# OpenComputer vs Replicas

Replicas (replicas.dev) is a cloud agent platform that runs Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Pi or Muse Code in an isolated Linux VM per task, started from Slack, Linear, GitHub, GitLab, automations or an API, and billed by the workspace minute with your own model credentials. OpenComputer is a coding agent you mention in Slack that runs Claude Code and Codex on a cloud Linux machine per Slack workspace and hands back a pull request. The biggest difference is scope: Replicas is a configurable platform for running many agents, while OpenComputer is a single Slack teammate built around a shared thread.

The two are close in purpose but differ in isolation. Replicas gives each task its own Linux VM, while OpenComputer gives each Slack workspace one machine and puts each thread in its own copy of the repos on its own branch. Both let you bring your Claude or ChatGPT subscription, and neither bills per seat. Replicas offers more harnesses, more environment controls and more apps. OpenComputer offers a narrower path from a Slack request to a pull request with evidence attached, and can sell tokens at API prices when your subscription runs out.

## At a glance

| | Replicas | OpenComputer |
|---|---|---|
| Where the agent runs | Isolated cloud Linux VM per task | Your workspace's cloud Linux machine |
| Agent and models | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Pi, Muse Code | Claude Code and Codex |
| How you hand it work | Web, desktop, iOS, CLI, Slack, Linear, GitHub, GitLab, API | Slack mention or API |
| What you get back | Pull or merge request, iterates on review and CI | A pull request with screenshot and preview for UI changes |
| Between tasks | Sleeps after 30 minutes idle, resumes on message | Machine stays warm; repo and caches kept |
| Pricing model | Usage plans billed per awake workspace minute | Per workspace, work minutes |
| Entry price | Developer, $50 per month including $50 usage | Pro, $20 per month for the workspace |
| Free option | $100 of usage, no card, no time limit | 3-day trial, 600 work minutes |

## What is Replicas?

Replicas describes itself as a way to [bring coding agents to the cloud](https://replicas.dev). Each task gets a [workspace, an isolated virtual machine](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/workspaces/overview.md) with your repositories, environment configuration and chosen agent, plus a Linux desktop with Chrome, a terminal, Docker on demand and preview URLs per port. [Environments](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/environments.md) hold repositories, variables, skills, MCP servers and hooks. Warm hooks build a snapshot ahead of time, and warm pools keep pre-built workspaces ready for team environments.

You start work from the web dashboard, a desktop app for macOS and Linux, an iOS app, a CLI, a REST API, an MCP server, Slack, Linear, [GitHub or GitLab comments](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/github.md), Sentry or scheduled automations. Agents open pull requests and keep iterating on review comments and CI failures. Replicas does not resell model usage: you [connect your own credentials](https://docs.replicas.dev/admin/credentials.md), such as a Claude or ChatGPT subscription, an API key, AWS Bedrock or Ollama, with fallback chains that can switch harness when one runs out.

## What is OpenComputer?

OpenComputer runs Claude Code and Codex in its own cloud, and you hand them work by mentioning @Computer in a Slack thread or calling the API from your code. Each Slack workspace gets its own cloud Linux machine, sized to its plan. Every thread works in its own copy of the repos on its own branch, so parallel requests don't collide. Workspaces resume warm, with the repository, dependencies and build caches already in place.

@Computer reads the code, runs the commands and tests, then opens a pull request that says what changed, why, and how it was checked, with a link back to the thread. UI changes come with a screenshot and a preview link. There is no desktop or mobile app. The same cloud runs [serverless agents](/agents) you write in TypeScript.

## Key differences

### Six harnesses, or two

Replicas supports six agents and lets you pick one per task or per chat, fork a chat to a different harness, and run several chats in one workspace. Admins can set credential fallback chains across harnesses. OpenComputer runs Claude Code and Codex only. If your team uses Cursor, OpenCode or a mix, Replicas fits better.

### A platform you configure, or a teammate you message

Replicas gives you many controls: environments you can fork and inherit, warm and start hooks, warm pools, a Linux desktop you can watch and drive, iOS and Android device testing, GPU sandboxes and long-lived orchestrator workspaces. That suits platform teams building their own agent workflows.

OpenComputer keeps the surface small. You describe the change in a Slack thread, everyone in the thread sees every file @Computer opens and every command it runs, anyone can steer it, and conventions one person explains apply to later requests. Replicas also takes Slack mentions, but its center is the app and API. For a deeper environment toolkit of your own, OpenComputer offers its Sandbox SDK with persistent VMs that hibernate, checkpoint and fork.

