alternatives
Termic alternatives
TL;DR
Termic, by Simion Agavriloaei (termic.dev), is a free, AGPL desktop app that runs the real Claude, Codex, Copilot and other agent CLIs, one task per git worktree. A worktree is its own folder and branch, so two agents never edit the same files. Its standouts are a macOS sandbox with a network allowlist and a full git client. It also opens pull requests on GitHub, GitLab and Azure DevOps. (It's not TermiC, the unrelated C/C++ REPL on GitHub.)
Termic is weakest on Windows and remote work. Its own docs call the Windows build experimental and say nobody uses it day to day yet. WSL isn't documented. There's no SSH or phone access, only an experimental, off-by-default pairing between two desktops on the same network.
Pane fits best if Windows is home: each agent in its real terminal and worktree, native on Windows and inside WSL in the same app. Orca adds SSH hosts and phone apps, and Emdash turns issue-tracker tickets into agent tasks.
the alternatives
Every tool here runs 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 a Windows build meant for daily use, with WSL repos in the same app.
Like Termic, Pane runs the real agent CLIs, each in a worktree with your .env and agent config copied in. It's native on Windows (x64 and ARM64) and opens WSL repos too. Commit, push and merge each have a shortcut. Free, AGPL-3.0, no account.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
2.Orca
Best for SSH hosts and phone apps, the two things Termic hasn't shipped.
MIT. Runs 40 agents in real terminals and worktrees, with a diff viewer, commit and PR buttons, a built-in browser, issue trackers, SSH hosts, and iOS and Android apps. Handles WSL repos as well.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
3.Emdash
Best for turning tickets from 12 issue trackers into parallel agent tasks.
Apache-2.0. Runs 35 agents in worktrees and connects to SSH projects. No account needed, but there's no WSL mode.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
4.Paseo
Best for checking on agents from your phone, no account required.
Apache-2.0. A background service with desktop, phone, web and CLI clients for 40+ agents, which can hand work to each other. No account and no telemetry.
WindowsWSLmacOSLinux
which one should you pick?
stay with termic if
- → you're on a Mac and want each task sandboxed, with file access and network hosts locked to an allowlist
- → you open pull requests on GitLab or Azure DevOps, not just GitHub
- → you want one task to span several repos, or to race one prompt across agents and compare the diffs
- → you like Spotlight, which mirrors an agent's worktree into your main checkout so your usual dev server sees it
- → you want an app with no account, no backend and no telemetry
pick pane if
- → you work on Windows and want a build its maker supports for daily use
- → your repos live inside WSL, or you mix Windows and WSL repos
- → you want to reach your agents from a phone browser, or from outside your local network, through Remote Pane on your own server
pane vs termic at a glance
yespartly, or with a catchno
| pane10 yes · 0 partly · 1 no | termic8 yes · 3 partly · 0 no | |
|---|---|---|
| basics | ||
| what it is | a desktop app | a desktop app |
| platforms | ||
| Windows | yes, native (x64 and ARM64) | experimental, x64 only |
| repos inside WSL | yes, in the same app | not documented |
| macOS | yes | yes, signed universal app, macOS 12 or later |
| Linux | yes (AppImage, .deb) | yes (x64 AppImage) |
| agents | ||
| agents | any CLI, in real terminals | any CLI, in real terminals |
| everyday work | ||
| worktree per task | yes, by default | yes, or attach to your main checkout |
| review and git | Changes panel, diff tabs, commit, push, merge | diff editor, git client, PRs on GitHub, GitLab and Azure DevOps |
| sandbox | no | macOS Seatbelt sandbox with a network allowlist; Docker on any OS |
| remote and teams | ||
| remote machines | Remote Pane on your own server | no SSH or phone; experimental LAN pairing between desktops |
| safety and setup | ||
| license | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0-or-later |
| account needed | no | no |
basics
what it is
pane
termic
a desktop appplatforms
Windows
pane
termic
experimental, x64 onlyrepos inside WSL
pane
termic
not documentedmacOS
pane
termic
yes, signed universal app, macOS 12 or laterLinux
pane
termic
yes (x64 AppImage)agents
agents
pane
termic
any CLI, in real terminalseveryday work
worktree per task
pane
termic
yes, or attach to your main checkoutreview and git
pane
termic
diff editor, git client, PRs on GitHub, GitLab and Azure DevOpssandbox
pane
termic
macOS Seatbelt sandbox with a network allowlist; Docker on any OSremote and teams
remote machines
pane
termic
no SSH or phone; experimental LAN pairing between desktopssafety and setup
license
pane
termic
AGPL-3.0-or-lateraccount needed
pane
termic
noTermic facts checked on November 5, 2026 (Termic v1.20.0); Pane facts from Pane v2.4.157.
why people look for a termic alternative
Windows is experimental, WSL is undocumented, and there's no remote access yet.
Termic is signed and notarized on macOS and ships a Linux AppImage. On Windows there's an x64 installer, with no ARM64 build. Its README calls Windows "experimental," and its Windows notes say nobody has used it day to day yet. Those notes also list what Windows is missing: hooks for agents other than Claude, auto-launching the CLI and PDF preview. WSL only comes up in build notes, and no issue mentions it, so treat WSL repos as untested.
Remote work isn't there yet either. A request for SSH workspaces (#82) has been open since July 2026, and a mobile app (#165) is planned. Termic is one developer's side project, and it moves fast: 192 releases since May 2026. One open report (#429) describes crashes about every other day. With an editor, code navigation, a git client and a Kanban view, it's also a big app to learn.
moving from termic to pane
Termic and Pane both run the real agent CLIs, so your logins and plans carry over.
Termic's tasks map straight onto Panes. Add your repository, then make one Pane per task. Pane creates the worktree and branch and copies in your .env and agent config. Claude Code and Codex start with a click (Cursor too on macOS, Linux and WSL). Gemini CLI, Amp, OpenCode, Pi or anything else runs as a custom command.
Termic's markers for agents waiting on you become Pane's status dots and notifications. Diffs live in the Changes panel, and commit, push and merge each have a shortcut. On Windows you get the same app as on macOS and Linux, and it opens repos inside WSL too.
our verdict
On a Mac, Termic is hard to beat for free: a real sandbox, multi-repo tasks, and pull requests on GitLab and Azure DevOps. On Windows or WSL, Pane is the most direct switch, with a supported Windows build and WSL repos. Orca suits you if you want SSH hosts and a phone app together. Emdash suits ticket-driven work. Paseo lets you check in from your phone without an account.
how we checked
We did this as desk research on November 5, 2026, reading Termic's README, site and local-only page, Windows notes, changelog, GitHub releases and issue tracker. We didn't install or run Termic.
Facts about Orca, Emdash and Paseo come from their own docs and changelogs, checked on October 3 and 4, 2026.
- What we ran
- → Desk research: Termic's README, site, Windows notes, changelog, releases and issue tracker, checked November 5, 2026. We didn't install or run it.
- Who wrote this
- We make Pane, so we have a stake in this. We checked every claim about Termic against its own site, docs, releases and issues on the dates above.
- 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
By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. .