--- title: "Conductor alternatives: parallel agent tools (Nov 2026)" description: "Parallel coding agent tools compared from their own sites (Nov 2026): Orca, Paradev, Emdash, Agentastic, Nimbalyst, Claude Squad and more." url: "https://micromanager.win/alternatives" updated: "2026-11-08" --- # Conductor alternatives: tools for running coding agents in parallel Since Meta bought Conductor on 4 November 2026, the main choices for running several coding agents at once are desktop apps that give each agent its own git worktree (microManager, Orca, Paradev, Emdash, Agentastic, Nimbalyst), terminal tools such as Claude Squad, and the single-agent apps from Anthropic and OpenAI. Every fact below comes from each tool’s own site or repository, read on 8 November 2026. Updated 8 November 2026 ## How do they compare at a glance? microManager is ours, so it is listed first and marked; everything else is in no particular order. Tools change quickly: check each one’s site before you decide. | Tool | Platforms | Agents | Isolation | License and price | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [microManager](https://micromanager.win/) (this site) | macOS (Apple Silicon; Intel when a release has an Intel build), Windows x64, Linux x64 | Claude Code, Codex, Grok Build, OpenCode, Gemini CLI and any ACP agent | A git worktree and branch per workspace | Free, closed source, no account; imports from Conductor | | [Orca](https://github.com/stablyai/orca) | macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; iOS and Android companion apps | Any CLI agent; its README names 34, including Claude Code, Codex, Grok, OpenCode, Cursor and GitHub Copilot | Each agent works in its own git worktree; a worktree can also get its own cloud VM | MIT, free and open source; you bring your own agent subscriptions | | [Paradev (formerly Superset)](https://paradev.com/blog/a-new-name) | macOS, with an experimental Linux build; an iPhone and iPad app | Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor’s agent, Copilot CLI and other CLI agents | Each task runs in its own git worktree workspace | MIT since 4 November 2026 (previously the Elastic License 2.0); uses your own subscriptions and API keys and does not bill model usage; the mobile app needs Paradev Pro | | [Emdash](https://github.com/generalaction/emdash) | macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; remote machines over SSH | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Amp, Devin, Qwen Code, Droid, GitHub Copilot and more | Every task runs in its own git worktree and branch | Apache-2.0, open source; no price listed | | [Agentastic](https://www.agentastic.dev/) | macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel | 55 built-in agent definitions, 31 of them native or over ACP, including Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and OpenCode | Each workspace is a new git worktree; Apple containers, Docker and remote runners are optional | Free with no sign-up; closed development for now | | [Nimbalyst (formerly Crystal)](https://github.com/Nimbalyst/nimbalyst) | macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; iOS and Android companion apps | Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode and other agents | Git worktree isolation for parallel sessions | MIT, free and open source | | [Claude Squad](https://github.com/smtg-ai/claude-squad) | Installs with Homebrew or a shell script; needs tmux and gh | Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Aider and other local terminal agents | A tmux session per agent and a git worktree per task | AGPL-3.0, free | | [T3 Code](https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code) | macOS, Windows and Linux desktop builds; iOS and Android; a web app | Codex, Claude, Cursor, Grok Build, OpenCode, Antigravity and fx | Its README does not describe worktrees | MIT; nothing for sale; uses your existing provider plans | | [Claude Code in the Claude desktop app](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop) | macOS, Windows, Linux (beta); local, cloud, SSH and WSL sessions | Claude only | Optional per-session git worktree (off by default) under .claude/worktrees; reads .worktreeinclude | Part of Claude; sign in with a Claude account or a supported provider | | [Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/app) | macOS, Windows and Linux (the ChatGPT desktop app) | Codex only | A managed git worktree per chat under $CODEX_HOME/worktrees, with handoff to your local checkout; reads .worktreeinclude | Sign in with a ChatGPT account | | [Vibe Kanban](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban) | Runs locally with Node, or self-hosted | Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, Amp, Cursor, OpenCode, Droid, CCR and Qwen Code | Each workspace gets a branch, a terminal and a dev server | Apache-2.0 | ## What does each tool offer? ### Orca Stably AI Desktop app - Platforms macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; iOS and Android companion apps - Agents Any CLI agent; its README names 34, including Claude Code, Codex, Grok, OpenCode, Cursor and GitHub Copilot - Isolation Each agent works in its own git worktree; a worktree can also get its own cloud VM - Review Line notes on diffs sent back to the agent; drafts commit messages and pull requests - License, price MIT, free and open source; you bring your own agent subscriptions Also offers SSH and remote execution, a built-in browser and a coordinator agent that spawns workers. Source: [github.com/stablyai/orca](https://github.com/stablyai/orca), read 8 November 2026. ### Paradev (formerly Superset) Superset Inc. Desktop app and CLI - Platforms macOS, with an experimental Linux build; an iPhone and iPad app - Agents Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor’s agent, Copilot CLI and other CLI agents - Isolation Each task runs in its own git worktree workspace - Review Reply to agents and review diffs from the iPhone and iPad app - License, price MIT since 4 November 2026 (previously the Elastic License 2.0); uses your own subscriptions and API keys and does not bill model usage; the mobile app needs Paradev Pro Renamed from Superset on 26 October 2026; the superset terminal command keeps working. Sources: [paradev.com/blog/a-new-name](https://paradev.com/blog/a-new-name), [paradev.com/blog/paradev-is-now-mit](https://paradev.com/blog/paradev-is-now-mit), read 8 November 2026. ### Emdash General Action (YC W26) Desktop app - Platforms macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; remote machines over SSH - Agents Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Amp, Devin, Qwen Code, Droid, GitHub Copilot and more - Isolation Every task runs in its own git worktree and branch - Review Diff review, pull requests, CI checks and merging in the app - License, price Apache-2.0, open source; no price listed Source: [github.com/generalaction/emdash](https://github.com/generalaction/emdash), read 8 November 2026. ### Agentastic Agentastic Native macOS app - Platforms macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel - Agents 55 built-in agent definitions, 31 of them native or over ACP, including Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and OpenCode - Isolation Each workspace is a new git worktree; Apple containers, Docker and remote runners are optional - Review Native unified and side-by-side diff viewer, AI review, pull requests and merging - License, price Free with no sign-up; closed development for now Source: [agentastic.dev](https://www.agentastic.dev/), read 8 November 2026. ### Nimbalyst (formerly Crystal) Nimbalyst Desktop app - Platforms macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, Linux; iOS and Android companion apps - Agents Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode and other agents - Isolation Git worktree isolation for parallel sessions - Review A visual workspace for agent sessions, with diffs, tasks, docs, diagrams and mockups - License, price MIT, free and open source Crystal, the earlier app from the same team, was deprecated in February 2026 in favor of Nimbalyst. Sources: [github.com/Nimbalyst/nimbalyst](https://github.com/Nimbalyst/nimbalyst), [github.com/stravu/crystal](https://github.com/stravu/crystal), read 8 November 2026. ### Claude Squad smtg-ai Terminal app (tmux) - Platforms Installs with Homebrew or a shell script; needs tmux and gh - Agents Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Aider and other local terminal agents - Isolation A tmux session per agent and a git worktree per task - Review Terminal-based: review and push each branch yourself - License, price AGPL-3.0, free Source: [github.com/smtg-ai/claude-squad](https://github.com/smtg-ai/claude-squad), read 8 November 2026. ### T3 Code Ping (pingdotgg) Desktop (Electron), web, mobile and CLI - Platforms macOS, Windows and Linux desktop builds; iOS and Android; a web app - Agents Codex, Claude, Cursor, Grok Build, OpenCode, Antigravity and fx - Isolation Its README does not describe worktrees - Review Its README links a source control integrations page without details - License, price MIT; nothing for sale; uses your existing provider plans The README says “We are very very early in this project. Expect bugs.” Source: [github.com/pingdotgg/t3code](https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code), read 8 November 2026. ### Claude Code in the Claude desktop app Anthropic