Rented cloud Mac
Renting a real Mac in a data center and controlling it over remote desktop from another computer.
License warning. Apple's macOS license allows leasing a Mac only for developer services (continuous integration, building and testing software), with a minimum lease of 24 hours. Using a rented Mac for creative work is outside those terms.
Sources: Apple, Amazon Web Services · Verified
Providers rent physical Mac hardware by the day or month and give you remote desktop access, so the Mac app runs on genuine Apple hardware and you see it through a stream. Apple's macOS license limits leased Macs to developer services such as building and testing software, and providers like AWS describe their Mac hosts in those terms.
- Apple's license allows leasing macOS for developer services with a 24 hour minimum lease.
- RentAMac gives remote desktop access through AnyDesk.
- You still need to buy the app itself where it is paid.
Used on: Windows
Sources: Apple, Amazon Web Services, RentAMac · Verified
General setup steps
- Choose a plan with a Mac rental provider. RentAMac starts from $3.97 a day billed monthly. (RentAMac)
- Install AnyDesk on your computer. RentAMac provides remote desktop access through AnyDesk. (RentAMac, AnyDesk)
- Connect to the rented Mac with the access instructions the provider gives you. You get an admin user and can install software. (RentAMac)
- Sign in to the App Store on the rented Mac with your Apple Account. Downloading apps requires one. (Apple)
Each record adds the app-specific steps.
Apps checked with Rented cloud Mac
| App and platform | Result | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Final Cut Pro on Windows | Partly works | - |
| GarageBand on Windows | Partly works | - |
| iMovie on Windows | Not verified | - |
| Logic Pro on Windows | Partly works | - |
| Sketch on Windows | Not verified | - |