Web app and desktop app

AI Agent Workspace That Runs on Your Mac

ShiftHands is an AI agent workspace for organizing agents by project, running agent teams in parallel and scheduling automations. Each agent has its own chat, history and model. Approve actions and monitor work from the web.

Download for Mac Open app

ShiftHands runs on your Mac. We’ll email you the link so you can open it there.

ShiftHands agents run on your own Apple-silicon Mac with macOS 13 or later. Keep your Mac on with ShiftHands open; monitor and chat from a browser, including on your phone.

Free to startNo card neededPro $49.99/month

Illustrative product demo with condensed timing. A user asks Site Builder to build a pricing page. The agent replies with a link to a preview running on a Mac. Opening the link shows the pricing page in ShiftHands’ in-app link viewer. The demo then shows the Virtual Environment, a live 3D office included on every plan, where agents work at desks grouped by project. Names, tasks and Acme prices are fictional.

Illustrative demo · Timing condensed

NewVirtual Environment

Your AI team, in a real office.

Walk a 3D office where every agent has a desk in its project. See who’s working, who has a reply and who needs you, then walk over and talk. It runs in the Mac app and in your browser, on the plan you already have.

Walking through the ShiftHands Virtual Environment: realistic agents typing at their desks in colour-coded project areas, glass walls and the city outside the windows.
  • Need you an agent waiting on a sign-in, an OK or a question
  • New replies unread answers, one tap to walk there
  • Working a typing bubble says what each one is doing
  • Lounge free agents, ready for the next task

Your office tablet

Walk around and watch YouTube or Twitch.

Open YouTube, Twitch or a full web browser on your tablet. Keep walking and your video keeps playing in a small player while you check on your agents. It all runs on your Mac with your Ego Lite sign-ins.

  • Walk and watch
  • YouTube
  • Twitch with chat
  • Browse the web
Walking through the 3D office with a video playing in the corner player, then the office tablet open on a web page.
Close up in the 3D office: realistic agents with real faces and hair working at their desks, with name tags above their heads.

Realistic people

Every agent is a lifelike person who types, waves, holds a coffee or a phone, and sits in their project’s area. You pick your own look: Man · Dark, Man · Light or Woman.

Seated at your desk in the 3D office, with the desk panel listing Upcoming, Completed, Currently working and New replies.

Your desk

Sit down for Upcoming, Completed, Currently working and New replies in one panel. Press My desk to get back here from anywhere.

Visiting an agent at their desk: the agent's terminal on the monitor and the agent's chat open beside it.

Chat at their desk

Walk up to any agent and press E. Their chat opens beside you with live steps, and their monitor shows a live terminal of the work.

The Strategy Whiteboard in the glass CEO office, with today's ideas for each project written in columns.

The Strategy Whiteboard

Your Chief of Staff does rounds of the desks and writes fresh ideas for your projects every morning. Save one to your Idea Book or choose Make it real for a draft you review first.

Your phone in the 3D office, with the Messages, Projects, Automations and X apps on its home screen.

Your phone

Press P. Text your Chief of Staff (“give him work”, “pause his automations”), open Projects to jump to a project area, or check today’s automations.

The office balcony at sunset through the glass sliding door: teak deck, glass railing, an outdoor sofa and the bay beyond.

A balcony and the city

Step out onto the terrace over Miami’s bay or the New York skyline. Set the time of day to day, sunset or night.

Want a closer look at the rooms, agent desks and controls? Explore the AI agent office and see how the Virtual Environment works.

