Python, TypeScript and Go: screenshots, mouse, keyboard, accessibility tree, SSH, file transfer and recordings.
use.computer vs NoMac at a glance
| use.computer | NoMac | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Computer-use agents | Coding agents and developers |
| Main interface | SDK with screen, mouse, keyboard | MCP, CLI, REST API and SSH |
| Minimum | 24-hour reservation | One minute |
| GUI control | Yes | No; headless, simulator via simctl |
| Xcode workflow | Possible | The main use case, preinstalled |
Choose use.computer when
- ·Your agent needs to see and click a desktop: Safari, Finder, native apps.
- ·You need the accessibility tree or screen recordings.
- ·Your agents run for a day or more at a time.
- ·You are building a computer-use product or evaluation harness.
Choose NoMac when
- ·Your agent needs a shell with Xcode, not a screen.
- ·Tasks take minutes, so a 24-hour reservation is mostly idle.
- ·You want the agent to connect over MCP from Claude Code, Codex or Cursor with no SDK code.
- ·You want a simple monthly price for a developer, not a platform.
The verdict
If your agent needs eyes and hands on a Mac desktop, use.computer is built for that. If it needs xcodebuild, it needs a shell, and a shell for a few minutes.
Try it in two minutes
Keep use.computer 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 use.computer 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, billed by the second from weekly hours. It is the better fit when an agent needs a Mac in short bursts. use.computer is the better fit when your agent needs to see and click a desktop: Safari, Finder, native apps.
How much does NoMac cost?＋
$9.99 a month for 5 hours every week, or $29.99 a month for 25 hours every week. Ready time is billed by the second after a one-minute minimum; queue and setup are free. There is 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. Billed by the second, deleted when you stop. $9.99 a month, or $29.99 for 25 hours a week.
Get your agent a Mac7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. Cancel anytime.