AgentBox vs OpenDots
OpenDots is an open-source template for always-on AI coworkers that you set up and host yourself. AgentBox is a ready-made cloud computer where the agent you already pay for does the work.
What OpenDots is
OpenDots is a CopilotKit project under the MIT licence that calls itself a template, not a hosted product. It builds "Dots", specialist agents with their own instructions and tools that work across text, voice calls and Slack, and "Spaces", a home for editable pages where agents save what they produce.
It runs on Node.js 24 or in Docker containers and needs a CopilotKit Intelligence project (the hosted service, a local evaluation or a licensed self-hosted install) and a key for an OpenAI-compatible model. Connected apps go through Composio, calls through a speech provider, and each Dot can get its own isolated computer through OpenBot. Its README marks it as alpha, in early development.
Side by side
| What you get | AgentBox | OpenDots |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to use, no setup | Yes Order, wait a few minutes, sign in to your agent. | No Clone the repository, configure the services and host it. |
| Server and hosting included | Yes Server included; pick the location, European data centres among them. | No Bring your own server or cloud account. |
| No extra service account needed | Yes Only your AI account (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) or an API key. | No A CopilotKit Intelligence project plus a model key. |
| Full graphical Linux desktop | Yes A full XFCE desktop you watch live in the console. | Partly A browser and files per Dot through OpenBot, no full desktop. |
| Ready-made AI agents | Yes Eight agents installed: Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Qwen, Grok, Kimi, GLM, DeepSeek. | Partly Its own agent, on an OpenAI-compatible model. |
| Approval before risky steps | Yes Approve or Decline on Telegram, Slack, in the console or by email. | Yes "Approve & run" cards for tools, and review before saving pages. |
| Hand over to a human (login, 2FA) | Yes A screenshot on Telegram or Slack and the live desktop on your phone. | Yes Take over the browser from the OpenBot computer panel. |
| Scheduled and triggered work | Yes Cron schedules, private links, webhooks, automatic follow-ups. | Yes Scheduled server-side turns with pause and retry. |
| Connected services (MCP) | Yes GitHub, Notion, Linear, Stripe or any MCP server, for every agent. | Yes MCP servers per Dot, and apps through Composio. |
| Chat apps (Telegram, Slack) | Yes Telegram and Slack, with your own bot. | Partly Slack, through a managed connection. |
| Voice calls with the agent | No No voice calls. | Yes Realtime voice calls with captions. |
| Page and price watchers | Yes Page changes, texts and prices, with no AI cost. | No Not described. |
| Log of what the agent did | Yes The agent's journal and the list of commands it ran. | Partly Activity in the computer panel. |
| Several users and single sign-on | No One owner per box. | No Its README lists no invitations or shared editing. |
| Open source, self-hosted | No A hosted service; the agents are their vendors' own tools. | Yes MIT code you can change. |
| Maturity | In production, with billing and support. | Alpha, per its README. |
| What you pay for | Hourly, capped at the monthly price; the agent's subscription is separate. | Free code; you pay for the server, CopilotKit Intelligence where needed, and the model. |
Compared with the public README of OpenDots on GitHub in 2026-10. Projects move fast; check the repository for its current state. github.com/CopilotKit/OpenDots
When OpenDots is the better choice
- You want voice calls with the agent, with captions and answers while it works.
- You are building your own product and want a template you can reshape freely.
- You need a document space (Spaces) where agents write and you edit.
- You want everything on your own infrastructure and have someone to run it.
When AgentBox is the better choice
- You want to start today, with nothing to install or maintain.
- You already pay for Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini and want to use exactly that subscription.
- The agent needs a whole computer: a desktop, office apps, Chrome, a terminal.
- You want to run it all from your phone, through Telegram or Slack.
Questions
Is AgentBox an open-source alternative to OpenDots?
No. AgentBox is a hosted service: you get a prepared server with a desktop, a terminal and the agents installed. If you specifically want open-source code to host yourself, OpenDots remains the right choice.
Do I need a CopilotKit account for AgentBox?
No. On AgentBox you sign in directly to the agent you already use, such as Claude Code or Codex, or paste an API key for GLM, DeepSeek, Grok or Kimi.
Can I run OpenDots on a cloudlinux.ro server?
Yes. On a regular cloud server from us you can install OpenDots with Node.js or Docker, like on any Linux server. You still need your own CopilotKit and model keys.
Does AgentBox have voice calls like OpenDots?
No, AgentBox has no voice calls. You talk to the agent in the console, on Telegram or on Slack, and you can listen to the box's sound from the console.
Try AgentBox
Order a box, wait a few minutes, sign in to the agent you already pay for. Billed by the hour, capped at the monthly price.
From 10.00 €/month
Order AgentBoxOther comparisons: AgentBox vs OpenBot, AgentBox vs OpenMuse