alternatives
Kandev alternatives
TL;DR
Kandev is a free, AGPL-3.0 server with a web UI and a desktop shell that gives Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and about 20 other agents a Kanban board, where each task moves through steps like plan, build, review and PR, with a different agent per step and runs on Docker, SSH or Kubernetes. People look elsewhere because it's a web app where agents mostly appear as chat, the settings surface is large, native Windows support has been weak (agents failed to start there in our test) and WSL is a separate install, its installers are unsigned, and the CLI listens on all network interfaces by default. Pane is the closest desktop alternative: every agent in its real terminal and worktree, with review, git and an orchestrator, native on Windows and inside WSL in one app. Agent Orchestrator and HumanLayer are the picks if a structured board or workflow is what you want.
the alternatives
Every tool here runs several coding agents at once in their own git worktrees. The chips show where each one runs: green is native, amber has a catch, red is no.
1.Pane
Best for a desktop app with real agent terminals, Windows and WSL in one.
Each agent runs in its own terminal UI and worktree, with a Changes panel, commit, push and merge on shortcuts, and an orchestrator chat that starts and steers other agents. Free, AGPL-3.0, no account.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
2.Agent Orchestrator
Best for a live Kanban that feeds CI and review back to agents.
Apache-2.0 desktop app where failing checks and review comments go back to the agent that wrote the code. Doesn't handle repos inside WSL.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
Best for a research, plan, implement workflow for teams, hosted.
A paid team app with Linear sync, multi-repo workspaces and comments on diffs. Free for up to 3 people, then $100/user/month. Apache-2.0 since October 2026, but needs an account.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
4.Orca
Best for an all-in-one with SSH hosts and cloud VMs.
MIT, 40 agents in real terminals, worktrees with setup scripts, issue trackers, a phone app and an experimental orchestrator. Runs agents inside WSL. Heavy at about 1 GB installed.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
5.Emdash
Best for issue-tracker intake and scheduled automations.
Apache-2.0, 37 agents, tasks from 13 trackers, SSH remotes and a VM or container per task. No WSL mode.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
which one should you pick?
stay with kandev if
- → you want a gated pipeline (plan, implement, review, PR, CI fix) with a different agent per step
- → you run agents on servers, containers or Kubernetes rather than your laptop
- → you want a self-hosted team board you can reach from your phone
- → you're on macOS, Linux or inside WSL
pick pane if
- → you develop natively on Windows, or mix Windows and WSL repos
- → you want each agent's own terminal UI rather than a chat
- → you'd rather install a desktop app than run and secure a web server
- → you want a smaller set of settings to learn
pane vs kandev at a glance
yespartly, or with a catchno
| pane8 yes · 1 partly · 0 no | kandev6 yes · 3 partly · 0 no | |
|---|---|---|
| basics | ||
| what it is | a desktop app | a server with a web UI and a desktop shell |
| platforms | ||
| Windows | yes, native (x64 and ARM64) | x64, unsigned; agents failed to start in our test |
| repos inside WSL | yes, in the same app | a separate install inside WSL |
| macOS | yes | yes, unsigned builds |
| Linux | yes (AppImage, .deb) | yes (AppImage, .deb, .rpm) |
| agents | ||
| agents | any CLI | about 24 through ACP; others as passthrough |
| how agents run | the agent's own terminal UI | an ACP chat, or passthrough terminal |
| everyday work | ||
| worktree per task | yes | yes, plus Docker, SSH and Kubernetes |
| workflow steps | Sessions orchestrator | Kanban pipelines with gates |
| safety and setup | ||
| license | AGPL-3.0, open source | AGPL-3.0, open source |
| account needed | no | no |
basics
what it is
pane
kandev
a server with a web UI and a desktop shellplatforms
Windows
pane
kandev
x64, unsigned; agents failed to start in our testrepos inside WSL
pane
kandev
a separate install inside WSLmacOS
pane
kandev
yes, unsigned buildsLinux
pane
kandev
yes (AppImage, .deb, .rpm)agents
agents
pane
kandev
about 24 through ACP; others as passthroughhow agents run
pane
kandev
an ACP chat, or passthrough terminaleveryday work
worktree per task
pane
kandev
yes, plus Docker, SSH and Kubernetesworkflow steps
pane
kandev
Kanban pipelines with gatessafety and setup
license
pane
kandev
AGPL-3.0, open sourceaccount needed
pane
kandev
noFacts checked on October 3 and 4, 2026 (Kandev v0.97.0, tested 0.96.0, and Pane v2.4.157). Rechecked on November 5, 2026 against Kandev v0.98.0.
why people look for a kandev alternative
A web app with a learning curve, and weak native Windows.
Kandev's main interface is a browser UI, and agents run mainly through ACP as a structured chat; running an agent's own terminal UI is a passthrough mode that loses the board's structured features. Its docs label many features limited, experimental or in progress, and its settings span 21 pages.
Its maintainers called Windows support subpar in May 2026. On native Windows in our test, both agents failed their checks and Claude Code wouldn't start; the full journey only worked inside WSL, which is a separate installation rather than a mode. There's no Windows ARM64 build, desktop installers are unsigned development builds, Defender has flagged a helper binary, and the CLI binds to 0.0.0.0 with no auth by default.
moving from kandev to pane
Your agents and logins carry over. Cards become panes, each with a real terminal.
Kandev drives the agent CLIs you've already installed, and so does Pane, without needing an ACP bridge. Open your repository in Pane and create a pane per task: each gets its own worktree and branch, with .env and agent config copied in. Start Claude Code, Codex or Cursor with a click, or Gemini CLI, Amp, Goose, Pi, Aider or any other CLI as a custom command.
For a plan, build, review sequence, Pane's orchestrator, Sessions, can start a planner in one pane, hand the plan to an implementer in another and ask a third agent to review, and it's told when pull requests get check results or conflicts. Review in the Changes panel and commit, push and merge with shortcuts. For a remote machine, Remote Pane runs Pane's host on your own server; if you run agents on Kubernetes, Kandev remains the fit for that.
our verdict
Kandev is one of the most complete self-hosted agent boards, and it's free. If you want a desktop app where every agent runs in its real terminal and Windows and WSL both work, Pane is the most direct alternative. For a board with a pull request loop, Agent Orchestrator; for a hosted team workflow, HumanLayer.
how we checked
On October 3 and 4, 2026 we ran Kandev 0.96.0 inside WSL2 (Ubuntu 24.04) with a real Claude Code task through review and commit, and installed its native Windows CLI and desktop app, where agents failed to start. Pane, Agent Orchestrator, Orca and Emdash ran on the same Windows 11 PC. HumanLayer's facts come from its docs and pricing.
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
- → Kandev 0.96.0 in WSL2 with Claude Code, plus its native Windows CLI and desktop app, October 3 and 4, 2026
- Who wrote this
- We make Pane, so we have a stake in this. We tried to be fair: Kandev'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. .