MATLAB online alternative

Run MATLAB-syntax math in your browser

RunMat executes MATLAB-syntax code locally in your browser with GPU acceleration when available. No account, no license server, no install.

Need another installer? View all download options.

Why people look beyond MATLAB Online

MATLAB Online runs through MathWorks-hosted compute in the browser. Basic access is free; full access depends on a linked license. Basic access includes 20 hours per month with 15-minute continuous compute and 15-minute idle-time limits. As of August 2026. That is convenient for some work, but engineers and students still hit friction:

Account required

Basic access requires a MathWorks Account. Full access depends on an eligible linked license.

Idle timeouts & hour caps

Basic access includes 20 hours per month with 15-minute continuous compute and 15-minute idle-time limits. As of August 2026.

Cloud dependency

Files and execution use MathWorks-hosted compute and storage rather than running on your browser device.

Hosted compute

The browser session does not use your laptop or workstation GPU. Separate cloud-cluster workflows require additional setup and licensed products.

Toolbox access depends on license

Basic MATLAB Online includes 10 commonly used products. Full product access depends on your linked license. As of August 2026.

Separate AI setup

MATLAB Copilot is a desktop feature. MathWorks' Agentic Toolkit connects supported third-party agents to an installed MATLAB environment. RunMat puts its agent inside the browser workspace with your variables and plots.

Meet RunMat: no license required

RunMat is an open-source runtime for MATLAB-syntax math. In the browser, your code runs on your own device through WebAssembly, with GPU acceleration in browsers that support WebGPU.

Built-in agent

Describe the math, attach an image or project file, or open optional read-only root-cause analysis after a failed run. The agent can inspect workspace variables and plots, then return code changes as a diff.

No account required

Open the sandbox and start coding immediately. No sign-up, no license key.

Client-side execution

Your code compiles to WebAssembly and runs locally in your browser. Nothing leaves your device unless you save to the cloud, and after the initial page load it works offline.

GPU acceleration on any vendor

Metal on Mac, Vulkan on Linux, DirectX 12 on Windows. WebGPU in the browser. No CUDA dependency.

Learn more

Interactive 2D & 3D plotting

GPU-rendered surfaces you can rotate, zoom, and pan. Plots live in the same computation chain as your math.

Type & shape tracking

Hover any variable to see its dimensions. Mismatched matrix sizes get red underlines before you run.

An engineering team, working alongside you

RunMat's agent writes MATLAB-syntax code, runs it in the same runtime, inspects workspace and plot state, and returns each change as a reviewable diff.

Runtime-aware inspection

Checks tensors for NaN, verifies shapes against expected dimensions, and reads plot data from any 3D camera angle.

Every change is reviewable

Edits are presented as diffs. Accept or reject each change. Conversations are stored as searchable project files.

Try a prompt in the browser

Open a runnable sandbox session with starter code and an agent prompt already loaded.

Animate a wave surface

Visualize two interfering waves on a square membrane and animate the surface.

Sweep an oscillator

Turn this damped oscillator into a parameter sweep and overlay the results.

Debug a shape error

Debug a matrix dimension mismatch, explain the fix, and return corrected code.

How it works

Get started in three simple steps.

1

Open the sandbox

Go to runmat.com/sandbox. The editor loads in your browser; no account or license needed.

2

Write code, or ask the agent

Type MATLAB-syntax code directly, or describe what you want to compute and let the built-in agent write it for you.

3

Run and iterate

Execute on the RunMat runtime with GPU acceleration when available. Inspect plots and variables, then iterate until the math is right.

Every change versioned in persistent projects.

RunMat Pro includes per-file history, full project snapshots, and private project sharing. The free browser sandbox remains temporary; creating an account starts a 14-day Pro trial. See plan details.

Automatic file history

Browse the timeline and restore any previous state. No commits, no staging area.

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Project snapshots

Capture your entire project in one click. Restore instantly, even across terabyte-scale datasets.

