VRM avatar assistants

Here's how Super Notch, which has an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana), compares with Desktop Mate, Amica, and MateEngine. For the other three, we only state what the sources checked on 16 October 2026 say.

At a glance

	Super Notch	Desktop Mate	Amica	MateEngine
What the checked notes say	Mac notch AI assistant. Optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana).	Free to play. DLC characters separate.	Open source MIT. VRM and voice. Hosted price not verified.	Steam $5.49. Free on GitHub. Steam lists Windows only.
Platforms	Apple silicon Mac, macOS 14+	Windows and Mac	Not stated in the checked notes	Steam lists Windows only
Price	$20 first Mac, $10 each extra, one-time	Free to play. DLC characters separate.	Hosted price not verified. Code is MIT.	Steam $5.49. Free on GitHub.

Sources checked 16 October 2026: Desktop Mate on Steam, Amica on GitHub, heyamica.com, MateEngine on Steam, and MateEngine on GitHub. Super Notch details from supernotch.ai.

Super Notch

Super Notch is a Mac notch AI assistant. It finds Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor sessions and resumes them from the notch with Talk (Right Command) and Type (Right Option). It has an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana). The default style is 3D anime assistant (Sora / Hana). To change it, open Settings, then Look, then Avatar, and pick Video loops (standby / thinking / speaking) or Native mascot (make it yours). To hide the face, turn off Show companion face under Companion. You pay once: $20 for the first Mac and $10 for each additional Mac. It doesn't replace Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex.

Desktop Mate

The Steam listing checked on 16 October 2026 says Desktop Mate is free to play on Windows and Mac, and that DLC characters are separate. Those notes do not describe a VRM avatar, voice, or a price beyond free to play and separate DLC.

Amica

The sources checked on 16 October 2026 describe Amica as open source under the MIT license, with VRM and voice. The hosted price was not verified. Platforms are not stated in those notes.

MateEngine

Steam lists MateEngine at $5.49, for Windows only. The GitHub project is free.

Pick by what you need

Want a free-to-play app on Windows and Mac, with DLC characters separate? Look at Desktop Mate.
Want an open-source MIT project described as VRM and voice? Look at Amica. Its hosted price was not verified.
On Windows, and fine with Steam at $5.49 or the free GitHub project? Look at MateEngine. Steam lists it as Windows only.
Want Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor sessions in the Mac notch? Look at Super Notch. It also has an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana).

Requirements and price

Super Notch runs on an Apple silicon Mac with macOS 14 or newer. Voice features need microphone and accessibility permissions. You pay once: $20 for your first Mac and $10 for each additional Mac. There's no monthly subscription. Type dictation is $0/mo after you buy and spends no model tokens. Talk and Chat use your Grok or OpenAI plan, or Apple Intelligence on supported Macs.

FAQ

Which of these products are described as VRM?

Two of them. Super Notch has an optional 3D VRM avatar (Sora / Hana), and the notes checked on 16 October 2026 describe Amica as VRM and voice. Those notes don't say Desktop Mate or MateEngine use VRM.

Which of these run on a Mac?

Super Notch runs on an Apple silicon Mac with macOS 14 or newer. Desktop Mate's checked Steam listing covers Windows and Mac. Steam lists MateEngine as Windows only. Amica's platforms are not stated in the checked notes.

What do these products cost?

Super Notch is $20 once for the first Mac and $10 for each additional Mac. Desktop Mate is free to play, with DLC characters separate. Amica's code is MIT. Its hosted price wasn't verified. MateEngine is $5.49 on Steam and free on GitHub.

Does Super Notch replace Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex?

No. Keep using Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex. Super Notch doesn't replace them.

Can I choose or turn off the Super Notch avatar?

Yes. The default style is 3D anime assistant (Sora / Hana). To change it, open Settings, then Look, then Avatar, and pick Video loops (standby / thinking / speaking) or Native mascot (make it yours). To hide the face, turn off Show companion face under Companion.