ML.ai

Factory’s Droids can run aloneML.ai asks before each action

Factory’s Droids work from the command line, desktop, web, mobile, Slack and Teams, up to Missions for long-running work. ML.ai works in your editor and asks before each action.

Install ML.aiSee pricing

The same failing test, handled by each product

A Droid works at the autonomy level you set. ML.ai routes each step and stops for your approval before it edits.

Same request, both products

“Fix the failing test”

Factory.ai

  1. 1Droid reads the repo

    Autonomy set ahead of time

  2. 2Edits files

    Low and upNo per-edit prompt

  3. 3Runs commands

    Risk-tieredBlocklist always refused
  • Change ready
  • The autonomy level decides what asks

ML.aiML.ai

  1. 1Routes each step

    Read and traceFast model

    Write the fixFlagship model

    Run the testsPassed

  2. 2Asks before the edit

    Diff openedAllow, Always or Deny
  • Nothing is written until you allow it

Droids that act alone, or one agent that asks

Factory.ai

Configurable agents across the command line, desktop, web, mobile, Slack, Teams, Jira, Linear and CI. Four autonomy levels run from read-only up to High, where high-risk actions run unless a safety check stops them.

ML.ai

An agent in VS Code, Cursor and a desktop app. Explore and Architect read and plan without changing code, Build makes the change, and each action waits for your approval by default.

How much should a coding agent do without asking

Let agents act alone

Factory.ai

Use this if

You want to hand off well-defined tasks end to end, from Slack, Linear or CI, and you’re willing to set autonomy levels and blocklists so they run unattended.

Approve each step

ML.ai

Use this if

You want each edit and command to wait for your approval by default, inside the editor, with a measured benchmark result behind the agent.

see how ML.ai compares with Claude Code on cost per task

Every claim, side by side

The same categories, row by row. Every line on both sides comes from a doc, pricing page or published benchmark.

What it is

Factory.ai

Configurable agents ("Droids") across the command line, desktop, web, mobile, Slack, Teams, Jira, Linear and CI.

ML.aiML.ai

An agent in a VS Code and Cursor extension and a desktop app.

Build and Plan run the session, with General, Explore, Architect and Plan subagents.

Factory.ai

Missions handle long-running, multi-phase work.

ML.aiML.ai

Background runs delegate a job to its own session, labeled "can change files" or "read-only".

Autonomy & safety

Factory.ai

Set per use: Off (read-only), Low (edits and low-risk commands), Medium (reversible changes, commits) or High (high-risk actions unless a safety check requires approval).

ML.aiML.ai

Ask is the default: each action waits for Allow, Always or Deny, with a diff before supported edits.

Auto answers for you, and sudo or deletes that can’t be proven safe are refused in every mode.

read more about ML.ai’s permission prompts

Factory.ai

Commands are risk-tiered against the autonomy level.

A blocked command is refused with no approval path, even with --skip-permissions-unsafe.

ML.aiML.ai

Every shell command is classified by what it does before it runs.

In Ask mode, Git writes are refused, and reading ~/.ssh keys or ~/.aws/credentials is always refused.

Plans & security

Factory.ai

Pro $20, Plus $100 and Max $200 a month.

Teams is $60 a month plus $40 per seat. Business and Enterprise are through sales.

ML.aiML.ai

Infinite $10, Infinite Pro $20 and Infinite Max $40 a month, priced by jobs in parallel (2, 6 or 20).

India pays in rupees. Team is $29 per seat a month, billed annually with a 5-seat minimum. Enterprise is a custom contract with self-hosted or VPC deployment.

Factory.ai

SOC 2 (Type I, per its announcement), ISO 42001, GDPR and CCPA, per its security page.

ML.aiML.ai

SOC 2 and ISO 27001, as listed on ml.ai.

Where each one falls short

ML.ai’s own limits sit beside theirs, with the same weight.

Where Factory.ai is limited

At High autonomy, high-risk actions run without a prompt unless a safety check intervenes, so the setting has to be right before the run starts.

Factory’s security page lists SOC 2 Type I, which checks controls at one point in time.

Type II checks them over a period.

The public pricing page doesn’t mention a free trial.

or how Entelligence.ai routes for agents it doesn’t build

FAQs

Can ML.ai run unattended like a Droid at High autonomy?

Partly. ML.ai’s Auto mode answers approvals for you, but sudo and deletes that can’t be proven safe are still refused, and there’s no CLI or CI mode to start a run without the editor or desktop app.

What does ML.ai ask about by default?

In Ask, the default, writes, network access and running programs ask first, and Git writes are refused. Read-only commands run without a prompt.

How do the prices compare?

ML.ai’s individual plans are $10, $20 and $40 a month, and Team is $29 per seat. Factory’s start at $20 a month, and Teams is $60 a month plus $40 per seat.

Try ML.ai in the editor you already use

Install the extension or the desktop app, sign in once, and approve every change it makes.

Download ML.aiSee pricing