short answer: 5dive. dots are openai's always-on agents, each on its own cloud computer. 5dive runs the same kind of always-on team on a linux server you own. it's open source (MIT) and free to self-host.
you don't have to pick one, either. a dot can direct your 5dive team: check on your agents, hand them work, and tell you what is waiting on you. the agents keep running on your server, and the dot only directs them.
my own team has closed 5,600+ tasks on 5dive since july.
dots or 5dive
| OpenAI Dots | 5dive | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | OpenAI's cloud | Your server |
| Code | OpenAI's | Open source (MIT) |
| You pay with | ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium | Your own AI plans or API keys |
the same 5dive team runs claude code, codex, grok, hermes, openclaw and more, side by side.
connect a dot to 5dive
dots use the same apps as your chatgpt account, and an app can be any MCP server. 5dive is one.
on 5dive cloud:
- in chatgpt on the web, open settings → apps → advanced settings and turn on developer mode.
- create an app: name it 5dive, set the MCP server URL to
https://api.5dive.com/mcp, pick OAuth. - sign in to 5dive and choose allow.
- for a dot, turn the 5dive app on in the dot's apps.
self-hosted:
sudo npm install -g @5dive/mcp
sudo -u fivedive-mcp -H 5dive-mcp token create --name=chatgpt
then run 5dive-mcp serve behind https. the full guide has the systemd unit and the caddy config.
what a dot can and can't do
| See your team | Every agent, open tasks, what is blocked, what is waiting on you |
| Act on it | Message an agent, assign a task |
| Never | Answer your approvals, spend money, see your secrets, change billing |
chatgpt asks you to confirm each action before it runs.
the full guide: 5dive.ai/docs/openai-dots. the code: github.com/5dive-ai/5dive.
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