Cua vs Protocol
Cua vs Protocol, compared side by side on 21 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Cua is on 39/100 and Protocol on 47/100.
Where each one leads
Cua
- agent readiness: 46/100 against 36/100
Protocol
- our overall score: 47/100 against 39/100
- headcount: 109 against 8
- funding raised: $3.2M against $500K
- LinkedIn following: 35,452 against 2,527
At a glance
| Measure | Cua | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cua provides an open-source framework and cloud desktops for AI agents to control operating systems and desktop applications across Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android. | Protocol Labs is an innovation network driving breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. |
| Category | AI Agent, Agentic AI, Autonomous Systems, Cloud Infrastructure | Agentic AI, AI Agent, Foundation Model, API Platform |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Platform | Platform |
| Founded | 2025 | 2023 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | San Francisco, United States |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Cua | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 8 | 109 |
| Total funding | $500K | $3.2M |
| Latest round | Pre-Seed | Not published |
| LinkedIn followers | 2,527 | 35,452 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Cua | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 39/100 | 47/100 |
| Traction | 38/100 | 53/100 |
| Community | Not published | 15/100 |
| Search visibility | 33/100 | 27/100 |
| Quality | 48/100 | 58/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | D (46/100) | F (36/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 55/100 | 60/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Cua | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Vercel | Vercel |
| CDN | Vercel | Vercel |
| Frameworks | Tailwind CSS | Tailwind CSS |
| Analytics | Not detected | Google Analytics 4 |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes |
What users say
| Measure | Cua | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Reddit sentimentThreads we track | 1 positive, 0 negative across 1 thread | Not published |
“Hermes Agent now supports computer use via TryCua on Windows and Linux in addition to existing macOS support Computer Use docs: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/computer-use https://reddit.com/link/1ucuwk5/vide”r/hermesagent
Cua vs Protocol: common questions
Which is better, Cua or Protocol?
On our 0-100 score Protocol rates higher (47/100 against 39/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 21 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Cua and Protocol compare on the numbers?
Cua leads on agent readiness (46/100 against 36/100). Protocol leads on our overall score (47/100 against 39/100), headcount (109 against 8), funding raised ($3.2M against $500K), LinkedIn following (35,452 against 2,527).
What do real users say about Cua and Protocol?
Cua: 1 positive and 0 negative mentions across 1 Reddit threads we track, mostly in r/hermesagent.
Read the full Cua review and pricing or the Protocol review and pricing. You can also browse other Cua alternatives we track.