magent vs Claude Squad vs CCManager vs tmux compared
magent tiles each AI coding agent into its own real OS window across all your monitors. Claude Squad and CCManager are terminal apps built around git worktrees, tmux multiplexes panes, and Claude Code’s agent view lists background sessions on one screen. Every claim about another tool below links to its own README or docs, checked 2026-10-01.
The comparison table
Cells quote or closely paraphrase each tool’s own page. Where that page says nothing on a point, the cell reads “Not stated in README” — that means the README is silent, not that the tool lacks the feature. Scroll sideways on a narrow screen.
| criterion | magent | Claude Squad | CCManager | tmux | Claude Code built-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| what it is | Opens every project in its own terminal, launches your AI agent, auto-tiles all windows across your screens | Terminal app managing multiple Claude Code, Codex, Gemini and other local agents in separate workspaces | CLI for managing multiple AI coding assistant sessions across Git worktrees and projects | Terminal multiplexer: several terminals created, accessed and controlled from a single screen | Agent view (claude agents): one screen for all your background sessions |
| where sessions are shown | Separate terminal windows, tiled across monitors | “one terminal window” | Sessions managed from a single interface; you switch between them (window layout not described in README) | Inside one terminal, one screen | One screen listing every session; attach to a row to enter it |
| OS support | Launch and tile: Windows, macOS, Linux. psmux sessions, Alt+V paste, idle reaping, window badges: Windows only | Not stated in README (prerequisites: tmux, gh) | Not stated in README (it names a Windows config path, %APPDATA%\ccmanager\sessions.json) | OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Linux, macOS, Solaris | Claude Code installs on macOS, Linux, WSL and Windows; agent view is a research preview |
| git worktree per task | Not stated in README | Yes: each task gets its own isolated git workspace | Yes: sessions across worktrees; create, merge, delete from the app | Not stated in README | Yes: background sessions move into an isolated worktree under .claude/worktrees/ before editing |
| after a restart | Each window resumes the Claude or Codex session (claude --continue by default) | Can pause and resume a session; restart behaviour not stated in README | Offers to restore sessions: reruns the same command, not the conversation, per the README | Sessions can be detached and reattached; reboot not stated | State persists across supervisor restarts; shutdown still stops running sessions; the conversation stays on disk and resumes on next attach or reply |
| agent state and notifications | States working, needs-input, done, error, idle via hooks; magent watch table; ntfy phone push on all OSes; window badges and taskbar flash on Windows only | Not stated in README | Status indicators (busy, waiting, idle); status change hooks | Window activity and silence monitoring options (monitor-activity, monitor-silence) | Rows show what needs your input; while agent view is open it sends a terminal notification and fires the Notification hook (agent_needs_input, agent_completed) |
| from your phone | Upload files and screenshots from your phone over Tailscale (all OSes); pasting the path into a live session is Windows-only. Attach over SSH from a phone to psmux sessions (Windows hosts) | Not stated in README | Not stated in README | Programs on a remote server reachable from other computers; phones not mentioned | Remote Control: continue a local session from phone, tablet or browser (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise; not API keys) |
| install | pip install magent-multi-ai-agents-manager or uv tool install | brew install claude-squad or an install script | npm install -g ccmanager or npx ccmanager | apt install tmux, brew install tmux, or build from source | Native installer, Homebrew or WinGet |
| license | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 | MIT (repository LICENSE file) | ISC (COPYING file) | Not stated on the docs pages checked |
Several magent features are Windows-only. Its README says launching, tiling and the mobile upload server run on Windows, macOS and Linux, but persistent psmux sessions, the Alt+V hotkey, idle reaping and magent terminal install are Windows-only; the auto-paste of an uploaded file into a live session uses psmux too, so that last hop is Windows-only. magent is AGPL-3.0.
Where each source is, and when we checked
Read on 2026-10-01. If a README has changed since, trust the README.
- magent README — checked 2026-10-01 (the 3.20.0 release).
- Claude Squad: README — checked 2026-10-01.
- CCManager: README — checked 2026-10-01.
- tmux: README, wiki and man page, README, man page, COPYING (license), Installing wiki — checked 2026-10-01.
- Claude Code (agent view and Remote Control): docs, Remote Control docs, setup docs — checked 2026-10-01.
Choose magent if…
You run many projects at once and want each agent in its own real terminal window, placed for you across every monitor, with your Claude Code and Codex sessions resumed. See tiling across monitors and resuming a Claude Code session after a restart. It is a weaker fit if you want per-task git worktrees managed for you (its README does not describe that), or if you are not on Windows and need persistent sessions: those are Windows-only today.
Choose Claude Squad if…
You want everything in one terminal window with each task in its own git worktree. Its README lists reviewing changes before applying them and running tasks in the background, and it can launch Codex, Gemini or Aider with cs -p. It needs tmux and gh installed.
Choose CCManager if…
You want worktree management plus live session status without installing tmux: its README states it is self-contained and shows busy, waiting and idle per session. It lists many supported assistants, from Claude Code to Kimi CLI and MiniMax Code, and offers to restore the sessions that were open when it last exited.
Choose tmux if…
You work in one terminal, often over SSH, and want sessions that survive disconnects: the tmux wiki lists protecting programs on a remote server from connection drops as a main use. It is a general terminal multiplexer rather than an agent manager, and it is the right base under several tools above. Our magent vs tmux post goes deeper.
Choose Claude Code’s built-in features if…
You want one vendor and nothing extra to install: agent view lists every background session, and Remote Control continues a local session from your phone. The docs note that background sessions run on your machine and use your subscription usage like interactive sessions, and that agent view is a research preview. Our phone control guide covers magent’s side of that.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Claude Squad alternative for Windows?
Claude Squad’s README does not list supported operating systems; it lists tmux and gh as prerequisites. CCManager’s README has no platform list either. magent’s README says launching and tiling run on Windows, macOS and Linux, while persistent psmux sessions, the Alt+V paste hotkey and idle reaping are Windows-only. Check each project’s README for your OS before relying on it.
What is the difference between magent and tmux?
tmux is a terminal multiplexer: its README says it enables a number of terminals to be created, accessed, and controlled from a single screen, and that it can be detached and later reattached. magent opens each project in its own terminal window and tiles those windows across your monitors; it does not replace a multiplexer.
Which of these tools show when an AI agent needs my input?
CCManager’s README lists visual status indicators (busy, waiting, idle). magent records working, needs-input, done, error and idle states from agent hooks and shows them in magent watch. Claude Code’s agent view shows what needs your input. Claude Squad’s README does not state a status feature.
Can Claude Code manage multiple sessions without a third-party tool?
Yes. Claude Code’s agent view (claude agents) is one screen for all your background sessions, and Remote Control continues a local session from a phone, tablet or browser. Background sessions run on your machine and use your subscription usage the same as interactive sessions, per the docs. Agent view is a research preview, per the docs.
The install guide takes about two minutes end to end.