About boxes.dev
Overview
boxes.dev gives every coding agent its own cloud computer. Each agent runs on a Linux devbox with its own filesystem, port forwarding, and a preinstalled copy of your dev setup, so parallel tasks never fight over one machine. The service runs the native Codex and Claude Code harness on the subscription or API key you already own.
You start work from Slack, Linear, a schedule, or an API call, then steer the agent from a desktop workbench, a native iOS or Android app, the web workspace, or a terminal client. Idle devboxes sleep automatically while the agent keeps working after you close your laptop. Teams can share a live session transcript and diffs, send public preview URLs for running apps, and apply SSO, SCIM, RBAC, audit logs, and spend limits.
Key Benefits
- Each agent gets a full Linux cloud computer with its own filesystem, ports, and your dev environment preinstalled.
- A fresh devbox per body of work lets agents change dependencies or database schemas without disturbing each other.
- Agents keep running in the cloud after you close your laptop, so overnight tasks finish on their own.
- Idle devboxes sleep automatically at no cost, while awake machine time is billed by the second.
- Slack mentions, Linear issues, cron schedules, and API calls all start agents and return results where you asked for them.
- Desktop, mobile, web, and terminal clients control the same thread, so you can approve requests or review diffs on the go.
How It Works
Paste one setup prompt into Claude Code or Codex inside your project folder, and your agent inspects env files, local databases, and tools outside the repo to draft a setup plan. You review that plan, approve exactly what gets uploaded, and a second agent executes it and confirms the app runs on the remote box. boxes.dev then snapshots the filesystem and memory, and every new devbox boots from that snapshot in seconds.
Use Cases
- Side-project developers use the Starter plan for 50 included hours and up to four awake devboxes.
- Small teams running several agents in parallel daily pick Pro for 250 hours, ten awake devboxes, and priority support.
- Developers running agents through the day and overnight choose Max, which includes 600 hours and twenty awake devboxes.
- Engineering organizations roll out Teams with custom seat and hour pools, SSO, SCIM, RBAC, audit logs, and spend controls.
- Reviewers follow a shared session link to read live transcripts, diffs, and screenshots without pulling branches or starting screen shares.
- Maintainers schedule Codex or Claude on a cron to review past commits, post recurring Slack updates, or run nightly QA end to end.
Why Choose This Product
boxes.dev pairs a native Claude Code and Codex harness with cloud machines and does not resell tokens, because it runs the subscription or API key you bring. Founders Nick Bushak and Drew Regitsky met at MIT and built Gem together before starting boxes.dev. The team publishes a feature comparison against Devin, Cursor, and the plain Claude Code and Codex harnesses, dated to publicly documented features reviewed August 24, 2026, and states that boxes.dev is an independent product with no affiliation to OpenAI or Anthropic.
Supported Workflow Surfaces
- Desktop workbench with a built-in file viewer, diff view, and persistent terminals.
- Native iOS and Android apps for steering agents away from the desk.
- Slack app that starts work from any channel or thread and reports back in-thread.
- Linear app that reports agent output and pull requests on the assigned issue.
- SSH and IDE-over-SSH access for VS Code and JetBrains workflows.
boxes.dev Pros & Cons
- Agents keep running in the cloud after you close your laptop
- Sleeping devboxes are free and awake time bills by the second
- Works with your existing Codex or Claude Code subscription or API key
- Start agents from Slack, Linear, schedules, or an API call
- Native iOS and Android apps plus desktop, web, and CLI clients
Key Features
Cloud Devboxes
Each agent runs on a real Linux machine with dedicated vCPU and memory, its own filesystem, and ports forwarded to localhost.
Per-Task Isolation
boxes.dev creates a fresh devbox for every meaningful body of work, so agents can change dependencies or break things without touching each other.
Background Agents
Threads keep running in the managed cloud while your laptop is closed, and any client can pick the thread back up later.
Auto-Sleep Billing
Idle devboxes sleep automatically and cost nothing, while awake machine time is billed by the second.
Multi-Surface Clients
A desktop workbench, native iOS and Android apps, the web workspace, and a CLI all steer the same agent thread.
