The Automations Wall
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ShiftHands vs Squad.so
ShiftHands suits people who run project agents on their own Mac and supervise them from a browser or phone. Squad.so suits businesses that want hosted AI teammates handling recurring operations from a cloud workspace and connected apps.
This comparison covers Squad.so at squad.so, the AI teammate platform for business operations, not the Squad video game.
This comparison is published by ShiftHands, one of the products compared.
ShiftHands
Published this comparison
Project agent workspace on your Mac
- Free planYes, 1 project
- PaidPro $49.99/mo, checkout not live
- Agent hostYour Apple-silicon Mac
Squad.so
by Squad
Hosted AI teammates for business operations
- Free planNone, no trial
- Paid$99/mo per squad
- Agent hostDedicated cloud computer
See it working
See ShiftHands working. Agents type, browse and report back.
Click through the real app: projects down the side, a chat per agent, automations that report back, and a browser you can take over. The agents do the typing.
Recorded in the ShiftHands demo workspace.
Virtual Environment
Your AI team, in a 3D office.
ShiftHands Pro includes the Virtual Environment: a 3D office in the app where your agents work at their desks, grouped by project. Walk over, pull up a chair, and watch your crew get it done.
Your boss desk
Sit down to see every project and every agent at a glance, and chat with anyone without leaving your chair.
Watch your agents work
Every agent has a desk in its project area. Agents running an automation head to the Automations room. Walk up to any agent and chat.
- Included with Pro
- No extra AI usage for the 3D view
- Mac app and web, including phone browsers
Rendered in the ShiftHands demo workspace with made-up names. Open the Virtual Environment from the sidebar or from Chief of Staff in the app. Agents still run on your Mac and use your connected AI accounts.
ShiftHands vs Squad.so at a glance
Organized by what decides the purchase. A pill is a status, not a score.
| Dimension | ShiftHands | Squad.so |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Project-based agent workspace: a Mac app plus a web app | Hosted AI teammates with a web dashboard |
| Where agents run | On your Apple-silicon Mac (M1 or newer, macOS 13 or later) | On a dedicated cloud workspace computer, one per squad |
| Access to your local files | Local Agents work on the Mac they run on | Not automatic Attach files or connect apps; the private-beta Mac app can request local files or screen access with approval |
| Hardware you provide | An Apple-silicon Mac that stays on with ShiftHands open | None Runs without your computer on |
| How work is organized | Projects, each with agents that keep their own chat, history and model | An AI Chief of Staff and specialists; Missions board, Tickets and agent-written Docs |
| Integrations | Not listed No app-integration catalog listed | 70+ apps Per-teammate access controls, plus MCP servers |
| Browser control | Agents browse in Ego Lite; watch live, take control, hand back | Each agent has a browser on the cloud computer; watch live, take over, hand back |
| Scheduling | Plan-dependent Automations post a result card. Free lists 2 daily automations | Scheduled tasks by preset or cron, plus triggers. Heartbeats start switched off |
| Approvals | Flagged commands: Allow once or Deny, from desk or phone | Settings and instructions App access scopes and send limits are enforced settings. Tickets and draft-first behaviour depend on agent decisions and instructions; actions are not universally approval-gated |
| Channels and phone | Mac app and any browser, including a phone | Web dashboard (phone browser works), Telegram, Discord, Slack, email |
| Native apps | Mac app available now | Not released Mac app in private beta; iOS app marked soon |
| AI models | Claude via Claude Code, ChatGPT via Codex; DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi, Qwen by API key | Your own accounts from 13 providers, with fallbacks and a model per teammate |
| Human team seats | Not listed | $9 a month per seat |
| Free plan | Yes 25 messages a day, 1 project, 3 agents | None No free plan or trial; 7-day money-back on first payment |
| Paid plans | Checkout not live Pro advertised at $49.99/month or $499/year | $99 a month per squad, unlimited AI teammates |
"Not listed" means the first-party pages we read on October 8, 2026 did not establish it. It does not mean the feature is missing.
How the agent workflows differ
Both products give you several agents. The difference is how you hand them work, where context lives, how they ask for help and where you check the result.
Where you assign a task
ShiftHands
You message an agent inside a project, from the Mac app or any browser.
Squad.so
You ask your AI Chief of Staff or a specialist in chat, or add a Mission to the board.
Where the context lives
ShiftHands
In the project. Each agent keeps its own chat, history and model.
Squad.so
In shared memory, agent-written Docs and skills on the workspace computer.
