Premium mascots
Create from an idea or image, then add custom animated states and reactions.
DESKTOP PETS FOR MAC
The best desktop pets for Mac, compared.
Every app here puts a character on your Mac. They differ in where the character comes from, whether it walks around, and whether it reacts to your AI agents. Masko is our app, so the table also shows where others do better.
macOS 14+ · Start free with Ko
WHY MASKO
The best all-in-one desktop mascot for Mac.
Masko combines premium character quality with practical depth. Create or choose a mascot, connect your agents, and give the same character useful apps.
Six AI agents
See working, waiting, questions, completion, and failures through one mascot.
Useful companion apps
Use the same character for focus, reminders, approvals, breaks, and more.
Look beyond a pet moving on the screen.
A useful desktop mascot needs character quality, live awareness, and reasons to stay on your Mac.
Character quality
Compare fixed sprite packs with premium custom mascots and animation made for the character.
Agent awareness
Check whether the mascot only moves or can show real working, waiting, and attention states.
Useful tools
Look for actions and companion apps that make the character useful after the novelty wears off.
Desktop pets for Mac, side by side.
From each product’s public pages, October 2026. Pick Shimeji or Desktamer for a pet that walks around. Pick Masko for your own animated character that reacts to your AI agents.
| Product | Character | Animation | AI agents | Tools beyond the pet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaskoBest overall | Create from an idea or image, or choose from the marketplace | Premium custom states and reactions; stays where you put it | Six supported integrations | Companion apps, prompt actions, focus, and reminders |
| Petdex | Large gallery plus Codex-format creator tools | Community sprite sheets; quality varies by submission | Codex and Claude Code hooks | No broader companion apps documented |
| Desktop Mate | Licensed 3D character catalogue | Polished 3D movement and interactions | No coding-agent integration | Alarm and selected game sync |
| Furever Dock | A desktop version of your real pet | Photo-based pet animation | No coding-agent integration | Desktop companionship |
| DeskPet | Pet photos, videos, or AI media | Custom MOV, GIF, and WebP pets | No coding-agent integration | Interactions and wellness reminders |
| Dockling | Photo-generated pixel pet | Nine-frame pixel animation | No coding-agent integration | Pomodoro, streaks, and quick notes |
| NotiSprite | Sprite library or custom Studio creation | Sprite-based animation categories | No dedicated agent lifecycle | Reminders, focus, weather, and system status |
| Shimeji | Community character packs | Walk, climb, and multiply | No coding-agent integration | Desktop play |
| Desktamer | Its own pets, or Codex pets you import | Walks the bottom of the screen and the menu bar, naps, eats | No coding-agent integration documented | A small idle game; $9.99 once |
| Codex pets | Built-in pets, plus ones you hatch or install | Pixel sprites for running, needs input, ready, and blocked | Codex only | Opens your Codex threads; lives in the ChatGPT app |
| Clawd on Desk | Clawd and a few themes, or imported Codex pets (fan app) | Pixel states that follow your agent | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and 20+ more | Allow or deny from a bubble; free and open source |
YOUR FIRST MASCOT
Create your own.
Or find your favorite.
Start with an idea, choose a ready-made character, or meet Ko. All three lead to a mascot on your Mac.
Create your own.
Tell Ask Masko what you want, or give it a picture.
Meet the assistantChoose one.
Pick a character with its own look, moves, and personality.
See the castStart with Ko.
Download Masko for Mac. Your first companion is ready.
Download MaskoTHE LITTLE DETAILS
A few questions.
we were hoping you’d ask.
Which desktop pet walks around the screen?
Shimeji characters walk, climb, and multiply, and Desktamer walks along the bottom of the screen and the menu bar. A Masko pet stays where you put it, above your windows, and moves in place when it reacts.
Which desktop pets react to Claude Code or Codex?
Masko, Petdex, Clawd on Desk, and Codex’s own pets react to coding agents. Codex pets follow Codex only. Masko lets you create your own animated mascot from a sentence or photo and allow or deny Claude Code requests from it.
Is Masko the same as Shimeji?
No. Masko is a separate Mac desktop-companion product and does not import Shimeji character packs.
Can Masko turn my pet into a desktop character?
Yes. Start from a pet photo or any character idea, then add premium animated reactions, AI-agent states, and companion apps.
How does Masko compare with Petdex?
Petdex offers a large community library of Codex-format sprite pets and documents Codex and Claude Code desktop hooks. Masko focuses on premium custom animation, six shipped agent integrations, prompt and session actions, and companion apps.
Which Macs can run Masko?
Masko supports macOS 14 or newer.
MASKO FOR MAC