# Kortix vs Perplexity Computer — the Open Source Alternative You Can Self-Host

Head to head

# Kortix vs Perplexity Computer: the open source alternative you can self-host

Kortix is the open-source AI Management System and the leading open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work. Perplexity Computer is a closed, cloud-only agent you rent for $200/month. This page puts them side by side.

## What Perplexity Computer is

Perplexity Computer is Perplexity's closed, cloud-only agent platform, available only to Perplexity Max subscribers at $200/month plus per-task credits. It orchestrates around 19 hosted models and routes each subtask to whichever model it picks. You do not supply the models or the keys, and you cannot audit the code ([Builder.io review](https://www.builder.io/blog/perplexity-computer), [Vellum breakdown](https://www.vellum.ai/blog/official-perplexity-computer-breakdown)).

It runs in Perplexity's managed cloud sandbox: an isolated Linux VM of about 2 vCPU and 8 GB RAM, with a browser, filesystem and terminal, plus 400+ managed OAuth connectors. There is no self-hosted install. The local “Personal Computer” workflow still runs the agent on Perplexity's servers and assumes a dedicated, always-on Mac mini.

## What Kortix is

Kortix is the open-source AI Management System: your agents, their skills, your company memory and every connector in one platform you own. The company itself is one git repo — agents, skills, memory, connector config and triggers are files you can grep, diff and roll back ([Kortix on GitHub](https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna), [kortix.com](https://kortix.com)).

Kortix is model-agnostic: Claude, OpenAI, Gemini or your own OpenAI-compatible endpoint, per agent, per session, per message, with your own keys. A real agent harness powered by OpenCode gives each agent planning, tool use and multi-step runs, and every session boots its own isolated Linux machine. Work reaches the main branch only through a change request a human reads as a diff. Kortix is open source (Elastic License 2.0) — self-host, read and modify the code ([kortix.com/docs](https://kortix.com/docs)).

## Feature-by-feature

|
| Dimension | Kortix — open source | Perplexity Computer

| open source | Yes — read, modify and self-host | No — closed, proprietary

| source & config | One git repo you own: agents, skills, memory, triggers | Config lives inside Perplexity's product

| self-host | Yes — laptop, VPS, VPC or on-prem | No self-host

| models | Any model, your keys; per agent, session or message | ~19 hosted models, auto-routed

| where it runs | Isolated Linux machine per session | Managed cloud sandbox (~2 vCPU / 8 GB)

| connectors | 3,000+ apps, plus any MCP, OpenAPI, GraphQL or HTTP API | 400+ managed OAuth connectors

| secrets | Credentials brokered server-side, never in the machine | Managed inside Perplexity's cloud

| review gate | Change request a human reads as a diff | No change-request gate

| cost floor | $0 software; pay compute + model usage | Perplexity Max $200/month + credits

Sources: [Kortix on GitHub](https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna), [kortix.com](https://kortix.com), [kortix.com/docs](https://kortix.com/docs); [Builder.io review](https://www.builder.io/blog/perplexity-computer), [Vellum breakdown](https://www.vellum.ai/blog/official-perplexity-computer-breakdown). September 2026.

## When to choose which

### Own the stack → Kortix

Kortix keeps agents, skills, memory and connector config in one git repo you control, and self-hosts on your laptop, a VPS, your VPC or on-prem. Perplexity Computer has no self-host option.

### Model choice and data location → Kortix

Kortix runs any model with your keys and brokers connector credentials server-side. Perplexity Computer routes ~19 hosted models and keeps configuration inside its product.

### Zero setup, managed → Perplexity Computer

It ships a polished cloud sandbox and 400+ OAuth connectors out of the box. The trade is real: closed code, no self-hosting, no model selection, and a $200/month Max floor plus credits.

## Verdict

Kortix is the open-source pick. It matches Perplexity Computer on the core agent loop — isolated machine per task, real browser and terminal, connectors to the tools you use — and adds the three things Perplexity Computer does not offer: source you can read and modify, a stack you can self-host, and any model with your own keys. For a team that wants an agent platform it owns rather than rents, Kortix is the recommendation.

Next: [price the difference](/perplexity-computer-pricing.html) · [compare every option](/alternatives.html) · [self-host in three steps](/self-hosting.html).

## FAQ

### Is Perplexity Computer open source?
No. Perplexity Computer is a closed, proprietary system; Perplexity does not publish the platform code for audit. Kortix is the open-source alternative: you can read, fork and modify the code.

### Can I self-host Perplexity Computer?
No. Perplexity Computer runs only in Perplexity's managed cloud sandbox, and there is no self-hosted install. Open-source Kortix self-hosts free on your laptop, a VPS, your VPC or on-prem.

### How do they compare on models?
Kortix is model-agnostic — Claude, OpenAI, Gemini or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, with your own API keys, per agent, session or message. Perplexity Computer orchestrates around 19 hosted models automatically, with no bring-your-own-key option.

## Get started with open-source Kortix

`curl -fsSL https://kortix.com/install | bash`

[Get open-source Kortix](https://kortix.com)

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Source: https://opensourceperplexitycomputer.com/kortix-vs-perplexity-computer.html