# Argent Cloud vs Perfecto If your AI agents need to run iOS apps, they’ll need access to Apple hardware. Argent Cloud offers cloud-based iOS simulators running on dedicated Mac hardware for a flat monthly fee. Perfecto by Perforce, on the other hand, provides a broader testing platform that includes real and virtual devices, along with AI-powered scriptless testing, with pricing available by custom quote. Considering Perfecto alternatives for iOS simulator testing? Here’s how the two compare. Disclosure: Argent Cloud is built by Software Mansion. Prices and plan terms are based on the public pages linked in this comparison. - Argent Cloud: $299/mo (Per runner · up to 6 parallel simulators) - Perfecto: Custom quote (From 2 parallel executions · 12-month minimum term) USD, before tax. Perfecto doesn’t publish prices. Its plan terms come from Perfecto’s Build a Quote page. ## Perfecto vs Argent Cloud pricing Perfecto doesn’t publish its prices, so you’ll need to request a custom quote. Automated plans start at two parallel executions, and subscriptions have a 12-month minimum. Perfecto provides access to real and virtual devices, including iOS simulators, as part of its broader testing platform. Argent Cloud offers cloud-based iOS simulators on dedicated Mac hardware for a flat $299 per runner per month. Our benchmarks found that four simulators per runner delivered the best performance, though each runner supports up to six at the same price. ## Argent Cloud vs Perfecto: how do they compare Perfecto covers more testing scenarios, while Argent Cloud focuses on iOS simulators for AI agents and CI. | Feature | Argent Cloud | Perfecto | | --- | --- | --- | | Best for | AI agents and CI that need iOS simulators | Enterprise testing on real and virtual devices | | iOS simulators | Up to 6 per runner; 4 performed best in Argent’s benchmarks | Single-use emulators and simulators in the Perfecto cloud | | Pricing | $299 per runner/month, listed publicly | Custom quote, licensed by parallel executions | | Testing minutes | Unlimited | Set in your quote | | Hardware | Dedicated Apple hardware for your runner | Public cloud, or a private cloud for enterprise customers | | AI agent access | Open-source Argent toolkit and MCP integration | Perfecto MCP server for AI Scriptless tests | | Testing frameworks | Appium, Maestro, Argent E2E | Selenium, Appium, XCUITest, Espresso, and more | | Local development | Two-way port tunnels for local development servers | Perfecto Connect for debugging against a local instance of your app | | Physical iPhones and iPads | Not included | Real devices in the public or private cloud | | Android | Not currently offered | Android real devices and emulators | | Desktop browsers | Not included | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more | | Getting started | Self-serve for up to 5 runners; connection details within 2 business days | Quote or custom demo; 12-month minimum term | Feature availability and plan limits can change. Check the linked product documentation before purchasing. ## Where Argent Cloud stands out ### One price for long-running workloads AI agents can run tests, retry failures, and keep sessions open for hours. With Argent Cloud, you pay $299 per runner per month, no matter how many tests you run. ### Dedicated Apple hardware Each runner uses Apple hardware reserved for your workload. Your simulators aren’t sharing a host with other customers, helping keep the environment predictable. ### A familiar development workflow Argent Cloud supports port tunnels that connect remote simulators to local development servers, including Metro. That means you can keep using your existing development workflow, including hot reload. The `sim-remote simctl` command works as a drop-in for nearly all `xcrun simctl` commands, and it uploads local files such as app bundles for you. ### Ready for agent-driven development Argent Cloud lets AI agents connect to remote iOS simulators over the network. The open-source Argent toolkit provides one way to control and inspect apps, while existing testing tools such as Appium and Maestro can also be used. ## When Perfecto is the better fit Argent Cloud focuses on iOS simulators, so it won’t cover every testing need on its own. You can also use both products together: Argent Cloud for daily iOS simulator work and CI, with Perfecto for real-device testing or broader QA coverage. ### Physical devices Perfecto offers real devices alongside virtual ones. ### More platforms Perfecto covers Android and desktop browser testing alongside iOS. Android is coming to Argent Cloud soon. ### Scriptless testing Perfecto’s AI Scriptless tests let teams create and run tests without writing code, and its MCP server works with them. ### Enterprise requirements Enterprise customers can run their own private device cloud and get priority support. ## Built to give AI agents access to iOS > When we started experimenting with cloud-based agents, we ran into a practical problem: iOS simulators run on Apple hardware, while many cloud agents run on Linux. > > Our agents could write code, but they needed a way to launch the app and check whether it worked. Existing options didn’t fit our needs, so we built Argent Cloud. ### Built by Software Mansion We are Software Mansion, a software development company for mobile apps, web, and AI. We help our clients build software from MVP to production, from native iOS and Android to cross-platform apps, open-source projects, and developer tools. Argent Cloud works with Argent, our open-source toolkit for controlling, debugging, and profiling mobile apps. You can also connect existing testing tools such as Appium and Maestro. [Read how Argent Cloud works](/blog/argent-cloud-overview-let-your-agents-run-ios-simulators-in-the-cloud/) ## FAQ ### Is Argent Cloud a good Perfecto alternative? It is if most of your testing runs on iOS simulators, for example AI agents checking their own changes or iOS tests in CI. If you need physical devices, a private device cloud, or scriptless testing, Argent Cloud won’t replace Perfecto, but you can use the two together. ### Who are Perfecto’s main competitors? Common Perfecto competitors include Sauce Labs, BrowserStack, TestMu AI (formerly LambdaTest), Kobiton, and AWS Device Farm. We compare these tools in our guide to [BrowserStack alternatives for iOS testing](/blog/7-best-browserstack-alternatives-for-ios-testing/). ### Can I use Argent Cloud and Perfecto together? Yes. Use Argent Cloud for daily iOS simulator work and CI, and Perfecto when you need physical devices or its broader testing capabilities. ### Do I need Argent to use Argent Cloud? No. Argent Cloud provides network-accessible iOS simulators. Argent is one way to connect an AI agent, but you can also use Appium, Maestro, or Argent E2E for end-to-end tests. ### Can I use my existing test suite? Argent Cloud supports Appium, Maestro, and Argent E2E. Our team can help you connect your CI and agents during onboarding. ### What if I need more simulators? One runner supports up to six simulators. In Argent’s benchmarks, four performed best on a single runner. If you need more capacity, you can add another runner for $299 per month. Self-serve checkout covers up to five runners, but you can contact the sales team to discuss larger setups. ### How quickly can I get started? Connection details are usually provided within two business days of ordering. Once connected, your agents can access the simulators from macOS, Linux, or a cloud sandbox. ## Give your agents a way to run iOS apps Run iOS simulators on dedicated Apple hardware for $299 a month and test as much as you need. - [Order a runner](/cloud/pricing/#order) - [Talk to sales](/cloud/pricing/#contact) Argent Cloud by Software Mansion. Perfecto and Perforce are trademarks of their respective owner. Competitor pricing and feature details checked October 16, 2026.