# cua vs daytona
_Agent Infrastructure · independent comparison_

> cua and daytona are both open-source agent infrastructure you can self-host for free. daytona has wider GitHub adoption — 72k stars vs 21k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**cua**
- Open source · Infrastructure · 21k★ · Python · MIT · active today
- Best for: Background computer-use across macOS, Windows, and Linux without stealing focus.
- Avoid if: You need a runtime older than Python 3.11.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/cua) · [official](https://cua.ai)

**daytona**
- Open source · Infrastructure · 72k★ · active 10 days ago
- Best for: Running AI-generated code in secure, elastic sandboxes.
- Avoid if: You just need local execution without isolation requirements.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/daytona) · [official](https://daytona.io)

## Key differences

- daytona has wider GitHub adoption — 72k stars vs 21k.

## Which to choose

**Choose cua if:** Background computer-use across macOS, Windows, and Linux without stealing focus.

**Choose daytona if:** Running AI-generated code in secure, elastic sandboxes.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between cua and daytona?**
daytona has wider GitHub adoption — 72k stars vs 21k.

**Is cua or daytona better?**
Neither is universally better. cua is the stronger fit for Background computer-use across macOS, Windows, and Linux without stealing focus; daytona for Running AI-generated code in secure, elastic sandboxes. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is cua or daytona free?**
cua is free to run and self-host; daytona is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, cua or daytona?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — daytona is ahead (72k vs 21k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/cua-vs-daytona