Also in the office

  • Automations WallToday’s upcoming, running and finished automations on a big screen, and agents walk to the Automations room when one runs.
  • Browser help in placeWhen an agent needs your sign-in, its browser opens right in the office. Your own office browser has tabs, like Chrome.
  • Links, images and filesThey open inside the office, so you never leave to read a result.
  • Talk out loudVoice mode answers in the agent’s own voice, with your ElevenLabs account.
  • 3D or 2DSwitch views in Settings, with graphics quality, office music and battery saver.
  • A receptionistShe greets you by name when you walk in.
  • Pool, checkers and a libraryPlay pool or checkers against idle agents, watch a video on the Lounge Theater screen, or read in the library upstairs.
  • Free and Pro
  • No extra AI usage
  • On your Mac, the web and your phone
Download for Mac Open your office

Your office runs on your Mac. We’ll email you the link so you can open it there.

Captured in the ShiftHands demo office with made-up projects. Open it from the sidebar or from Chief of Staff in the app.

See it working

One workspace. Every project, every agent.

This is the ShiftHands app: projects down the side, a chat per agent, links that open inside the app, automations that report back, and a browser you can take over.

Projects down the side, each agent with its own chat.

Explore AI agent use cases

From running agents on your Mac to reviewing scheduled work and approving commands from your phone, explore practical ways to use ShiftHands.

Explore all use cases

Projects and agents

Run many projects. Each with its own crew.

Group agents into projects the way you already think about your work. Every agent keeps its own chat, history and model, so research never gets tangled up with your inbox.

  • See which agent is working, waiting on you, or resting
  • Unread replies and running automations counted per project
  • Set the model, permissions and helpers from the chips under the message box
The ShiftHands app with the Online Store project open: Store Developer working, new replies from Support Inbox and Ads Manager, and Product Copywriter showing two product photos to approve.

Agent teams

Launch a team. Watch them work.

Hand one agent a big job and it splits the work across a team. Every teammate gets a name and its own task, and they work in parallel while you watch.

  • Named teammates working side by side
  • Live steps and progress for each one
  • A done check per teammate, and the panel closes when all of them finish
Launch Planner coordinating a six-agent team in ShiftHands: the Agents panel lists Maya, Leo and Noah, then Priya, Sam and Theo, each with a task, live steps and progress.

Live status

Know who’s busy at a glance.

Each agent’s mascot shows what it’s doing right now. See who’s working, idle or waiting for you without digging through logs.

Working

Typing away on your task. The chat shows each step as it happens.

Needs you

Waiting on an approval or a quick hand in the browser.

Idle

Resting until the next message or scheduled automation.

See how the AI agent dashboard brings project status, replies and approvals together.

In every workspace

The small things that keep work moving.

  • You’re told when an agent needs youA notice in the app, a Mac or phone notification even when the app is closed, one reminder after 15 minutes, and a count on the Dock and browser tab.
  • Helpers panelEvery helper an agent starts, with what it’s doing, how long it has worked, Stop, and its result. A live count above the message box.
  • Standing rulesSay “from now on, all agents…” and your Chief of Staff saves it as a rule every agent follows, new agents included.
  • Tasks wait out usage limitsOut of usage? The task goes on hold and continues on its own when usage comes back, or switch to another model and carry on now.
  • Plain-English approvalsOne line on what a command does, why it’s asking, and a Low, Medium or High risk level, with the real command always shown.
  • Background work stays visibleRenders, tests and scripts an agent left running show as a chip with how long they’ve run, and you hear when they finish.
  • Talk to busy agentsMessages you send mid-task reach that agent right away, in the order you sent them. Long briefs and whole documents go in full.
  • Connect as many accounts as you likeAdd several subscriptions and API keys. Your agents can use all of them, and you can remove or replace any in Settings.
  • Up to 10 photos per messageAttach up to 10 photos at once. Past that, extra photos go as files with a short note, so nothing is lost.

Automations

Scheduled work that reports back.

Tell an agent to do something every morning or every hour. See what’s coming up, what’s running, and what finished, with a tidy result card in the agent’s chat.