The Code tab of the Claude desktop app - Platforms macOS, Windows, Linux (beta); local, cloud, SSH and WSL sessions - Agents Claude only - Isolation Optional per-session git worktree (off by default) under .claude/worktrees; reads .worktreeinclude - Review Diff view with line comments Claude acts on; pull requests with CI status, auto-fix and merge when ready - License, price Part of Claude; sign in with a Claude account or a supported provider Source: [code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop), read 8 November 2026. ### Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app OpenAI The Codex mode of the ChatGPT desktop app - Platforms macOS, Windows and Linux (the ChatGPT desktop app) - Agents Codex only - Isolation A managed git worktree per chat under $CODEX_HOME/worktrees, with handoff to your local checkout; reads .worktreeinclude - Review Its docs have a code review section - License, price Sign in with a ChatGPT account Sources: [learn.chatgpt.com/docs/app](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/app), [learn.chatgpt.com/docs/environments/git-worktrees](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/environments/git-worktrees), read 8 November 2026. ### Vibe Kanban Bloop AI until April 2026; now community maintained Kanban board with agent workspaces (runs with npx) - Platforms Runs locally with Node, or self-hosted - Agents Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, Amp, Cursor, OpenCode, Droid, CCR and Qwen Code - Isolation Each workspace gets a branch, a terminal and a dev server - Review Inline diff comments sent to the agent; pull requests with generated descriptions - License, price Apache-2.0 Bloop, the company behind it, shut down on 10 April 2026; the project goes on as community-maintained open source, and its README says “Vibe Kanban is sunsetting”. Sources: [github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban), [vibekanban.com/blog/shutdown](https://www.vibekanban.com/blog/shutdown), read 8 November 2026. ## How do I choose? - **Your platform.** microManager, Orca, Emdash, Nimbalyst, T3 Code and the ChatGPT app that runs Codex work on macOS, Windows and Linux; Paradev is for macOS with an experimental Linux build, and Agentastic’s app is Mac only. - **Your agents.** The Claude and ChatGPT desktop apps run only their own agent. Multi-agent tools differ in which CLIs they support out of the box and whether they speak ACP. - **Local or remote.** Some tools add SSH, containers or cloud machines; others, microManager included, run everything on your own computer. - **How much you need to move.** If you have many Conductor workspaces, a tool that imports them and reads `.conductor/settings.toml` saves you rebuilding each repository’s setup. The [Conductor alternative](https://micromanager.win/conductor-alternative) page shows how microManager does that. - **Whether it will be around.** Bloop, the company behind Vibe Kanban, shut down in April 2026 and left the project to its community, Crystal was replaced by Nimbalyst, and T3 Code calls itself very early. Check each project’s recent activity. ## What about plain git worktrees? Running `git worktree add ../my-app-task -b task` and starting an agent CLI in the new folder works with no app at all. What you give up is what the apps automate: copying `.env` files, running setup, assigning ports, watching several chats at once, reviewing diffs and cleaning up worktrees afterwards. ## Questions about the alternatives ### What can I use instead of Conductor? Desktop apps that run several coding agents in git worktrees include microManager, Orca, Paradev (formerly Superset), Emdash, Agentastic and Nimbalyst. Claude Squad does the same in a terminal with tmux. Anthropic and OpenAI also run parallel sessions in their own apps, each for its own agent only. ### Which alternatives are open source? As of 8 November 2026, by their own repositories: Orca (MIT), Paradev (MIT since 4 November 2026), Emdash (Apache-2.0), Nimbalyst (MIT), Claude Squad (AGPL-3.0), T3 Code (MIT) and Vibe Kanban (Apache-2.0). microManager and Agentastic are free but not open source. ### Which alternative can import my Conductor workspaces? microManager has a one-click, read-only import of Conductor’s repositories, workspaces and chats, and reads Conductor’s settings files and CONDUCTOR\_\* variables. We did not find an import from Conductor described on the other tools’ pages we read on 8 November 2026. ### Can I just use git worktrees without an app? Yes. Run git worktree add for each task and start your agent CLI in each folder. You then handle copying .env files, installing dependencies, picking ports and cleaning up yourself, which is what these apps automate.