### Models and running out

Both work with your own Claude or ChatGPT subscription or API key. Replicas is bring-your-own only, and its fallback chains move to another credential or harness when one is exhausted. OpenComputer can also sell tokens at API prices with no markup from prepaid credits. When a subscription hits its limit, you choose whether to switch to those tokens or wait for the reset, and the thread says when it switches back.

### What counts as billable time

Replicas [bills each workspace per minute while it is awake](https://docs.replicas.dev/admin/billing), with a one-minute minimum, and workspaces sleep after 30 minutes without activity. OpenComputer bills work minutes only while @Computer is working on a message, metered by the second. Time between messages and waiting on your review cost nothing.

## Pricing compared

As of October 2026, Replicas lists [Developer at $50 a month and Team from $200 a month](https://replicas.dev/pricing) in $100 steps, each including usage equal to its price, and custom Enterprise plans. These [usage-based plans](https://docs.replicas.dev/changelog.md) replaced seat pricing in October 2026. Included minutes cost $0.004 on small (2 vCPU, 8 GB), $0.008 on large (4 vCPU, 16 GB) and $0.016 on ultra (8 vCPU, 32 GB), with overage at 1.5x. Seats do not affect the bill, and model costs are yours. OpenComputer lists Pro at $20 a month with 2,000 work minutes and Max at $200 with 25,000, for the whole Slack workspace, plus $0.01 per extra minute.

At the $200 level the minute counts line up: Replicas Team includes $200 of usage, which is 25,000 minutes on its default large workspace, and OpenComputer Max includes 25,000 work minutes. The units differ. A Replicas minute counts awake machine time, including idle time before a workspace sleeps, while a work minute counts only time the agent spends working. At the low end, OpenComputer Pro starts at $20, and Replicas Developer at $50 buys 12,500 small or 6,250 large minutes.

## When to choose Replicas

- You want to run Cursor, OpenCode, Pi or Muse Code as well as Claude Code and Codex.
- You want each task isolated in its own VM.
- You want deep environment control: warm pools, hooks, forkable environments and a visible Linux desktop.
- You need iOS and Android device testing, GPU sandboxes, or a published SOC 2 Type I report.
- You want a generous trial: $100 of usage with no card and no time limit.

## When to choose OpenComputer

- Your team wants requests, review and history in one shared Slack thread anyone can steer.
- You want pull requests with the evidence attached, including a screenshot and preview link for UI work.
- You want the option to buy tokens at API prices when a subscription hits its limit.
- You also want to build your own agents, such as [a background coding agent](/blog/background-coding-agent), on the same cloud and minutes.

## FAQ

### Is OpenComputer a Replicas.dev alternative?

Yes, for teams that mainly run Claude Code or Codex from Slack. Both run in the cloud and use your own subscription; Replicas gives each task its own Linux VM, while OpenComputer runs on one machine per Slack workspace. Replicas supports more agents and environment controls, while OpenComputer centers on a shared Slack thread that ends in a pull request.

### How much does Replicas cost?

As of October 2026, Replicas has Developer at $50 a month and Team from $200 a month, each including usage equal to the price, billed per awake workspace minute from $0.004. Model costs are not included because you bring your own credentials. New accounts get $100 of usage with no card required.

### Can I run Claude Code and Codex in the cloud with my own subscription?

Yes, on both. Replicas connects to Claude and ChatGPT through OAuth or API keys and does not resell model usage. OpenComputer also uses your subscription or key, and can switch to its own tokens at API prices when the subscription hits its limit.

### Does Replicas charge while a workspace is idle?

Replicas bills per minute while a workspace is awake, and workspaces sleep after 30 minutes without activity. OpenComputer bills only while @Computer is working on a message, so idle threads cost nothing.

### How does Replicas compare with other cloud devbox platforms?

Replicas and Boxes.dev both run coding agents on cloud machines with your own credentials. See [OpenComputer vs Boxes.dev](/compare/opencomputer-vs-boxes) for how a devbox model compares with OpenComputer.

## Sources

- [Replicas homepage](https://replicas.dev)
- [Replicas pricing](https://replicas.dev/pricing)
- [Billing](https://docs.replicas.dev/admin/billing)
- [Workspaces overview](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/workspaces/overview.md)
- [Environments](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/environments.md)
- [Credentials](https://docs.replicas.dev/admin/credentials.md)
- [GitHub integration](https://docs.replicas.dev/features/github.md)
- [Changelog](https://docs.replicas.dev/changelog.md)