How work is delegated
ShiftHands
You run agent teams in parallel inside a project.
Squad.so
The lead agent routes work to specialists. You add agents by asking the lead.
When an agent is blocked
ShiftHands
It flags a command for your decision, or you take over its browser.
Squad.so
It opens a Ticket in My Tickets, and the Mission waits until you answer.
Where you review the result
ShiftHands
In the agent's chat, where automations post a result card.
Squad.so
On the Missions board, in Docs and in the thread.
Where agents run and what they can access
This is the main difference. ShiftHands uses your Mac as the agent host. Squad.so gives each squad its own computer in the cloud.
ShiftHands
- Agents run on your Mac: Apple silicon (M1 or newer), macOS 13 or later and 8 GB of RAM or more.
- They work with the files, tools and sign-ins on that Mac.
- The Mac stays on with ShiftHands open while agents work.
- Other devices, including phones and Windows PCs, watch and chat through a browser. They do not host agents.
Squad.so
- Agents run on a dedicated cloud workspace computer shared by the squad. Each agent has its own browser profile and sign-ins, but sign-ins on that computer may be usable by other teammates through agents.
- Squad's docs say that computer is not yours: agents can't see your laptop, browser or files.
- Files reach agents when you attach them in chat or email, or connect an app.
- Nothing needs to stay on at your end.
Not yet available Squad for Mac is in private beta and not available to download yet. In the beta, agents can request your Mac's files or screen, and you approve each request on the Mac.
To see what your Mac needs for ShiftHands, read where ShiftHands agents run.
Scheduling, approvals and control
Both products run scheduled work and give you ways to step in. Their control surfaces are different, so compare them directly.
ShiftHands
- Automations run scheduled work and post a result card in the agent's chat. Free lists 2 daily automations.
- Pro advertises flexible schedules and no plan-level automation cap, subject to fair use. Pro checkout is not live.
- Scheduled work needs your Mac on with ShiftHands open.
- Flagged commands wait for you: Allow once or Deny, from your desk or phone.
- Approval behavior depends on agent settings. Not every file change or send is gated.
Squad.so
- The Automations page runs scheduled tasks on presets or a custom cron schedule, plus triggers such as webhooks and app events.
- Agent heartbeats start switched off. Nothing runs on a timer until you turn one on or create a task.
- Work runs on the cloud computer, so your own machine doesn't need to be on.
- Squad's docs say it doesn't ask before an agent acts, unless the agent opens a ticket or writes a draft.
- Its homepage says outgoing sends wait for your yes. It also lists a daily send cap, read-only or read-and-write app scopes and a full run log.
Browser use and human takeover
Both products let you watch an agent's browser, take over when a site needs a person, and hand control back. The difference is whose computer that happens on.
ShiftHands
- Agents browse in their own browsers on your Mac: they click, type and fill in forms.
- You watch live, take control when a site needs a human, then hand control back.
- Browser use needs Ego Lite, a free agent browser from Citro Labs. It is a separate download with its own terms.
Squad.so
- Each agent has its own browser on the cloud workspace computer, with its own sign-ins.
- You watch an agent's screen live, take over the mouse and keyboard, then hand control back.
- Agents post an action card when they need you for a sign-in, CAPTCHA or two-factor code.
Integrations, channels and phone access
Squad.so connects AI teammates to business apps and messaging channels. ShiftHands focuses on agents working on your Mac, which you supervise through its Mac app or a browser.
ShiftHands
- Use the ShiftHands Mac app or web app to message agents and check their progress.
- From any browser, including a phone, read agent chats, reply and answer flagged commands.
- Agents work with the files and tools available on your Mac. No built-in business-app integration catalogue is listed.
- The Mac must remain on with ShiftHands open while agents work.
Squad.so
- Connect 70+ business apps with configurable access levels for individual teammates, plus supported MCP servers.
- Use the web dashboard, including from a phone browser, or communicate through Telegram, Discord, Slack and email.
- Invite human team members, with role-based access and optional paid seats.
- A native Mac app is in private beta and not available for public download. The iOS app is marked as coming soon.
- Agents run on Squad.so's cloud computer, without needing your computer to stay on.
Supported AI models and subscriptions
Both use AI accounts you connect. Neither includes unlimited model usage; your provider's plan, charges and limits apply.
ShiftHands
- Sign in with your Claude account through Claude Code, or your ChatGPT account through Codex.
- DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi and Qwen connect with your own API key, added in the Mac app.
- Gemini and Grok are not available yet. ShiftHands doesn't resell model access.
