By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. Tested every agent manager in this comparison set in production. .
Claude Squad is an independent open-source terminal UI (TUI) by smtg-ai for running multiple Claude Code, Codex, Aider, Gemini, OpenCode, and Amp sessions in parallel, built on tmux and git worktrees. Pane is a standalone desktop app that supports any CLI agent on any OS — no tmux required.
benchmark data: See how Pane and Claude Squad compare on memory, disk, and workflow keystrokes in our Q2 2026 measurement run.
| pane | claude squad | |
|---|---|---|
| platform | windows + mac + linux | mac + linux only (requires tmux) |
| windows support | native, first-class | none — tmux doesn't exist on windows |
| agents | any CLI agent — zero integration needed | claude code, aider, codex, gemini, opencode, amp |
| interface | native desktop app (Electron + xterm.js) | terminal UI (TUI) inside tmux |
| diff viewer | built-in, syntax-highlighted | none |
| git workflow | commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all keyboard | worktrees only |
| command palette | yes (⌘K) | no |
| notifications | desktop + sound | no |
| session persistence | yes — survives restarts | no — tmux sessions are ephemeral |
| dependencies | git only | tmux + gh CLI |
| open source | yes (AGPL-3.0) | yes (AGPL-3.0) |
| built by | dcouple inc | smtg-ai (independent OSS) |
windows support
Claude Squad has a hard dependency on tmux, which doesn't exist on Windows. 70% of developers use Windows. Pane runs natively on Windows, Mac, and Linux — same UI, same shortcuts, same features.
real desktop app vs TUI
Claude Squad is a terminal UI running inside tmux. Pane is a standalone desktop app with a built-in diff viewer, command palette, desktop notifications, and persistent sessions. You don't need to learn tmux keybindings or manage tmux sessions.
built-in git workflow
Claude Squad creates worktrees but leaves git operations to you. Pane has commit, push, rebase, squash, and merge built in — all from keyboard shortcuts with command preview.
built-in diff viewer
Claude Squad has no diff viewer. You need to use a separate tool to review what agents wrote. Pane shows syntax-highlighted diffs inline — review and commit without switching windows.
session persistence
Close your laptop, reopen Pane — everything's still there. Claude Squad sessions live inside tmux and don't survive restarts the same way.
tmux-native for terminal-fluent devs
If you already live in tmux on Mac or Linux and want a polished Go TUI, Claude Squad fits cleanly into that habit without needing a desktop app context switch.
zero-install for tmux users
If you already live in tmux on Mac or Linux, Claude Squad fits right into your existing workflow with minimal setup.
claude squad
Run cs to launch the TUI → press n for a new instance → tmux session spins up and the agent starts → review output in the TUI → gh pr diff in a separate pane to review the diff → commit and gh pr create from the gh CLI.
pane
Open Pane → agent launches in its worktree → press ⌘D to open the diff viewer → review syntax-highlighted changes → ⌘K to commit → ⌘⇧P to push → done. Everything in one window, no separate CLI step.
| claude squad concept | pane equivalent | migration notes |
|---|---|---|
| instance | pane | Title, Path, Branch, Status, Program all map directly to Pane metadata |
| tmux session | session (lossy) | The live tmux process is gone after migration; branch + title survive |
| git worktree | worktree | Direct 1:1 — Branch and Path fields give the exact location |
| profile (name + program) | agent | The program field is the CLI command; maps directly to agent type |
| AutoYes | no equivalent | Claude Squad's auto-Enter daemon has no Pane counterpart yet |
| prompt (initial prompt) | task | Stored as Prompt string in instances.json; maps to Pane task description |
Today this is manual. The easiest adapter target — Claude Squad uses plain JSON at ~/.claude-squad/instances.json. A one-click “Import from Claude Squad” adapter is on the Pane roadmap.
Claude Squad is a solid TUI for Mac/Linux tmux users who primarily use Claude Code. If you need Windows support, a desktop app experience, built-in diff viewer, full git workflow, or persistent sessions — Pane is the tool built for that. And Pane supports every CLI agent, not just the ones it has specific integration for.