Markbase vs. cron and scripts: Connect the steps around your scheduled agent work.
Scripts can be a good fit for predictable work. Dispatch connects signals, prompts, runners, and a reviewable record.
[ Which fits? ]
Start with the work you need to do.
When cron and scripts fits
Use cron and scripts when your team is comfortable maintaining scheduling, credentials, retries, logs, and agent startup itself.
When Markbase fits
Use Dispatch for webhook verification, prompt previews, dedupe, cooldown, reminder jobs, routing to your approved folders, and job history.
[ Side by side ]
Markbase vs. cron and scripts, side by side.
| What matters | cron and scripts | Markbase |
|---|---|---|
| Operating the workflow | Maintain the scheduler, agent invocation, logging, and failure handling. | Connect the source, choose where the agent works, then review the job and its output tail. |
| Agent usage | Check the agent provider’s terms and billing for your setup. | Your existing agent subscription or API key pays for execution; Markbase does not host the agents. |
[ Pricing ]
Compare the whole operating cost.
Shared memory, team skills, and Dispatch are included on every Markbase plan. Your agent provider bills execution separately. Include your own runner infrastructure and the time spent maintaining the workflow in the comparison.
Markbase Free
$0a month
One person
3 workspaces, 200 documents each. 500 MB of storage.
Markbase Pro
$20a month
or $192 a year
Includes 5 seats
25 workspaces, 1,000 documents each. 25 GB of storage.
Markbase Team
$40a month
or $384 a year
Includes 10 seats, then $5 each
100 workspaces, 5,000 documents each. 250 GB of storage.
Markbase prices are USD before tax. Team’s extra seats are $5 each per month or $48 each per year, up to 100 members total. Enterprise and private deployments are quoted separately. Coding agents and model usage are not included. Full plans and limits
[ In practice ]
Try it on one real workflow.
The starting point
Choose a task your team already repeats and note how you distribute context, instructions, and follow-up work.
With a shared workspace
Use Dispatch for webhook verification, prompt previews, dedupe, cooldown, reminder jobs, routing to your approved folders, and job history.
Compare your actual setup. Capabilities vary by installer, marketplace, pipeline, and agent provider.
Read the Dispatch guide[ Getting started ]
Try it with one piece of work.
- 01
Choose one skill set or agent job.
- 02
Set it up on one machine.
- 03
Review the result and the ongoing maintenance before expanding.
[ Questions ]
A few practical questions.
- Can we use both?
- Yes. Keep the repository, CI workflows, and tool integrations that already serve your team. Add shared memory, skills, or Dispatch where they reduce repeated coordination.
[ More comparisons ]