Upcoming3

  1. Uptime checkSite MonitorRunning
  2. Support queue sweepSupport Inbox12:45 PM
  3. Ad spend pacing checkAds Manager1:15 PM

Completed4

  1. Expense receipts syncBookkeeper · 11:32 AMDone
  2. Outreach follow-upsOutreach Assistant · 10:07 AMNeeds review
  3. Backup checkSite Monitor · 9:31 AMDone
  4. Weekly SEO reportSEO Assistant · 8:39 AMDone
Completed automations in ShiftHands: finished and needs-review jobs, and the Backup check result card in the Site Monitor chat.

Examples from the ShiftHands demo workspace.

Approvals

Review the command. You decide.

Review flagged commands when your agent asks. Allow once or deny from your desk or phone. Approval behavior depends on agent settings; not every file change or send is gated.

  • The exact command, in plain view
  • Typing “yes” in chat never counts as approval
  • The agent carries on the moment you tap
Ads Manager needs your OK: raise the Fall retargeting daily budget from $40 to $60, with the exact command and Allow once and Deny buttons.

Browser and computer use

The agent browses. You can take over anytime.

Agents and their helpers work in their own browsers on your Mac. Watch them live from ShiftHands, step in when a site wants a human, then hand control straight back.

  1. Watch it liveA live view of the agent’s browser beside the chat, with the site it’s on. Running automations have Watch live too.
  2. One tab per browserWhen helpers browse too, each browser gets its own tab, so you can switch between them.
  3. Take controlType into the page, use the address bar, sign in. The agent waits.
  4. Return to agentOne tap hands control back and the task carries on. When the agent is done with the browser, you see a short summary.
The live browser view in ShiftHands: the Support Inbox browser on a store admin page asking for a 6-digit code, with Return to agent, Can’t do it and Cancel task buttons.

Links open inside ShiftHands

Chat links open beside the conversation on desktop or in a panel on phones. The viewer has controls to go back or forward, reload, copy the address or open the link in your browser. When an agent shares a localhost preview, it loads through the agent’s Mac, even when you’re on another device.

Computer use with Ego Lite

Ego Lite is a free agent browser for your Mac from Citro Labs. Download it from their site and your ShiftHands agents can browse, click and fill in forms while you watch. Ego Lite is a separate product with its own terms. macOS only for now.

Get Ego Lite (free)

Bring your own subscriptions

Use the AI plans you already pay for.

ShiftHands doesn’t resell model access. Connect your own accounts and your agents run on them. Put your writer on one model and your researcher on another.

  • Sign in with your Claude account (via Claude Code) or your ChatGPT account (via Codex)
  • Gemini and Grok coming soon
  • DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi and Qwen with your own API key, added in the Mac app
  • Usage left on your plan, shown under every reply
  • Disconnect any account from Settings
ShiftHands Settings, Subscriptions: Claude and ChatGPT / Codex connected; Gemini, Grok and API-key models such as DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi and Qwen marked coming soon.

Desktop and web

At your desk. In your pocket.

Desktop app

A dedicated Mac app that runs your agents. Review their progress and approval requests from the web or your phone.

Web app, phone included

Open ShiftHands in any browser. On your phone it’s the same workspace, sized for your thumb.

Improvements roll out to everyone

Web app updates reach every workspace automatically. Mac app updates are separate. Your agents, chats and settings stay yours.

Getting started

Set up in minutes.

A guided setup takes you from an empty workspace to an agent at work.

  1. Create a projectOne home for one area of your work.
  2. Add your agentsPick a ready-made crew or choose from popular agents.
  3. Sign in with Claude or ChatGPTYour Claude account via Claude Code, or your ChatGPT account via Codex. Your crew runs on the plan you already pay for.
  4. Give the first taskType it into the agent’s chat and watch it start.
ShiftHands setup, the Add your first agents step: an SEO Assistant picked for the crew, popular agents to add, and a live preview of the workspace.

Compare your options

See how ShiftHands compares.

Compare ShiftHands with other AI agent tools by where they run, what they’re built for, how they handle approvals and what they cost.

