# CowAgent vs Skydive

> CowAgent scores 58.7 (C) to Skydive's 52.1 (D) for proactive personal assistants. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive.md (~4,050 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive.min.md (~730 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-10-31

CowAgent scores 58.7 (C) on agent readiness against Skydive's 52.1 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Skydive leads on schema & documentation, security & auth and transparency & trust. Both do proactive personal assistants.

- CowAgent: grade C, 58.7/100, rank #673 of 1244. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json
- Skydive: grade D, 52.1/100, rank #899 of 1244. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/skydive.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/skydive.json
- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md
- All 1245 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md

## Which one, for what

### CowAgent (C)

Good for: One technical owner who wants an assistant on WeChat, Feishu, DingTalk, Telegram, Slack or Discord with memory in local files and a choice of Chinese and Western model providers.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 84 against 41
- Payments & pricing, 60 against 35
- Maintenance & community, 83 against 56

Also in its favour:
- Open source

Watch for: Source and Docker installs default to full-access, and no mode asks the owner before a shell command, a file send or an MCP call

### Skydive (D)

Good for: A person or team who wants hosted agents with their own cloud computers, memory and connected apps, reachable in Slack, email, text and a CLI, and who can drive them from scripts through the CLI.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 81 against 67
- Security & auth, 59 against 43
- Transparency & trust, 75 against 47

Also in its favour:
- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install

Watch for: The API has no operation for sending an agent a task. That runs through the CLI's `chat -p`, outside the OpenAPI contract.


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | CowAgent | Skydive | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 84 | 41 | CowAgent +43 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 81 | Skydive +14 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 59 | 59 | even |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 43 | 59 | Skydive +16 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 35 | CowAgent +25 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 83 | 56 | CowAgent +27 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 47 | 75 | Skydive +28 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -5 | -5 | |
| **Total** | | **58.7 · C** | **52.1 · D** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | CowAgent | Skydive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Agent harness | Platform |
| Vendor | zhayujie | Create, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.skydive.com/v1` |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | MIT | Closed service under the Skydive Terms of Service (Create, Inc.), effective 29 July 2026. The skydive-cli npm package is published under the MIT licence. |
| Read-only variant documented | yes | yes |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-09-30 | 2026-08-26 |
| Terms last updated | no document linked | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict automated access |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms or service can change without notice |  | couldn't be read |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | couldn't be read |
| Popularity | 47k stars | 5.5k npm/wk |

## Verdicts

**CowAgent.** MIT software with seven releases in 90 days, memory kept as plain files in the owner's workspace and three per-session permission modes. Source and Docker installs default to full-access, no action asks for approval, and an open report of 31 July 2026 says group members could reach the owner's files through the bot.

**Skydive.** Skydive publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 document, Markdown docs and scoped, agent-bound API keys, though outside agents can send it tasks only through the CLI. Its status page records several major incidents, including a 25-hour Agent Hosting outage, and its home and pricing pages say data is never used for training while the privacy policy turns training on by default.

## Before you call either

### CowAgent

1. Set `agent_permission_mode` to `workspace-write` or `read-only` before connecting any channel. Source and Docker installs default to `full-access`
2. Keep the bot out of group chats that include other people. Any member who mentions it reaches the same tools as the owner
3. Set `web_password` before changing `web_host` to `0.0.0.0`. The password is empty by default
4. Set `external_api_token` to enable `POST /v1/chat/completions`, and send `conversation_id` to keep one session. The `model` field does not select a model
5. Run it in a container for a hard boundary. The docs and the source both say the permission modes are not isolation

### Skydive

1. Send tasks with `skydive chat -p "..." --agent <id> --json` and pass `--conversation <id>` from the JSON to keep context. The REST API can't send a task.
2. Don't retry `chat -p` or a create blindly after a timeout. There's no idempotency key, so list agents or keys before retrying.
3. Ask the owner for an agent-bound `use` key when you only need to read. Account-level `edit` keys can create agents and mint keys.
4. Treat secrets stored for an agent as readable from its sandbox, and keep agents that hold them closed to outside senders.
5. Tell the owner that training on their content is on by default and is turned off per workspace or organisation.

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, CowAgent or Skydive?

CowAgent scores 58.7 (C) on agent readiness against Skydive's 52.1 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Skydive leads on schema & documentation, security & auth and transparency & trust.

