An open-source alternative to Grok Bot
Grok Bot gives you named AI teammates that share one cloud computer. Sidemates gives you a team on your own Mac, for free.
Last updated 2 October 2026. Details about Grok Bot come from its public pages (linked below) and can change. If something is out of date, tell us. See the full comparison with the other options.
What Grok Bot is
xAI's Grok Bot has been in beta since 11 August 2026. It gives you named AI teammates that share one managed cloud computer, with desktop and iOS apps. It is bundled with xAI plans that cost $120 to $300 a month.
Side by side
| Sidemates | Grok Bot | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Your Mac, each teammate with its own browser and workspace | A managed cloud computer shared by the teammates |
| Price | Free and open source (MIT). You pay only for the AI you choose. | Bundled with $120 to $300 a month plans |
| Your Mac's Mail, Calendar, Notes and files | Yes, in your own apps | No |
| Teammates | Yes, each isolated from the others | Yes, sharing one computer |
| Where you use it | macOS; iPhone through a Home Screen app, Siri and the Share menu | Desktop and iOS apps |
| Works while your computer is off | No. It works while your Mac is on. | Yes |
| Source code | Open (MIT) | Closed |
When to choose which
Choose Grok Bot if you…
- want a managed, hosted team with a native iOS app
- already pay for the xAI plan that includes it
- need it to keep working while your computer is off
Choose Sidemates if you…
- don't want to rent a cloud computer or pay $120 or more a month
- want teammates that don't share one computer
- want them to work in your own Mac apps
- want free, open-source software
Try Sidemates
On a Mac (macOS 13 or later), one line installs it. No administrator password, and the installer checks the download's fingerprint. Read the installer first if you like.
curl -fsSL https://sidemates.app/install.sh | sh
Then connect an AI (a free Gemini key is enough to start) and make your first teammate, or add a ready-made one from the gallery. Source code and docs: github.com/PrisacariuRobert/sidemates.
Questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Grok Bot?
Yes. Sidemates is a free, open-source team of AI teammates for your Mac. Another open-source option is OpenMausBot, which is aimed at developers and also runs on Windows and Linux.
How much does Sidemates cost compared with Grok Bot?
Sidemates is free. Grok Bot is bundled with xAI plans that cost $120 to $300 a month. With Sidemates you pay only for the AI you connect, and free options exist.
Do Sidemates teammates share a computer?
No. Each teammate has its own workspace and its own browser profile on your Mac. Browser profiles are separate profiles, not a security sandbox.