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App project sharing

Share projects with colleagues instantly. No shared drives, no emailing files back and forth.

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The fastest runtime for your math

RunMat runs math faster because of how the runtime is engineered. Fusion merges sequential operations into fewer GPU steps; residency keeps your arrays on-device between steps. That means less memory traffic, fewer program launches, and faster scripts.

RunMat vs. MATLAB Online

RunMat runs MATLAB-syntax code in your browser or desktop app with a built-in agent and local GPU acceleration when available. MATLAB Online runs through MathWorks-hosted compute. Basic access is free; full access depends on a linked license. Basic access includes 20 hours per month. As of August 2026.

RunMat

Open-source runtime with a built-in agent

  • Open-source runtime (Apache 2.0)
  • No account or license required
  • Integrated agent with image and file context
  • Agent reads workspace variables and 2D/3D plot scenes
  • Client-side execution
  • Cross-platform GPU (Metal, Vulkan, DX12, WebGPU)
  • Works offline
  • Interactive 2D & 3D plotting
  • Real-time type & shape tracking
  • Optional root-cause analysis after failed runs
  • Automatic file versioning & snapshots (App)
  • Agent helps adapt scripts when compatibility gaps appear
  • 1,000+ built-in functions across engineering workflows
  • Core language, packages, classes, and multi-file projects

MATLAB Online

MathWorks' cloud-hosted MATLAB IDE

  • Basic access is free; full access depends on a linked license. As of August 2026.
  • Account & sign-in required
  • MATLAB Copilot is a separate desktop feature
  • Basic access includes 20 hours per month with 15-minute continuous compute and 15-minute idle-time limits. As of August 2026.
  • Cloud-based execution
  • No local GPU access; computation runs on MathWorks-hosted resources
  • Requires internet connection
  • Full MATLAB language
  • Full tier exposes products on the linked license; Basic includes 10 products
  • Official MathWorks support
  • No automatic per-save file history; Git source control is available

What works today

RunMat covers the core language and more than 1,000 built-in functions across numerical computing, data, plotting, signal processing, file I/O, and engineering workflows.

Works well

Dense and sparse matrix operations, including indexing, slicing, and reshaping

Arithmetic, logical, and relational operators

Control flow (if/else, for, while, switch)

User-defined functions with multiple outputs

Cells, structs, tables, timetables, missing values, datetime, and duration

Source classdef objects, constructors, properties, methods, inheritance, packages, private helpers, and multi-file projects

1,000+ built-in functions

30+ plot types with GPU acceleration, subplots, figure handles, and an interactive 3D camera

MAT-file, spreadsheet, text, HDF5, and Parquet workflows

Real-time type and shape tracking plus live syntax validation

Execution tracing, diagnostic logging, and non-blocking runs

Compatibility notes

Still expanding

Additional specialized package and toolbox workflows

Some edge-case MATLAB semantics

Not supported

Simulink or graphical block diagrams

MATLAB-specific file formats (.slx, .mlapp)

For toolboxes and builtins in the “in progress” list above, the built-in agent can often rewrite scripts to use what RunMat already ships, usually preserving the intent.

For a detailed list, see the language coverage guide and function reference. For workflow guides, browse resources or read our deep dives on GPU acceleration and the FFT family in RunMat.

Built for teams

SSO & SCIM

Integrate with your identity provider. Provision and deprovision users automatically.

Private or air-gapped deployment

Run on dedicated or self-hosted infrastructure, including isolated networks.

Open source & auditable

Apache 2.0 licensed runtime. Inspect every line of code that runs your math.

Audit and compliance support

Enterprise options for audit requirements, custom storage, and deployment controls.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about RunMat and MATLAB compatibility.

