Computer use · AI agent
OpenMausBot: review, pricing, security and alternatives
OpenMausBot is an open-source AI agent published by Milind Soni, in the computer use family. OpenMausBot provides a self-hosted AI assistant whose agents can use a virtual machine to carry out their tasks. Its repository has 5,543 stars and its last commit is from October 24, 2026.
What OpenMausBot does
OpenMausBot belongs to the computer use family: agents that see the screen and drive the keyboard and mouse of a computer or phone. On our grid it ranks #7 of the 17 projects of this family listed in the directory.
Who is OpenMausBot for?
It is for people who want to automate desktop software with no API, by driving the screen as a person would. Typical tasks people give it:
- chain actions in legacy business software
- copy data from one application to another
- test a desktop application
It is a good candidate if your data must stay on your machines.
Access and human control
According to its documentation, OpenMausBot can:
- control the screen, keyboard and mouse
We could not establish whether it asks for human approval before sensitive actions: test it first on an unimportant account or folder.
OpenMausBot pricing
The code is free, under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Getting started with OpenMausBot
- Install it: the project ships as a Node.js package (install with
npm, or run directly withnpx). The exact command is in the repository README. - Create an API key with the model provider and put it in an environment variable, never in a shared or versioned file.
- Give it a first playground with nothing at stake: a test folder, a secondary account or a throwaway project. Only open your real accounts once you have seen how it behaves.
- Give it a short, checkable task, review the result and its action log, then raise the difficulty step by step.
Security: risk level
An agent that controls the computer has the same rights as you: run it in a dedicated virtual machine.
Points found for OpenMausBot:
- Sensitive access: it can control the screen, keyboard and mouse, with no established default human approval.
Three habits: least privilege (minimal rights, dedicated keys), human approval for irreversible actions, a sandbox for code execution. The AI agent security check reviews your setup in a few minutes.
Project activity and releases
Created on August 11, 2026, the milind-soni/OpenMausBot repository has 5,543 stars, 934 forks and 313 open issues, with 6,424 commits in total. It received changes this month.
Over the last 52 weeks: 4,714 commits, an average of 90.7 per week.
83 releases in total; 30 in the last twelve months. Latest release: v0.1.126, on October 24, 2026.
OpenMausBot vs other computer use
GitHub stars of the best-rated open-source projects in the computer use family. Stars measure attention, not quality: a heavily promoted project collects them fast, a specialised tool will have few.
OpenMausBot and other computer use at a glance
The 7 best-ranked agents in the same family, 7 of them open source. The score out of 100 only applies to open-source projects; for proprietary services we show the published entry price. A dash marks information the documentation does not state.
| Agent | Model | Score | Stars or entry price | Self-hostable | Human approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenMausBot | open source | 71 | 5.5K ★ | yes | – |
| Midscene | open source | 81 | 15.4K ★ | yes | – |
| Cua | open source | 80 | 30.9K ★ | yes | – |
| Mobilerun | open source | 79 | 9.8K ★ | yes | – |
| GenericAgent | open source | 73 | 14.3K ★ | yes | – |
| OpenBot | open source | 72 | 7K ★ | yes | – |
| UI-TARS Desktop | open source | 71 | 39.4K ★ | yes | – |
| Observer | open source | 70 | 1.7K ★ | yes | – |
How we rated it
Score: 71/100, computed only from public, verifiable data, with no subjective testing or partnership:
- Adoption 21/40: 5,543 stars on a log scale (40 points from about 200,000).
- Activity 30/30: last commit less than a month ago, 30 releases in six months, 4,714 commits in a year.
- Framework 20/30: licence, default human approval, self-hosting, model choice and documentation site.
The score does not say whether the agent will succeed at your tasks: it measures how solid the project is. The full grid is on the method page.
Verdict
OpenMausBot is a serious option; check the limitations below before granting it access.
Strengths
- Very active development
- Frequent releases (30 in a year)
- Can run on your side: data under control
- Permissive licence (Apache-2.0)
Limitations
- Broad access without default approval
Avoid if…
- You cannot isolate it (container, virtual machine)
Alternatives
- Midscene15.4K ★
- Cua30.9K ★
- Mobilerun9.8K ★
- GenericAgent14.3K ★
- OpenBot7K ★
- UI-TARS Desktop39.4K ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMausBot free?
The software is free (Apache-2.0 licence). You still pay for the model calls, unless you use a local model.
Is OpenMausBot safe?
Our risk level: high. Points found: sensitive access. Give it minimum rights and approve irreversible actions.
Which models does OpenMausBot use?
Its documentation does not specify the supported models.
Can OpenMausBot be installed on your own server?
Yes, from the milind-soni/OpenMausBot repository. Data then stays with you, but security and updates are your job.
What are the alternatives to OpenMausBot?
In the same family: Midscene, Cua, Mobilerun, and GenericAgent.
OpenMausBot or Midscene: what is the difference?
Both belong to the computer use family. OpenMausBot has 5.5K stars against 15.4K for Midscene. The right choice mostly depends on the access you are willing to give it.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score