Slack Triggers
Mention @boxes.dev in any channel or thread and the agent receives that context and reports back in-thread.
Linear Triggers
Assign a Linear issue to a boxes.dev agent, which reports back in Linear and attaches any outputs or pull requests.
Schedules and API
Cron schedules and one POST to api.boxes.dev/v1/threads both start Codex or Claude agents on fresh devboxes.
Preview URLs
Every devbox port can get a public preview URL so you can send the running app to anyone before merging.
SSH and IDE Access
boxes.dev supports SSH and IDE-over-SSH for VS Code and JetBrains, plus a desktop file viewer, diff view, and persistent terminals.
boxes.dev Pricing
View full pricing →- 20 hours of compute included
- Template box + 2 awake devboxes
- Unlimited sleeping devboxes, free
- Up to 2 projects
- Bring your own Codex + Claude Code
- Desktop, mobile, web, CLI
- 50 hours included
- Template box + 4 awake devboxes
- Unlimited sleeping devboxes, free
- Up to 5 projects
- Extra hours anytime at $0.60/hr
- Email support
- 250 hours included
- Template box + 10 awake devboxes
- Unlimited sleeping devboxes, free
- Up to 10 projects
- Extra hours anytime at $0.60/hr
- Priority support
- 600 hours included
- Template box + 20 awake devboxes
- Unlimited sleeping devboxes, free
- Extra hours anytime at $0.60/hr
- Priority support
- Custom seat & hour pools
- SSO, SCIM, RBAC
- Audit logs and spend controls
- Dedicated resources & deployment
- Custom MSA, security review
| Feature | Trial Free | Starter $19/mo | Pro $99/mo | Max $249/mo | Teams Custom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours of compute included | |||||
| Template box + 2 awake devboxes | |||||
| Unlimited sleeping devboxes, free | |||||
| Up to 2 projects | |||||
| Bring your own Codex + Claude Code | |||||
| Desktop, mobile, web, CLI | |||||
| 50 hours included | |||||
| Template box + 4 awake devboxes | |||||
| Up to 5 projects | |||||
| Extra hours anytime at $0.60/hr | |||||
| Email support | |||||
| 250 hours included | |||||
| Template box + 10 awake devboxes | |||||
| Up to 10 projects | |||||
| Priority support | |||||
| 600 hours included | |||||
| Template box + 20 awake devboxes | |||||
| Custom seat & hour pools | |||||
| SSO, SCIM, RBAC | |||||
| Audit logs and spend controls | |||||
| Dedicated resources & deployment | |||||
| Custom MSA, security review |
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about boxes.dev
How is boxes.dev different from git worktrees?
A worktree gives you another checkout on the same machine. A boxes.dev devbox gives you another computer with its own filesystem, processes, ports, and database state, created from a Template box snapshot. Each agent can run your app, change dependencies, edit the database schema, or break things without affecting the others.
Can I use my existing Codex or Claude Code subscription?
Yes. boxes.dev does not resell tokens; it runs the real Codex and Claude Code harness and uses your existing subscription or API key. It does not replace your model subscription and does not put its own harness between you and the agent.
Is boxes.dev affiliated with Codex or Claude Code?
No. boxes.dev states it is an independent product, not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or otherwise officially connected with OpenAI, Codex, Anthropic, or Claude Code. It supports running the Codex and Claude Code tools you authorize with your own subscription or API key.
Does the agent keep working if I close my laptop?
Yes. The agent runs in a managed cloud devbox, so the same thread keeps going while you disconnect. Nothing runs on your laptop: the boxes.dev app lives in the cloud, and the desktop, mobile, and CLI clients all check in on the agent from anywhere.
Can I use my own editor or IDE?
Yes. boxes.dev supports SSH and IDE-over-SSH for VS Code and JetBrains when that suits your workflow. The desktop workbench also includes a built-in file viewer, diff view, and persistent terminals.
How does pricing work?
You pay only for awake machine time. Each plan includes hours: 20 on Trial, 50 on Starter, 250 on Pro, and 600 on Max. Sleeping machines use no time, idle devboxes sleep automatically, and extra hours sell as prepaid credit at $0.60/hr with optional auto-buy.