- Usage left on your plan shows under every reply.
Squad.so
- Connect your own accounts from 13 providers, including ChatGPT/Codex, Claude, Gemini, Grok, GitHub Copilot and OpenRouter.
- Stack several accounts and set fallbacks, so work continues when one account hits a limit.
- Assign a different model to each AI teammate.
- Squad adds no AI-usage charge. Its docs suggest a $100 to $200 a month ChatGPT plan.
Pricing, free limits and team costs
These buy different things: an app for agents on your Mac, versus a hosted computer, integrations and team features. AI-provider costs are separate on both.
ShiftHands
from $0/month
- Free: $0. 25 agent messages a day, 1 project, 3 agents, 2 daily automations and subagent teams of up to 2.
- Pro: advertised at $49.99 a month, or $499 a year billed annually.
- Pro checkout is not live. You can reserve Pro in the app; no payment is taken.
- Pro lists no plan-level cap on messages, projects, agents or automations. Fair use applies.
Squad.so
$99/month
- One plan: $99 a month per squad, with unlimited AI teammates and a dedicated cloud computer.
- No free plan and no free trial. You pay at checkout; the first payment has a 7-day money-back guarantee.
- Add-ons: extra inboxes $10 a month each, human team seats $9 a month each, another squad $99 a month.
- Research tools use credits: 1,000 free a month, then $5 per 5,000.
Source: Squad.so pricing.
You can start ShiftHands Free today on a Mac you own. Squad.so costs $99 a month before AI-provider costs and any add-ons.
Who should choose ShiftHands?
- You want agents on a Mac you own, working with your local files and tools.
- You organize work by project, with a chat, history and model per agent.
- You want to supervise and answer flagged commands from a phone browser.
- You want to start free, with one project and three agents.
Trade-off Not a fit if you need agents running without your Mac on, Windows or Intel Mac hosts, a large integration catalog, or a paid plan you can buy today.
Who should choose Squad.so?
Choose Squad.so if you want AI teammates to handle recurring business operations from a hosted cloud workspace rather than your own computer. Its AI Chief of Staff organizes specialists, while Missions, Tickets, integrations and messaging channels support work across the business.
- You need connected business apps and per-teammate access controls.
- Several people on your team will work with the same squad.
- Agents must keep working without your computer on.
- You're ready to pay $99 a month before AI-provider costs and add-ons.
Trade-off Squad.so has no free plan or trial, and its native Mac and iOS apps aren't released yet.
Still weighing other options? See Squad.so alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Does ShiftHands or Squad.so run agents on my own computer?
ShiftHands runs agents on your Apple-silicon Mac. Squad.so runs them on a dedicated cloud computer, which can't see your laptop or files unless you attach them or connect an app.
Do I need a Mac?
For ShiftHands, yes: agents need an Apple-silicon Mac with macOS 13 or later, and other devices watch through a browser. Squad.so runs in the cloud and works from a web browser; its Mac app is in private beta.
Can I manage agents from my phone?
Yes, with both. ShiftHands works in any phone browser, where you can reply and answer flagged commands. Squad.so's dashboard works in a phone browser, and you can also reach agents through Telegram, Discord, Slack or email.
Do I pay for AI models on top of the plan?
Yes, with both. Each uses AI accounts you connect, and your provider's charges and limits apply. Neither resells unlimited model usage.
Which one connects to more business apps?
Squad.so: it documents 70+ integrations and MCP server support. ShiftHands lists no app-integration catalog.
How do approvals work?
ShiftHands holds flagged commands for Allow once or Deny, depending on agent settings. Squad.so uses tickets, drafts and send controls; its docs say agents don't ask first unless they open a ticket or write a draft.
Is there a free plan?
ShiftHands Free includes 25 agent messages a day, 1 project and 3 agents. Squad.so has no free plan or trial; it costs $99 a month per squad.
If I switch from Squad.so, what changes?
Agents move from a hosted computer to your own Mac, and from a Missions board to project chats. Integrations and messaging channels don't carry over, so check the apps you rely on first.
ShiftHands facts: ShiftHands homepage, pricing and download page, checked October 8, 2026.
Squad.so facts: Squad.so homepage, pricing, What Squad is, workspace computer, control, scheduling, AI accounts, channels and Squad for Mac, read October 8, 2026.
This comparison is published by ShiftHands, one of the products compared. Product names belong to their owners. ShiftHands is not affiliated with Squad. It compares documented features; we did not run hands-on tests. Facts and prices were checked on each product's own site on October 8, 2026 and can change.