alternatives · windows
Claude Squad alternatives for Windows
TL;DR
Claude Squad ships a Windows download, but it can't start agents there, because it needs tmux, which doesn't run on Windows; in our test the instance just vanished. You can run its Linux build inside WSL, or use a tool that runs natively. Pane is the closest match as a desktop app and also runs WSL repos inside the distro; Herdr is the closest if you want to stay in a terminal.
the alternatives
Every tool here runs several coding agents at once on Windows. The chips show where each one runs: green is native, amber has a catch, red is no.
1.Pane
Best for a native Windows app with WSL and ARM64 support.
Each agent in its real terminal and worktree, side by side, with diffs, git buttons and notifications. WSL repos run their agents and git in the distro.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
2.Herdr
Best for a terminal multiplexer that runs natively.
Native on Windows since August 2026 (x64, unsigned), and runs well inside WSL. Agents survive disconnects. No diff or git tools.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
3.Emdash
Best for a desktop app with issue intake.
Signed Windows x64 installer and 35 agents. Doesn't support WSL repos.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
4.T3 Code
Best for a polished chat view and phone apps.
Signed one-click installer. Its WSL backend crash-looped in our test.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
which one should you pick?
keep claude squad (in wsl) if
- → you're comfortable in tmux inside WSL
- → you want the smallest tool there is
pick pane if
- → you want a native Windows app
- → your code lives inside WSL
- → you want per-file diffs, git buttons and notifications
- → you're on a Windows ARM64 laptop
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 claude squad doesn't run on windows
It's built on tmux, which only runs on Unix-like systems.
Claude Squad wraps every agent in a tmux session. On native Windows there's no tmux, so creating an instance fails with an "unsupported" error in its log, and a pull request to add Windows support has been open for about eight months. Running the Linux build inside WSL works, which is how most Windows users run it.
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
On Windows, Pane gives you Claude Squad's worktree-per-agent workflow natively, with WSL repos handled properly. If you'd rather stay in a terminal, Herdr runs natively too.
how we checked
On October 3 and 4, 2026 we ran Claude Squad's native Windows build and its Linux build inside WSL2, and ran Pane, Herdr, Emdash and T3 Code 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. .