Is RunMat the same as MATLAB?
No. RunMat is an independent project with an open-source runtime that executes MATLAB-syntax code. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by MathWorks, the makers of MATLAB.
Does RunMat have an AI assistant?
Yes. RunMat ships with a built-in agent in the sandbox. It can use attached images and project files, run MATLAB-syntax code, inspect workspace variables and 2D/3D plot scenes, and return code changes as reviewable diffs. After a failed run, optional read-only root-cause analysis can help identify the likely cause.
Does MathWorks have an AI assistant?
Yes. As of August 2026, MATLAB Copilot is available for the MATLAB desktop environment and requires MATLAB R2025a or newer, a MathWorks Account, and an internet connection. MathWorks also publishes the MATLAB Agentic Toolkit, which connects supported third-party coding agents to an installed MATLAB R2020b or newer environment through the MATLAB MCP Core Server.
How is RunMat's agent different from the MATLAB Agentic Toolkit?
RunMat's runtime is open source under Apache 2.0 and runs without a MATLAB license. MathWorks documents the Agentic Toolkit as skills plus a MATLAB MCP Core Server connection to a local MATLAB installation and a supported third-party agent. The MCP Core Server exposes five built-in tools for static analysis, code evaluation, file execution, test execution, and toolbox detection; MathWorks also says MCP servers must not be shared by multiple users. RunMat ships the agent and runtime together in the browser, so the agent can inspect RunMat workspace variables, tensor shapes, and plot scenes directly.
Can I run my existing MATLAB scripts in RunMat?
RunMat runs supported MATLAB-language .m projects without RunMat-specific modifications. RunMat supports packages, classes, multi-file projects, and more than 1,000 built-in functions across numerical computing, data, plotting, signal processing, file I/O, and engineering workflows. Compatibility still depends on project-specific products, file formats, and integrations, so try your project in the sandbox or CLI. If a gap appears, the built-in agent can inspect the diagnostics and propose reviewable edits.
Is RunMat really free?
The RunMat runtime is open source under the Apache License 2.0. Local code execution in the browser sandbox has no usage fees or time limits. RunMat Agent has a limited free allowance, while Pro adds monthly Agent credits, persistent projects, version history, and project sharing. See pricing.
Do I need to create an account?
No. The browser sandbox works immediately without sign-up. Creating an account starts a 14-day Pro trial for persistent projects, version history, project sharing, and RunMat Agent credits.
Does RunMat work offline?
Yes. Once the sandbox page loads, it can run code without an internet connection. For full offline use with local file access, download the RunMat desktop app or use the RunMat CLI.
How does RunMat run code in the browser?
RunMat compiles to WebAssembly, which runs natively in your browser at near-native speed. For GPU-accelerated operations, it uses WebGPU (available in Chrome, Edge, Safari 18+, and Firefox 139+).
Is my code private?
Yes. Code execution happens entirely on your device. Nothing is uploaded to run your script. If you sign in for cloud storage, files sync to RunMat's servers. Using the built-in agent sends context to the configured LLM provider.
Can RunMat use my GPU?
Yes, in browsers that support WebGPU (Chrome, Edge, Safari 18+, and Firefox 139+). RunMat automatically offloads eligible operations to the GPU for faster execution.
What’s the difference between RunMat and GNU Octave?
Both run MATLAB-style syntax, but RunMat is designed for performance (JIT compilation, GPU acceleration) and runs natively in the browser. Octave is a mature desktop application with broader toolbox compatibility but no browser-native execution.
Is there a desktop version?
Yes. The RunMat desktop app adds full local file access and an interactive Command Window with history, multiline input, workspace variables, and figure integration. Download it from the download page, or use the CLI to run local scripts and use runmat check for project-wide diagnostics.
Does RunMat support plotting?
Yes. RunMat supports 30+ interactive plot types including plot, scatter, histogram, surf, mesh, contour, imagesc, bar, stem, quiver, plot3, semilogx, semilogy, and loglog. 3D surface plots can be rotated, zoomed, and panned directly in the browser. See the plotting guide for runnable examples.

Download RunMat

Download RunMat for full performance, or use RunMat in your browser for zero setup.