MATLAB online alternative

Run your MATLAB code in the browser blazing fast

RunMat executes MATLAB-syntax code in your browser with auto GPU acceleration. No account or licence needed.

Try RunMat in your browser View getting started

MATLAB Online has friction

MATLAB Online runs your code on MathWorks' servers, requires an account, and caps free usage at 20 hours/month with 15-minute idle timeouts. Engineers and students hit these limits regularly:

Account barriers

Sign-up process and license requirements create unnecessary friction for quick tasks.

Idle timeouts & hour caps

Sessions timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity. Free tier is capped at 20 hours/month.

Cloud dependency

Code must be uploaded to remote servers, raising privacy and connectivity concerns.

No local GPU access

Code runs on MathWorks' servers, so you cannot use your own GPU for acceleration.

Meet RunMat: no license required

RunMat is an open-source runtime that understands MATLAB syntax and runs it directly in your browser. Your code executes on your own device via WebAssembly, with GPU acceleration in browsers that support WebGPU.

Key differences from MATLAB Online

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 choose to save to the cloud.

GPU acceleration on any vendor

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

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.

Works offline

After the initial page load, RunMat runs without an internet connection. The CLI provides full local file access today; the desktop app is coming soon.

Try RunMat in your browser

How it works

Get started in three simple steps.

runmat.com/sandbox

Open the sandbox

Click the button to launch RunMat in your browser. No downloads or sign-ups required.

A = [3 1 3 2];
C = unique(A);

Write or paste code

Type your MATLAB-style code directly, or paste existing scripts from your projects.

C =

     1     2     3

Run and see results

Execute your code instantly. View outputs, plots, and results in real time.

Every change versioned. No git required.

Every save creates a version automatically. Per-file history and full project snapshots are included on all Cloud tiers, starting at $0 with 100 MB on the Hobby tier. Paid plans add project sharing with your team -- no git setup or merge conflicts.

Automatic file history

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

Learn more

Project snapshots

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

Learn more

Cloud project sharing

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

Learn more

The fastest runtime for your math

RunMat fuses sequential operations into fewer GPU steps and keeps arrays on-device between steps. Less memory traffic, fewer kernel launches, faster scripts.

Denoise + Tone Mapping 4K Frames

RunMat is 10x faster than NumPy

Measured on Apple M2 Max

View detailed benchmark →

Times shown are CLI results. The same benchmarks run in the sandbox; browser GPU throttling affects absolute times. No MATLAB comparison per MathWorks' terms.

How fusion works·All benchmarks

RunMat vs. MATLAB Online

RunMat runs client-side with GPU acceleration and no account. MATLAB Online requires a license, runs on MathWorks' servers, and caps free usage.

RunMat

High-performance, open-source runtime for math

✓Open-source runtime
✓No account required
✓Client-side execution
✓Cross-platform GPU (Metal, Vulkan, DX12, WebGPU)
✓Works offline
✓Core matrix operations
✓Interactive 2D & 3D plotting
✓Real-time type & shape tracking
✓Execution tracing & diagnostics
✓Automatic file versioning & snapshots (Cloud)
–Limited package / toolbox support
–Subset of MATLAB functions

MATLAB Online

MathWorks official platform

✕Requires paid license
✕Account & sign-in required
✕Cloud-based execution
✓GPU support available
✕Requires internet connection
✓Full MATLAB language
✓Complete toolbox ecosystem
✓Official MathWorks support
✕No built-in file versioning

What works today

Core matrix workflows, plotting, and debugging ship today. Here is what is in progress.

Works well

•

Matrix and array operations (indexing, slicing, reshaping)

•

Arithmetic, logical, and relational operators

•

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

•

User-defined functions with multiple outputs

•

Cells, structs, and basic classdef OOP

•

300+ built-in functions

•

Interactive 2D and 3D plotting (rotate, zoom, pan)

•

Real-time type and shape tracking (hover to see matrix dimensions)

•

Live syntax validation (red underlines for dimension mismatches and errors)

•

Execution tracing and diagnostic logging

•

Async code execution (non-blocking runs)

Limitations & future work

In progress

•

Advanced plotting (subplots, additional chart types, figure handles)

•

Extensible package support (signal processing, optimization, etc.)

•

Some edge-case MATLAB semantics

Not supported

•

Simulink or graphical block diagrams

•

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

•

Java/COM interop

For a detailed list, see the language coverage guide and function reference. For workflow guides, browse resources.

Built for teams

SSO & SCIM

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

ITAR-compliant deployment

Self-hosted, air-gapped option for export-controlled environments.

Open source & auditable

MIT-licensed runtime. Inspect every line of code that runs your math.

SOC 2 ready

Built to SOC 2 standards. Audit planned for Q2 2026.

See enterprise pricing

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.

Can I run my existing MATLAB scripts in RunMat?⌄

Many MATLAB scripts run without modification, especially those using core language features and common built-in functions. Scripts relying on specialized toolboxes or advanced features may need adjustments. Try your script in the sandbox to see what works.

Is RunMat really free?⌄

The RunMat runtime is open source under the MIT license. You can run MATLAB-syntax code in the browser without usage fees or time limits. Cloud features like storage, versioning, and project sharing start on the Hobby tier (100 MB). Paid plans add more storage and team features -- see pricing.

Do I need to create an account?⌄

No. The browser sandbox works immediately without sign-up. Creating a free account unlocks cloud storage (100 MB), file versioning, and project sharing.

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, use the RunMat CLI today. The desktop app with a full IDE experience is coming soon.

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. Your code runs entirely on your device. Nothing is sent to a server unless you explicitly choose to save files to the cloud.

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?⌄

The RunMat desktop app is coming very soon. It will provide the same interface as the browser sandbox with full local file system access. In the meantime, the CLI is available today for local script execution.

Does RunMat support plotting?⌄

Yes. RunMat supports interactive 2D and 3D plotting. 3D surface plots can be rotated, zoomed, and panned directly in the browser. Additional chart types are being added.

Run MATLAB code online - no install, no license

Start running math immediately in your browser.

Launch the sandbox Other download options