Browse comparisons Browse alternatives
ShiftHands vs BridgeMind ShiftHands vs Squad.so Hermes Agent alternatives BridgeMind alternatives

Pricing

One price for the whole thing.

Free gets every part of ShiftHands, the workspace and the Virtual Environment, with 25 messages a day. Pro removes the daily cap.

Included in your plan

FreePro

Frontend

Frontend: your AI workspace

The part you use every day: chat with your agents and let them get the work done.

The ShiftHands app: projects down the side, each agent with its own chat

  • Your Chief of Staff. One agent who knows your whole team. Ask it to set up projects and agents, check on work or message several agents at once (only with your OK).

  • Helpers. Let an agent pick how many helpers it needs, or choose 1 to 10 yourself, and watch them work in the Helpers panel.

  • Approvals. Nothing risky runs until you say yes.

  • Teammates. Agents hand work to each other and you see the whole thread.

  • On your Mac, on the web, on your phone. Agents run on your Apple-silicon Mac. Watch and chat from any browser, phone included.

  • Streamer mode. Hides names, numbers and private details so you can go live or share your screen safely.

Backend

Backend: the Virtual Environment

A 3D office where your agents actually work. On every plan, Free included. No extra AI usage.

Flying over the 3D Virtual Environment: agents at their desks, the studio, the city view and the glass office on the mezzanine

  • Two cities. Start over the Miami bay, then fly to Midtown Manhattan from the Offices booth whenever you like.

  • Your own office, Chief of Staff next door. A glass office on the mezzanine with the Chief of Staff’s desk beside it. Finished automations check in there; anything for your review waits at the Chief’s desk.

  • Conference room. When an agent brings in helpers, the whole crew meets around the table and gets to work.

  • Recording studio. Agents making videos work downstairs in the studio. The ON AIR sign lights up while they record.

  • Automation room. Upstairs from the studio: the Automations Wall shows what ran, what’s next and what broke.

  • Search Central. Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools numbers for every site in one place: clicks, impressions, CTR, position, top searches and pages. Read only.

  • Content Shipped Reel. A glass case outside the studio with your newest YouTube videos, their views and the subscribers each one brought in.

  • The Chief of Staff reads. Pick a book from your Kindle library or paste an online course link. He writes a booklet of what he learned, puts it to use in his ideas and texts to you, and talks any chapter through with you.

  • A library to read in. Sit on the sofa upstairs and read your own Kindle books.

  • Trackbook. A notebook for what you track every day: caffeine, calories, pills, injections or a tracker of your own, with daily totals, a calendar, reminders and CSV export.

  • Play your PS5 from the couch. Play your own console from the lounge through Sony’s PS Remote Play. Your tablet can float over the game.

  • Your office tablet. YouTube, Twitch, a web browser, X, music, messages from your Chief of Staff, your projects and automations, all while you walk around.

  • Revenue wall and sales bell. Connect Stripe and watch today’s sales come in. The bell rings when something sells.

Kindle reading, the tablet browser and PS5 play need the ShiftHands Mac app. Search Central and the Content Shipped Reel read the accounts you’re signed in to on your Mac.

Create your free account in the Mac app, then upgrade to Pro there or from the Virtual Environment. Checkout is through Stripe. Fair-use caps, AI-provider limits and your Mac’s capacity still apply. You use your own AI subscription; ShiftHands doesn’t resell model credits.

Free vs Pro

FeatureFreePro
Price$0$49.99/month or $499/year
Messages25 a dayNo daily ShiftHands cap
Projects1No plan cap
Agents3No plan cap
Automations2, dailyNo plan cap, any schedule
Chief of Staff, helpers, model choice
Live browser, handover, approvals
Links inside chat
Web app, Mac app, phone browser
Virtual Environment: Miami and New York
Your office, conference room, studio, automation room
Search Central and Content Shipped Reel
Chief of Staff reads books and courses
Trackbook, office tablet, PS5 Remote Play
SupportEmailEmail

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What is ShiftHands?

