Ubuntu-based infinite canvas OS where your desktop apps sit as windows on a zoomable whiteboard, with shared team canvases and up to 10 AI agents that drive their own cursors. Pricing, the evidence and the alternatives, checked Oct 2026.
Closed source. No public repository.
New & indie Early tool, few public reviews yet. Badge drops once it builds a track record.
Ubuntu-based infinite canvas OS where your desktop apps sit as windows on a zoomable whiteboard, with shared team canvases and up to 10 AI agents that drive their own cursors.
Best for
People who want to watch AI agents work across real desktop apps on a canvas, and small teams that want to share one live computer instead of screen sharing.
Red flags
AI agents are always paid ($0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credit packs, on every plan) and send screenshots and instructions to OpenAI, with no local agent option yet; the full OS install replaces what's on the PC, and the Windows/Intel Mac app runs it in a VM (8 GB RAM, 32 GB disk, expect some lag); young product (launched Sept 2026) with a young X account; GitHub org has no public repos; closed source.
Price
AI agents $0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credits on every plan; Pro $10/mo for unlimited canvases, Team $20/mo per userNo free tier
Opening line: “Plan a 3-day ski trip: split it into flights, lodging and rentals, give each part to its own agent and add the totals to a sheet.”
Novastart: Ubuntu-based infinite canvas OS where your desktop apps sit as windows on a zoomable whiteboard, with shared team canvases and up to 10 AI agents that drive their own cursors. Best for people who want to watch AI agents work across real desktop apps on a canvas, and small teams that want to share one live computer instead of screen sharing. Watch out for: AI agents are always paid ($0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credit packs, on every plan) and send screenshots and instructions to OpenAI, with no local agent option yet; the full OS install replaces what's on the PC, and the Windows/Intel Mac app runs it in a VM (8 GB RAM, 32 GB disk, expect some lag); young product (launched Sept 2026) with a young X account; GitHub org has no public repos; closed source. Price: AI agents $0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credits on every plan; Pro $10/mo for unlimited canvases, Team $20/mo per user (no free tier, checked Oct 2026).
Note: Local for the OS, cloud (OpenAI) for the agents. The OS and the app keep your canvases, folders and apps on your own machine, and shared canvases stream machine to machine. The optional AI agents send the screenshots and instructions they need to OpenAI (confirmed by the maker and the privacy policy), and each run's log stays on your machine. The canvas itself has a free plan capped at 1 folder, 2 canvases and 4 windows per canvas; Pro ($10/mo) removes the caps and Team ($20/mo per user) adds shared canvases. Agents cost $0.02 per use on every plan, bought in $25 prepaid credit packs, so the AI agent part is never free. Two ways to run it: Novastart OS installs on an x86 PC and replaces what's on it (an Ubuntu package adds it to an existing Ubuntu desktop), or the app runs it in a window on Windows 10/11 or an Intel Mac (8 GB RAM, about 32 GB disk, hardware virtualization on). Made by Marketplace Distributors LLC, Manhattan Beach, CA; co-founders Thomas Fraher (CTO) and Nick Fraher. Contact support@novastart.com.
Free tier
No free plan
Job in a stack
AI agent, infinite canvas OS with computer-use agents
Cheapest paid plan
AI agents $0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credits; Pro $10/mo, Team $20/mo per user
Nous Research's open-source agent with memory, skills and a desktop app. Best for a self-hosted agent that learns your projects, on desktop or a server.
Free AI assistant you share with family and friends in group chats. Best for families and friend groups who want one shared assistant for calendars, trips and errands.
Questions people ask
Is Novastart free?
No free tier. Cheapest paid plan: AI agents $0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credits on every plan; Pro $10/mo for unlimited canvases, Team $20/mo per user (checked Oct 2026).
What is Novastart best for?
People who want to watch AI agents work across real desktop apps on a canvas, and small teams that want to share one live computer instead of screen sharing.
What are the downsides of Novastart?
AI agents are always paid ($0.02 per use from $25 prepaid credit packs, on every plan) and send screenshots and instructions to OpenAI, with no local agent option yet; the full OS install replaces what's on the PC, and the Windows/Intel Mac app runs it in a VM (8 GB RAM, 32 GB disk, expect some lag); young product (launched Sept 2026) with a young X account; GitHub org has no public repos; closed source.