What is Cindy?
Cindy is a general-purpose AI agent app whose desktop (Electron) and mobile (React Native) clients are open source under Apache-2.0. It runs Claude Code, Codex or the open-source Pi agent as its engine, works with your files, browser and apps, and adds memory, Skills, plugins, MCP, automations and chat channels such as Slack and Telegram. Signed-in users can reach their other computers from a phone, share model providers between devices and use a built-in remote desktop.
The pricing page is copyrighted to XD Inc., and the backend service is closed and lives in a separate repository. The client connects to Cindy's cloud by default; a Skip Sign-In mode runs local agents without an account but drops server-backed features.
The repo was created in July 2026 and has about 8,821 stars, 1,049 forks and 2,342 open issues and pull requests. The latest release is v0.1.121 (30 October 2026).
Is Cindy worth it?
Cindy's strongest feature is reach rather than intelligence. The agent engines are Claude Code, Codex and Pi, so its coding and reasoning are only as good as theirs. What it adds is a shared interface across a work computer, a home desktop and a phone: open a session elsewhere, use a model subscription configured on another machine, or take over a desktop remotely when chat is not enough. Few open-source agent apps attempt that.
The open-source label covers less than it first seems. The clients are Apache-2.0, but the service that syncs companions, memory and skills between devices is closed, the client points at Cindy's servers by default, and contributors develop against the official cloud with their own accounts. You can audit and fork the app; you cannot self-host the parts that make multi-device work.
Privacy defaults lean towards collection. Official builds include TapDB analytics, tied to your account ID after sign-in, with the statistics switch on by default. The README documents a mobile bug where enterprise SSO sign-in can mark a new install as consented. TapDB does not collect chat or file content, and local Skip Sign-In mode reports nothing to it.
Scale and churn are the other trade-off. 2,342 open issues and pull requests in three months, and 121 point releases, point to a busy project moving faster than it can triage. OpenClaw and Hermes Agent are more self-hostable; Cindy is easier to start with and better on phones.
Where it earns its place
A consultant with a work laptop, a home desktop and a phone
Continue an agent session started at the office from the train
Sign in on each device, keep the desktop online and open the session from the phone. Free with an existing Claude Code or Codex plan; the trade-off is that sync runs through Cindy's cloud.
A small marketing team without API keys
Hand recurring research and drafting tasks to an agent
Buy managed credit, from $20 a month on Plus, and set automations or Slack hand-offs. Each task shows its running cost; Team plans with shared controls are not open yet.
A developer evaluating agent clients
Try a local agent with no vendor account
Choose Skip Sign-In to run local agents without a Cindy account and without TapDB reporting, accepting that sync, remote access and companions are unavailable.
Before you commit
- Setup
- Download installers for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS or Android; building from source needs Node 22, pnpm 10 and Git LFS.
- Integrations
- Claude Code, Codex and Pi harnesses; your API keys, supported subscriptions or local models; Skills, plugins and MCP; Slack and Telegram channels; SkillHub for extensions.
- Data and privacy
- Project files stay on their computer, but cloud companions sync conversations, memory and skills through Cindy's services. TapDB usage analytics are on by default in official builds and linked to your account ID; they can be switched off in Settings.
- Cost at scale
- No software fee with your own keys. Managed credit runs $20, $100 or $200 a month (20% less on a recurring plan), with capped rollover; Team and Enterprise pricing is not published.
- Limits
- Closed backend; 2,342 open issues and PRs; switching harness rebuilds context rather than carrying full internal state; pnpm 11 not yet supported for builds.
What’s good
- Free client that uses Claude Code and Codex plans you already pay for
- Remote access, shared providers and remote desktop across devices
- Skills, plugins, MCP, automations and Slack or Telegram channels
- Apache-2.0 desktop and mobile source
What’s not
- Backend is closed; multi-device features cannot be self-hosted
- TapDB analytics on by default and tied to your account
- 2,342 open issues and pull requests
- Team and Enterprise plans are waitlist only
Best for
Individuals who already pay for Claude Code or Codex and want the same agent sessions on their desktop, laptop and phone.
Cindy alternatives
Cindy: common questions
- Is Cindy worth it?
- A polished open client with a closed cloud behind it: useful if you want your agents on every device, less so if you wanted to own the whole stack. We rate it 3.7 out of 5.
- How much does Cindy cost?
- Client free with your own keys or plans. Managed models: Plus $20, Super $100, Ultra $200 of credit a month ($16, $80, $160 on a recurring plan); top-ups from $10.
- What are the downsides of Cindy?
- Backend is closed; multi-device features cannot be self-hosted; tapDB analytics on by default and tied to your account; 2,342 open issues and pull requests; team and Enterprise plans are waitlist only.
- Who is Cindy best for?
- Individuals who already pay for Claude Code or Codex and want the same agent sessions on their desktop, laptop and phone.
- How much does Cindy cost for a team or in production?
- No software fee with your own keys. Managed credit runs $20, $100 or $200 a month (20% less on a recurring plan), with capped rollover; Team and Enterprise pricing is not published.
- Is Cindy safe for company data?
- Project files stay on their computer, but cloud companions sync conversations, memory and skills through Cindy's services. TapDB usage analytics are on by default in official builds and linked to your account ID; they can be switched off in Settings.
- What are the best Cindy alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, OpenWorker and T3 Code.
Answers checked Oct 31, 2026.