ShiftHands is an AI agent workspace for managing project-based agents, parallel agent teams, scheduled automations and approvals. Each agent has its own chat, history and model.

Where do ShiftHands agents run?

ShiftHands agents run on your own Apple-silicon Mac with macOS 13 or later. Your Mac must stay on with ShiftHands open while agents work. The web app lets you monitor and interact with that workspace.

Can ShiftHands run multiple AI agents at once?

Yes. ShiftHands supports parallel agent teams. Free includes teams of up to two. Your AI provider’s limits and your Mac’s capacity still apply.

What do I need?

A compatible Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or newer) running macOS 13 or later. One Mac runs your agents; your other Macs and your phone can watch and chat. Connect a supported AI subscription or API key. Mac only today; Intel Mac and Windows users can join the download waitlist. Laptop or Mac mini? Here’s where your agents run.

Which AI subscriptions can I use?

Sign in with your Claude account via Claude Code or your ChatGPT account via Codex. Gemini and Grok are not yet available. DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi and Qwen connect with your own API key, added in the Mac app. Keys are stored encrypted on your Mac and sent to the selected provider when needed to use its API. Choose a model per agent and switch it from the chat.

What’s the difference between Free and Pro?

Free includes 25 agent messages a day, one project, three agents, two daily automations and subagent teams of up to two, plus browser handover, approvals, the Virtual Environment (a 3D office where you watch your agents work) and the web and Mac apps. Pro costs $49.99/month or $499/year, with no plan-level message, project, agent or automation caps, and flexible schedules. Fair-use caps, AI-provider limits and your Mac’s capacity still apply. Create your free account in the Mac app, then upgrade to Pro there (or from the Virtual Environment); payment is handled securely by Stripe.

What counts as a message?

Each message you send to an agent, including asking it to use the browser. Your agent’s own follow-up steps, tool use, approvals and automation runs don’t count.

When does my daily cap reset?

At midnight in your own time zone.

What happens when I hit the cap?

Anything already running keeps going. You can send new messages again after midnight, or upgrade to Pro.

Is the Virtual Environment really on Free?

Yes. The whole office is on both plans and uses no extra AI.

How do I pay, and can I stop?

Upgrade inside the Mac app or the Virtual Environment. Checkout is through Stripe. To cancel, open Manage billing in Settings. Pro stays on until the end of the period you paid for.

I already pay for Claude or ChatGPT. Why ShiftHands?

Your AI subscription provides model access. ShiftHands organizes agents by project, runs scheduled work and provides browser handover and command-approval controls. You keep paying your AI provider for model usage; ShiftHands does not resell model credits.

Will an agent do things without asking me?

Approval behavior depends on each agent’s settings. When a flagged command needs your approval, ShiftHands shows the command and waits for Allow once or Deny; typing “yes” in chat does not approve it. Not every file change or send is gated.

Do I need anything else installed?

Not for chat, projects, automations or approvals. For browser and computer use, download Ego Lite, a free agent browser from Citro Labs. It’s a separate download with its own terms, not part of ShiftHands, and it’s macOS only for now.

Can I use ShiftHands on my phone?

Yes. Open ShiftHands in your phone’s browser to check agents, read results, chat and approve actions. Agents still run on your Mac, which must stay on with ShiftHands open. ShiftHands is not a native phone app.

How do updates work?

Web app updates arrive automatically; an open window may ask you to refresh. Mac app updates are separate: the app checks for updates and installs after restart, or while agents are idle if automatic installation is enabled. Your projects, agents and chats stay private to your workspace.

Your crew is ready when you are.

Download the Mac app, create your free account in it, connect a subscription, and hand over the first task. Your agents run on your Mac; watch and chat from any browser or phone.

Download for Mac Open app

ShiftHands runs on your Mac. We’ll email you the link so you can open it there.

Web app on any device · Mac app for Apple silicon, macOS 13+ · Free to start · Pro $49.99/month or $499/year