# Argent vs. agent-device

If you are looking at agent-device, you already know what you want: a coding agent that can open your app, tap through it and tell you what it saw.

Argent gives you that too. The difference is what happens once your agent finds a problem. Argent comes with a network inspector and a performance profiler, so the agent sees which requests failed and what froze the screen.

Based on each tool's public documentation, checked October 20, 2026.

## Four places Argent and agent-device differ

### Why the screen froze

Both tools can record a performance trace. Argent also reads it for the agent: each freeze and what to try first.

### The full URL of each request

agent-device reads iOS requests from the system log, which names a URL only when a connection opens. Requests on a reused connection show just the server. On the iOS simulator, Argent records the full URL and status code of your app's requests.

### Fire TV apps

Argent reads a Fire TV app's screen, logs and network requests, and replays saved tests. agent-device can open the app and press remote buttons.

### iOS simulators in the cloud

Argent Cloud runs up to 6 iOS simulators at once for $299 a month, so you don't need more Macs.

## Argent or agent-device: the full list

Most of the basics match. The rows worth a second look are network inspection, native profiling, platforms and the cloud.

| Feature | Argent | agent-device |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Electron and Chromium apps | iOS, Android, HarmonyOS, tvOS, Android TV, Vega OS TV (virtual device), basic web, macOS and Linux |
| Physical devices | iPhones over USB, Android devices over adb | iOS, Android and HarmonyOS devices |
| Frameworks | Any iOS or Android app: Swift, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native or Expo | Native iOS and Android, React Native, Expo and Flutter |
| Inspection | Screenshots and the element tree on demand, native view tree on iOS, plus logs and component tree in React Native apps | Logs, crash details, React component tree via React DevTools, basic JS evaluation |
| Network inspection | URLs and status codes on the iOS simulator, no proxy or certificate. In React Native apps, responses too, also on Android and Fire TV. Not in Flutter apps yet | Read from device logs. On iOS, requests on a reused connection show only the server, and some can be missing |
| React Native render profiling | Slow commits, render cascades, changed props | React DevTools: slow renders, re-render cascades, defeated memoization |
| Native profiling | Instruments on iOS: hotspots and hangs, each with a suggested fix. Perfetto on Android: UI freezes. Works for any app | Traces from xctrace, Perfetto and simpleperf, plus frame-rate and memory snapshots |
| Repeatable tests | Recorded YAML flows with optional screenshot checks, run by the agent or `argent e2e run` in CI | `.ad` replay scripts, a test runner with retries, Maestro YAML import and export |
| Device clouds | BrowserStack, AWS Device Farm, Limrun and TestMu AI, plus Argent Cloud with dedicated iOS simulators at a flat monthly price | BrowserStack, AWS Device Farm, Limrun, TestMu AI or a self-hosted proxy |

Sources: docs.swmansion.com/argent, github.com/callstack/agent-device, agent-device command reference. Checked October 20, 2026.

## Built for AI agents

> Argent has been my favorite way to agentically debug iOS apps. There's 0 setup, no commands to run, or changes to code. I just tell Claude to 'debug with Argent' and it takes it from there.

— [jake harper](https://x.com/notlilj/status/2054033943893021165)

### Built by Software Mansion

We are Software Mansion: we help our clients build software across mobile, web, and beyond, from native iOS and Android to cross-platform apps, open-source projects, and developer tools.

[Read the blog](/blog/)

## agent-device questions, answered

### Is Argent a good agent-device alternative?

For iOS and Android work, yes. The two cover the same loop of open, tap, look and check. Pick Argent if you care most about diagnosis. It records your app's requests on the iOS simulator and turns native traces into a list of problems for any app. On iOS, each problem comes with a suggested fix.

### Does agent-device record native traces?

Yes, with xctrace on Apple platforms and Perfetto and simpleperf on Android. The difference is what happens next: Argent reads the trace for the agent. On iOS it lists CPU hotspots and UI hangs, each with a severity and a suggested fix. On Android it lists the freezes it found.

### Can agent-device see network requests?

Yes, it reads them from device logs. On iOS, the system log names a URL only when a connection opens, so requests on a reused connection show just the server and some can be missing. On Android, it depends on what your app logs. On the iOS simulator, Argent lists your app's requests with their full URLs and status codes, with no proxy and no changes to your app.

### Is agent-device open source?

Yes, under the MIT license. Argent is free to use as well.

### Do Argent and agent-device run on Linux?

For Android, both do. iOS simulators need macOS and Xcode, whichever tool you use.

### How much do Argent and agent-device cost?

Both are free on your own machine. If you want hosted simulators, an Argent Cloud Runner costs $299 a month and runs up to six iOS simulators at once. agent-device's proxy is free and self-hosted, and Callstack offers team device setups through sales.

## Try Argent on the bug you're chasing

One command installs it. Point your agent at the slow screen or the request that keeps failing, and see how far it gets.

- [Get started](/)
- [Read the docs](https://docs.swmansion.com/argent/docs/fundamentals/getting-started)

Features and prices checked October 20, 2026, from argent.swmansion.com, docs.swmansion.com/argent, agent-device.dev and github.com/callstack/agent-device. agent-device is a project of Callstack. React Native, Swift, SwiftUI, Expo, Android, and Flutter are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Use of these names does not imply endorsement.