Phonebox vs Appetize: persistent Android phones over MCP or disposable emulator sessions.
Phonebox publishes this page. Appetize facts come from its pricing and AI agents documentation, checked October 9, 2026.
Side by side
| Phonebox | Appetize | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Cloud Android phones | iOS and Android emulators |
| Between sessions | Parked phones keep apps, files and sign-ins, free | Sessions clear when they end; reserved devices keep an app pre-installed (Premium) |
| Idle behaviour | Parks after an idle timeout, 5 minutes by default | Ends after 2 minutes of inactivity by default |
| Pricing | $0.06/min billed per second, no plan | Free 30 min/mo; $59/mo for 500 min; $319/mo for 500 min and 16 devices; $0.06/min overage |
| Agent interfaces | Hosted MCP, CLI, TypeScript SDK, REST, agent skill | CLI with agent skill, REST API, JavaScript SDK; no MCP server documented |
| Embedding | Live view link for a person | Iframe embeds and a JavaScript SDK |
What it costs
| Minutes a month | Phonebox | Appetize Starter |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $6.00 | $59.00 |
| 500 | $30.00 | $59.00 |
| 1,000 | $60.00 | $89.00 with overage |
Which to choose
- Choose Phonebox for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or your own agent driving Android over MCP, and for phones that stay signed in to real apps.
- Choose Appetize for embedded app previews, iOS simulators, or demos where every visitor gets a fresh device.
See every option in the best cloud phones for AI agents.
Questions
What is the difference between Phonebox and Appetize?
Appetize runs iOS and Android emulators in the browser and through an API. Sessions run in isolated environments that clear when they end, on monthly minute plans. Phonebox gives AI agents cloud Android phones through a hosted MCP server, CLI, SDK and REST. A parked phone keeps its apps and sign-ins, and running time is $0.06 a minute billed per second, with no plan.
Does Appetize have an MCP server?
As of October 9, 2026, Appetize's documentation describes a CLI with an agent skill, a REST API and a JavaScript SDK, but no MCP server. Phonebox's hosted MCP server is at https://phonebox.dev/mcp.
Is Phonebox or Appetize cheaper?
For 500 minutes a month, Phonebox costs $30 and Appetize Starter $59. Above 500 minutes both charge $0.06 a minute, so the plan fee is the difference. Appetize's free plan includes 30 minutes a month; Phonebox's $2 starter credit covers about 33 minutes.