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Their viewers must log in. Ours open a link.
Sauce Labs' 2026 move is the most interesting legacy play: a Real Device Access API (programmable devices over HTTP, ADB/xcrun commands, 24h sessions) with a hosted MCP server and IDE plugins. For agent-adjacent device control on real hardware, they're ahead of every other legacy cloud.
But it's an add-on on private devices at enterprise pricing, viewers still log in, there's no build step, no TV/Roku, no share-with-the-world links — and Live starts at $39 for one parallel.
$ sidekick agent-setup # skill + MCP, one command $ sidekick xcode build . --scheme MyApp # no Mac needed $ sidekick ios create # agent drives, you watch in the browser
| What you are deciding | Sidekick | Sauce Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Build | ||
| Remote Xcode build (no Mac needed) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Android / Gradle cloud build | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Signing handled (certs, profiles, keystores) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Store submit from terminal (TestFlight + Play)Sidekick: TestFlight today; Play roadmap Q1 | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ❌ No |
| Devices | ||
| iOS simulators | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Android emulators + adb tunnel | ✅ Yes | ➖ Partial |
| Apple TV / tvOS + Android TV | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Roku (real hardware)Sidekick: Beta hardware pool Q1 | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ❌ No |
| Foldables (posture + rotate verbs)Sidekick: iPhone Duo-style hinge API | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ❌ No |
| Real physical devices | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Agent control | ||
| CLI with device verbs (tap, type, screenshot) | ✅ Yes | ➖ Partial |
| Agent skill file (skill install) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| MCP server | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| UI / accessibility tree reads | ✅ Yes | ➖ Partial |
| Batch actions (ms precision) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Session video recordingSidekick: Per-step screenshots today; video roadmap | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ✅ Yes |
| App logs + network captureSidekick: App logs today; network capture roadmap | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ✅ Yes |
| Sharing | ||
| Live share links (no login needed) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Embeddable player (iframe / SDK) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Live collaboration + human takeover | ✅ Yes | ➖ Partial |
| Testing | ||
| Record once, replay everywhereSidekick: Recorder beta Q1 | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ❌ No |
| Visual regression per stepSidekick: Ships with recorder | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ✅ Yes |
| AI / plain-English testingSidekick: Agent-fix on moved elements | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ➖ Partial |
| CI runner + GitHub checksSidekick: Actions + checks Q1 | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ✅ Yes |
| Platform | ||
| Self-hostable (BYO Mac minis) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Source-available (FSL → Apache-2.0) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Public pricing + free tier, no card | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Per-instance sandbox tokens + region pinSidekick: Tokens today; regions roadmap | 🛣️ In Roadmap | ➖ Partial |
✅ Yes · 🛣️ In Roadmap = public, dated, lands in the open (self-host nightlies available) · ➖ Partial · ❌ No. Sauce Labs claims checked 27 Sep 2026 at https://saucelabs.com. Sauce Labs pricing: Live $39/mo · Virtual $149/mo · Real $199/mo per parallel.
The Access API exposes ADB/xcrun, files, video and logs over HTTP with MCP surroundings. The closest any legacy vendor gets to 'the device as a tool' — on real hardware, which we don't offer.
SSO, IPSec proxy, private clouds, analytics, frameworks from Appium to Robotium. Regulated-industry checkboxes we haven't printed yet.
You need real hardware with API-level control: Sauce Access API on private devices. If scripts must touch real sensors via HTTP today, that's the product.
A designer must open the session without a login: Sidekick share links need no account. Sauce viewers log in — the whole argument of this page.
An agent must build from source first: Sauce takes binaries. Sidekick compiles on hosted Macs, then drives.
Budget is one parallel or less: Sauce Real starts at $199/mo per parallel. Sidekick Team is $39/mo for the org with 500 minutes included.
Yes — a hosted MCP server plus IDE plugins arrived with the 2026 Access API. Sidekick also ships MCP (stdio + HTTP) but pairs it with builds, share links and a skill file, not just device control.
Viewers need Sauce logins. Sidekick generates signed stream URLs anyone can open — the PR-reviewer use case both vendors describe, only one delivers without seats.
No. Sidekick's loop starts at git push: build, install, drive, verify, submit.
Published Sep 2026 · Sauce Labs homepage and docs verified 27 Sep 2026 ·t Scores count roadmap as delivered because every roadmap item is public, dated and source-available.