alternatives
Claude Squad alternatives
TL;DR
Claude Squad is a tiny tmux tool for running several agents in worktrees, but it's maintained part-time, can't run on native Windows, shows one agent at a time, and commits everything with a fixed message that skips your hooks. If you want the same idea in a desktop app with diffs, git and notifications, on every OS including Windows and WSL, pick Pane. If you want to stay in the terminal, Herdr is the most capable tmux-style alternative.
the alternatives
Every tool here helps you run several coding agents at once. The chips show where each one runs: green is native, amber has a catch, red is no.
1.Pane
Best for Claude Squad's workflow in a desktop app, on every OS.
Each agent in its real terminal and worktree, side by side, with per-file diffs, git buttons, notifications and an orchestrator. Free and AGPL-3.0, like Claude Squad.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
2.Herdr
Best for staying in the terminal, with agents that never stop.
An agent-aware multiplexer: state for about 25 agents, agents survive disconnects, runs over SSH. No diff or git tools.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
3.recon
Best for a dashboard over Claude Code sessions in tmux.
Shows which sessions are working or waiting and jumps to the next one. Claude Code only, no worktrees.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
4.Emdash
Best for a desktop app with issue intake.
35 agents in worktrees with a diff and commit panel, tasks from 12 trackers. Runs on Windows x64, macOS and Linux.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
5.Paseo
Best for reaching agents from your phone.
A daemon with desktop, phone, web and CLI clients for 40+ agents.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
which one should you pick?
stay with claude squad if
- → you live in tmux and run a few agents at a time
- → you want the smallest tool there is
- → you don't need diffs or notifications
pick pane if
- → you want agents side by side in a window
- → you want per-file diffs and normal git
- → you want notifications when an agent needs you
- → you're on Windows or WSL
pane vs claude squad at a glance
yespartly, or with a catchno
| pane11 yes · 0 partly · 0 no | claude squad3 yes · 6 partly · 2 no | |
|---|---|---|
| platforms | ||
| native Windows | yes (x64 and ARM64) | no; the Windows build can't start agents |
| repos inside WSL | yes: agents, terminals and git run in the distro | run the Linux build inside WSL |
| macOS and Linux | yes | yes; needs tmux and gh |
| agents | ||
| agents | any CLI; Claude Code, Codex, Cursor built in | any CLI by command or profile |
| seeing your agents | side by side, with status dots | a list and one preview at a time |
| everyday work | ||
| review changes | Changes panel and per-file diff tabs | plain-text git diff |
| commit and push | buttons and shortcuts, your message, your hooks | commit everything with a fixed message, skipping hooks |
| notifications | yes | no |
| parallel sessions | no fixed limit | up to 10 |
| basics | ||
| maintenance | releases most days | part-time; last release August 2026 |
| license | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
platforms
native Windows
pane
claude squad
no; the Windows build can't start agentsrepos inside WSL
pane
claude squad
run the Linux build inside WSLmacOS and Linux
pane
claude squad
yes; needs tmux and ghagents
agents
pane
claude squad
any CLI by command or profileseeing your agents
pane
claude squad
a list and one preview at a timeeveryday work
review changes
pane
claude squad
plain-text git diffcommit and push
pane
claude squad
commit everything with a fixed message, skipping hooksnotifications
pane
claude squad
noparallel sessions
pane
claude squad
up to 10basics
maintenance
pane
claude squad
part-time; last release August 2026license
pane
claude squad
AGPL-3.0Facts checked on October 3 and 4, 2026: Claude Squad v1.0.20 and Pane v2.4.157.
why people look for a claude squad alternative
Maintenance, Windows, and review.
Claude Squad's two maintainers work full-time jobs and focus on bug fixes; its most-reacted issues ask whether the project is abandoned. It needs tmux, so the Windows build can't start agents. It shows one agent's preview at a time, caps you at 10 sessions, has no notifications, and its push commits everything with a fixed message and --no-verify. Its strengths are real, though: it's tiny, terminal-native and has no telemetry.
moving from claude squad to pane
Same idea, one worktree per agent, with a window around it.
Claude Squad's instances are git worktrees with an agent in each, and Pane's panes are the same. Commit or check out what you want to keep, open the repository in Pane, and create a pane per feature. Start Claude Code, Codex or Cursor with a click, or any other agent as a custom command, exactly as you set it in Claude Squad's profiles. You get each agent side by side, a diff for every file, git buttons with your own messages and hooks, and notifications.
our verdict
If you want Claude Squad's worktree-per-agent idea with a proper review loop and every OS, Pane is the natural next step. If you'd rather stay in the terminal, Herdr and recon are the best terminal-native alternatives.
how we checked
On October 3 and 4, 2026 we ran Claude Squad, Herdr and recon inside WSL2 with real Claude Code agents, and Pane, Emdash and Paseo on the same Windows 11 PC, with the same task in each.
Facts about each product come from its own docs, release notes, issue tracker and source code, checked on the same dates.
- What we ran
- → Pane 2.4.155 on Windows 11, native and WSL2 (Ubuntu 24.04) repos
- → Each alternative checked against its own docs, releases and issue tracker on October 3 and 4, 2026, and run hands-on where it runs on Windows or WSL
- Who wrote this
- We make Pane, so we have a stake in this. We tried to be fair: Claude Squad's strengths are listed as plainly as Pane's, every claim was checked against the product itself or its docs and source, and the screenshots are unedited captures from our own runs.
- Corrections
- If anything here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it and update the date at the top. Open an issue on GitHub
- Sources
frequently asked questions
more comparisons
By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. .