### Are CowAgent and Skydive open source?

CowAgent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for Skydive.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-skydive.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "cowagent", "b": "skydive"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cowagent skydive`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/skydive.json

## Other comparisons with CowAgent or Skydive

- [asaply vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-cowagent.md)
- [asaply vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-skydive.md)
- [Asmi vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Asmi vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-skydive.md)
- [Boba vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Boba vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-skydive.md)
- [Brea vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Brea vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-skydive.md)
- [CowAgent vs Del](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-del.md)
- [CowAgent vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hirealpha.md)
- [CowAgent vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openinstinct.md)
- [CowAgent vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orbits.md)
- [CowAgent vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [CowAgent vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-szn.md)
- [CowAgent vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [CowAgent vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zapia.md)
- [Del vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-skydive.md)
- [HireAlpha vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-skydive.md)
- [OpenInstinct vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openinstinct-vs-skydive.md)
- [Orbits vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-skydive.md)
- [Orchid vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-skydive.md)
- [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md)
- [AstrBot vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-skydive.md)
- [Boski vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Boski vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-skydive.md)
- [Caddy vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Caddy vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-skydive.md)
- [Claude Duet vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Claude Duet vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-skydive.md)
- [CowAgent vs folk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-folk-nozomio.md)
- [CowAgent vs GAIA](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gaia.md)
- [CowAgent vs Gemini Spark](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gemini-spark.md)
- [CowAgent vs Grok Bot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-grok-bot.md)
- [CowAgent vs Haven](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-haven.md)
- [CowAgent vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent.md)
- [CowAgent vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-instinct.md)
- [CowAgent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-leon.md)
- [CowAgent vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lindy.md)
- [CowAgent vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.md)
- [CowAgent vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanobot.md)
- [CowAgent vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanoclaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openai-dots.md)
- [CowAgent vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openclaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs OpenDuet](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openduet.md)
- [CowAgent vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-picoclaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-poke.md)
- [CowAgent vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-qwenpaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs Tasker AI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tasker-ai.md)
- [CowAgent vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-town.md)
- [CowAgent vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [CowAgent vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [folk vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-skydive.md)
- [GAIA vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-skydive.md)
- [Gemini Spark vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-skydive.md)
- [Grok Bot vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-skydive.md)
- [Haven vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-skydive.md)
- [Hermes Agent vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-skydive.md)
- [Instinct vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-skydive.md)
- [IronClaw vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-skydive.md)
- [Leon vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-skydive.md)
- [Lindy vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-skydive.md)
- [nanobot vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-skydive.md)
- [NanoClaw vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-skydive.md)
- [Dots vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-skydive.md)
- [OpenClaw vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-skydive.md)
- [OpenDuet vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openduet-vs-skydive.md)
- [PicoClaw vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-skydive.md)
- [Poke vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-skydive.md)
- [QwenPaw vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-skydive.md)
- [Atticus vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/atticus-vs-cowagent.md)
- [Atticus vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/atticus-vs-skydive.md)
- [CowAgent vs DeepTutor](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-deeptutor.md)
- [CowAgent vs Hark Pro](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hark-pro.md)
- [CowAgent vs LearnHarness](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-learnharness.md)
- [CowAgent vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-talorys.md)
- [DeepTutor vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deeptutor-vs-skydive.md)
- [Hark Pro vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hark-pro-vs-skydive.md)
- [LearnHarness vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/learnharness-vs-skydive.md)
- [Skydive vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-szn.md)
- [Skydive vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [Skydive vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-talorys.md)
- [Skydive vs Tasker AI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-tasker-ai.md)
- [Skydive vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-tomo.md)
- [Skydive vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-town.md)
- [Skydive vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-wajo.md)
- [Skydive vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-zapia.md)
- [Skydive vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [Skydive vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skydive-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [CowAgent vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-natura.md)
- [CowAgent vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-pally.md)
- [CowAgent vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tomo.md)
- [CowAgent vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-wajo.md)
- [Lobby vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-skydive.md)
- [Natura tinyNature vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/natura-vs-skydive.md)
- [Pally vs Skydive](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pally-vs-skydive.md)

## Disclosure

- Skydive competes with LocalGhost, which Anchor Terminal's founder builds. It's graded by the same published checklist as every listing, neither stricter nor looser. Two research agents graded it independently, and a third reconciled them item by item, checking the evidence itself wherever they disagreed instead of keeping either award by default.

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp