Pane vs Superset
By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. Tested every agent manager in this comparison set in production. .
Both Pane and Superset are agent-agnostic tools for running AI coding agents in parallel. The key differences: Pane is AGPL-3.0 open source and the only option with first-class Windows x64, Windows ARM64, Mac, Linux, and WSL-aware workflow support. Superset is source-available under ELv2 (not OSI-approved open source), built and tested on macOS — Linux added a AppImage in February 2026, Windows remains untested. Superset 2.0 (April 2026) added remote workspaces and a standalone CLI binary. Pane is local-first by default, and Remote Pane lets the desktop app connect to your own daemon on a VM, WSL box, or another machine when you want the runtime elsewhere.
per-use-case verdict
- → If your team has a single Windows or Linux developer, choose Pane. Superset's desktop app is Mac-tested only; Linux via AppImage is partial and Windows is untested.
- → If you need remote workspaces across machines, compare the model: Superset has remote workspaces; Pane has an optional self-hosted Remote Pane daemon.
- → If SOC 2 is a hard procurement requirement today, choose Superset. Pane is source-auditable AGPL-3.0 but uncertified.
- → If you want zero extra dependencies (no Bun, Caddy, gh CLI), choose Pane. Pane ships as a single desktop installer and needs only git.
feature comparison
| pane | superset | |
|---|---|---|
| platform | windows x64 + arm64, mac, linux, WSL-aware workflows | mac (tested). linux AppImage (Feb 2026), windows untested |
| agents | any CLI agent | any CLI agent |
| diff viewer | built-in, syntax-highlighted | built-in (side-by-side + inline) |
| git workflow | commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all keyboard | worktrees + merge |
| keyboard-first | every action has a shortcut. command palette (⌘K) | keyboard shortcuts for common actions |
| worktree management | automatic — create pane, get worktree. delete pane, cleaned up | automatic per workspace |
| remote workspaces | local by default; optional self-hosted remote daemon | yes — added in Superset 2.0 (Apr 2026) |
| session persistence | yes — survives restarts | yes |
| license | AGPL-3.0 (OSI-approved open source) | ELv2 (source-available, not OSI-approved) |
| pricing | free | free + pro ($20/seat/mo) |
| SOC 2 | no — AGPL-3.0 source-auditable | Type 1 + pentest passed Mar 2026 |
| notifications | desktop + sound | yes |
| terminal engine | xterm.js (same as VS Code), 50k scrollback | xterm.js |
| system dependencies | git only | bun, git 2.20+, github CLI, caddy (desktop app) |
where pane wins
cross-platform — actually
Pane runs on Windows x64, Windows ARM64, Mac, and Linux with identical UI, shortcuts, and features. Windows and WSL are first-class workflows — not "might work" footnotes. Superset's repository states macOS is the only tested platform; Linux gained an AppImage in February 2026, and Windows remains untested. 70% of developers use Windows or Linux.
zero dependencies beyond git
Pane requires git and nothing else. Superset's desktop app requires Bun v1.0+, Git 2.20+, GitHub CLI, and Caddy. Fewer dependencies means fewer things that can break. Superset 2.0 also ships a standalone CLI binary, but the desktop app's dependency footprint is unchanged.
keyboard-first by design
Every single action in Pane has a keyboard shortcut — new pane, switch pane, view diff, commit, push, rebase, squash, merge. The command palette (⌘K) puts everything one keystroke away. Pane was built as a keyboard app that happens to have a GUI.
full git workflow from the keyboard
Commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all from keyboard shortcuts with command preview before execution. The agent writes code, you review the diff, you ship. That loop is seamless in Pane.
always free, no lock-in
Pane is free and AGPL-3.0 — no paid tier, no lock-in, self-hostable with full source access. Superset has a $20/seat/month Pro plan and is source-available under ELv2 — you can read the code, but you cannot offer it as a competing service.
where superset has an edge
richest primitive set of any competitor
Superset has the most complete feature set of any agent manager: workspaces, projects, agents, tasks with org-wide status and priority, automations (RRULE-based recurring agent runs), and — since 2.0 — remote hosts. Pane is intentionally minimal; Superset is the choice if you want a full orchestration layer.
SOC 2 Type 1 + penetration testing
Superset passed SOC 2 Type 1 and an independent penetration test in March 2026. If your procurement checklist requires a formal compliance certificate, Superset has it today. Pane is source-auditable AGPL-3.0 but uncertified.
remote workspaces
Superset 2.0 (April 27 2026) lets you point your local app at any Superset device on the same network. If your team shares a powerful workstation or needs agents to run on a specific machine, this matters. Pane handles remote execution through Remote Pane: install the headless daemon on your own VM, WSL box, or workstation, paste the printed pane-remote://... code in Settings, and keep the desktop UI local.
theme marketplace + standalone CLI binary
Superset ships a theme marketplace and, as of the 2.0 release, a standalone CLI binary for headless use. Pane has a single terminal-native desktop app with no theme marketplace.
where they're similar
Both are agent-agnostic — run Claude Code, Codex, Aider, Goose, or any CLI agent. Both use git worktrees for isolation. Both have built-in diff viewers and session persistence. Both are Electron apps using xterm.js for terminals. The common HN critique of agent managers — "you're just converting typing time into reading time" — applies to both equally. The workflow section below addresses this directly.
pr cycle walkthrough
in superset
Select or create a workspace in the project panel, spawn an agent in that workspace, then review the generated diff in Superset's built-in side-by-side viewer. Run any setup scripts the project needs, then push from the Superset CLI or a terminal session. With Superset 2.0, the workspace can run on a remote machine while your review UI stays local.
in pane
Open Pane and create a new pane — a git worktree is provisioned automatically. Launch your agent in the embedded terminal. When the agent finishes, press ⌘D to open the syntax-highlighted diff viewer without leaving the keyboard. Review, then ⌘K to open the command palette and commit and push in one step. The entire loop — task to merged branch — stays local by default, or runs on your Remote Pane host when you connect one.
how your superset data maps to pane
| superset | pane | note |
|---|---|---|
| workspace | pane + worktree | 1:1 — branch-scoped worktree; name and branch carry over directly |
| project | working directory | point Pane at the same repo directory; project metadata is implicit |
| agent (terminal-agent row) | agent | 1:1 — command, args, env all export via superset agents list --json |
| task | task | title, description, and status carry over; org-wide priority and assignee are lost |
| automation | no equivalent | RRULE-based scheduled runs — Pane has no scheduler |
| host (remote machine) | remote pane profile | Install the Pane daemon on the host and import its pane-remote:// code in Settings. |
| session | session | 1:1 concept — live terminal state cannot be exported |
Today this is manual. Superset exports structured JSON via its CLI (superset workspaces list --json, superset tasks list --json) — the best export of any agent manager. A one-click "Import from Superset" adapter is on the Pane roadmap.
the bottom line
If you're on macOS and want a rich orchestration layer with remote workspaces, automations, and SOC 2 compliance, Superset is a strong choice. If you're on Windows or Linux, Pane is the only option with first-class support. If you want a keyboard-first workflow with a simple local path, optional self-hosted remote runtime, full git control, and no lock-in — Pane is built for that.