FAQ
From Setup to Support – Everything You Need to Know About Our Rent a Mac Service
Service Information
Find answers about how our Rent a Mac service works, including setup procedures, system specifications, and data security measures.
What is Rent a Mac, and how does it work?
Rent a Mac offers flexible access to Apple devices through tailored subscription plans. We host our own Mac computers in secure datacenters, providing you with a remote desktop connection directly to our machines. No virtual machines are involved, ensuring full administrative privileges. After your session, we ensure all data is removed, or, if you prefer, we can retain your data so you can resume from where you left off.
How do I access the rented Mac after purchasing a plan?
After purchasing a plan, you will receive an email containing the AnyDesk credentials for remote access to the macOS desktop. AnyDesk is free for non-commercial use and can be downloaded. After connecting, you will have full access and control through the machine’s ADMIN user.
Can I install my own software on the rented Mac?
Yes, with full administrative privileges, you’re free to install any software necessary for your tasks.
What happens after I purchase a plan?
After the transaction is complete, you will be redirected to our User Portal, where you will be able to access your mac credentials, manage your subscription and keep track of the time remaining.
You will also receive an email containing all the needed information to both access your Mac instance and log in into User Portal in the future.
What are the specifications of the Macs available for rent?
We currently offer the Mac Mini M4 with a 10-core CPU, 16GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD.
The network speed you can expect can vary from 300Mbps to 700 Mbps download speed and around 400 Mbps upload speed
Is my data secure during the rental period, and what happens to it afterward?
Yes, we prioritize your data security by using advanced encryption and secure server configurations. After your session, we ensure all data is removed by performing a system wipe.
What should I do if I need to restart or reset the password on my rented Mac?
You are free to restart the machine, we are always here to help you with a locked account, password reset, or software installation. Just drop us an e-mail, and we will support you promptly.
Can I use the rented Mac for software development, such as Xcode or iOS app development?
Yes, our rented Macs are fully equipped to support software development tasks. With full administrative privileges, you can install and configure development environments as needed. Find out more here.
Can I connect a USB device to a remote Mac?
Yes, you can connect USB devices, including iPhones, to a remote Mac through third-party tools.
We recommend:
USB Network Gate – Works across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
FlexiHub – Supports macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android.
All options require installation on both machines and offer free trials.
Is it possible to upgrade the hardware specifications of the rented Mac during my rental period?
Our Macs come with fixed hardware configurations. If you require higher specifications, please contact our support team to discuss available options or consider selecting a plan that meets your performance needs.
How do I transfer my files?
AnyDesk provides an integrated File Manager to upload and download any type of file from your current device.
Am I able to select the MacOS version I want to boot into?
Our instances come with a pre-installed macOS version.
We can remotely upgrade the OS to the latest, but we can not choose a specific macOS version.
Pre-installed macOS versions are between 15.3 and 15.4.1.
Do you provide port-forwarding? I need to run an http server on the mac
No, we don’t provide port forwarding but you can achieve this by using a tunnel instead.
Technical details
Here are a few questions from the more tech users. Here we explain details of the network and the system.
Do you provide full root or administrator access to the macOS system?
Yes, we provide an Administrator user with full control without restrictions.
Is it possible to access the machine during boot or recovery (e.g. via KVM or similar)?
Unfortunately no the connection is only trough AnyDesk, although you can use any other software, kvm connection is not available.
Do you support reinstallation or recovery of macOS if needed?
Yes but that would take time since it will require manual intervention from our tech team.
Is there a firewall or access control panel available to manage inbound/outbound connections?
No, we don’t offer that level of control to the firewall.
What is the actual internet speed (download/upload) I can expect from Europe?
Around 700mbps download ad 400 upload.
What is the physical location of the remote Macs you provide.
The datacenter is located in Cyprus (Europe).
Do you offer dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (e.g. /64 subnet)?
No, unfortunately we do not allow that level of customization of the network.
Is CI/CD usage (e.g. automated builds, testing, simulators) allowed on this plan?
Yes sure. You can run any type of workload on the rented machine.
is the Mac mini M4 I’m renting a fully dedicated machine, or is it shared (e.g. virtualized or multi-user environment)?
Yes, it’s fully dedicated, you will get the Mac mini all for you, no other users involved.
Why AnyDesk instead of VNC?
According to a performance benchmark by PassMark Software, AnyDesk achieved the highest frame rate and lowest latency among 12 remote desktop products tested.
Users on Reddit have noted that AnyDesk provides a smoother and more responsive experience compared to other remote desktop solutions, even when tested side by side.
Check out more here
Can I connect to the Mac using SSH?
Yes, even if port-forwarding is not supported, you can create an SSH connection using a Reverse SSH Tunnel or other similar solutions.
Read more here
Payments and Policies
Learn about our subscription plans, accepted payment methods, refund policies, and terms of service.
Do you offer free trial?
Yes, we offer a read-only demo instance for you to evaluate our service.
Access our demo Here
What subscription plans do you offer, and how much do they cost?
We offer flexible daily, weekly, and monthly options with Mini, Basic, and Pro subscriptions. Pricing starts from $15.00/day to $99/month.
What payment methods do you accept for subscriptions?
We accept payments via credit/debit cards, PayPal and Apple Pay for your convenience.
Can I switch or extend my rental plan ?
Yes, you can switch between daily, weekly, and monthly plans. However, the transition will take effect after your current plan expires. Additionally, you can extend your rental period at any time by selecting a new payment plan; the new period will start once your current plan expires.
Is there a minimum rental period for the Macs?
The Daily Plan requires a minimum rental of 1 day.
You can rent for any duration you need, whether daily, weekly, or monthly.
Check our detailed pricing options for renting a Mac here.
Are there any additional fees or hidden costs associated with the rental?
No, our pricing is transparent with no hidden fees. The cost of the subscription plan covers all aspects of the rental service.
What is your policy on data privacy and security during the rental period?
We prioritize your data security by using advanced encryption and secure server configurations. After your session, we ensure all data is removed, or, if you prefer, we can retain your data so you can resume from where you left off.
Do you offer any discounts for long-term rentals or bulk subscriptions?
Yes, we offer competitive pricing for longer rental periods. Please refer to our Pricing page for detailed information.
What happens if all systems are in use when I try to rent a Mac?
If all systems are occupied at the time of your rental request, we will notify you immediately. If you’ve already made a payment, we will offer a full refund.
Do you have an acceptable use policy for the rented Macs?
Yes, we require all users to comply with our Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits activities such as illegal file sharing, unauthorized access to other systems, and any actions that violate applicable laws or regulations. Non-compliance may result in termination of services. For comprehensive guidelines, please review our Terms of Service.
How long is the validity of the plan?
The plan starts as soon as a payment is completed and terminates after the plan runs out of time due to a subscription cancellation.
If I terminate a plan, will my files and settings be stored if I then purchase a plan later?
No, if you decide to not renew the plan, when your subscription finished we will wipe the Mac instance and your files will be lost.
How can I terminate my subscription?
Access your user portal here and log in with the credentials we sent you in your email, click on “Plans and Billing” and then “Manage my subscription” and then cancel your subscription.
Is the subscription cancelable anytime, or is there a minimum term?
The subscription can be canceled early, but the plan remains active until the end of the subscription period (24 hours if daily, 7 days if weekly, and 31 days on a monthly plan)
