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Paneherd vs cmux
cmux is an open-source, Ghostty-based terminal for macOS with vertical tabs and notifications for AI coding agents. It is a terminal, not an editor.
Short answer: cmux is a macOS terminal built on Ghostty with vertical tabs, notification rings and an in-app browser. Paneherd lives inside VS Code or Cursor, works on Windows and Linux too, and adds agent status from hooks and a permission inbox.
| cmux | Paneherd | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Native macOS terminal app | VS Code and Cursor extension |
| Platforms | macOS; an iOS beta pairs with the Mac app | Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Agents | Any terminal agent | Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI |
| Needs-input signal | Notification rings on panes and tabs; jump to latest unread | Per-pane status from hooks, a count of panes waiting and a jump to the next |
| Sidebar | Git branch, PR status, directory, ports, latest notification | Status, usage limits, Claude Code permission inbox (Pro) |
| Browser | Split browser pane | Use your editor's |
| Remote | cmux ssh workspaces | Phone remote |
| License and price | GPL-3.0-or-later; free, optional paid Founder's Edition | Free to 4 panes; Pro is a one-time purchase |
Where cmux is the better choice
- You use a Mac and want a fast native terminal with notification rings.
- You want branch, PR status and ports in the tab sidebar.
- You want a scriptable in-app browser.
Where Paneherd is the better choice
- You are on Windows or Linux.
- You want agents beside your code in VS Code or Cursor.
- You want a permission inbox, usage limits and broadcast.
Paneherd is not for you if
- You want to replace your terminal rather than extend your editor.
- You do not use VS Code or Cursor.
Can you use both?
Often yes. Paneherd runs the CLIs you already have, so it can sit next to cmux rather than replace it. See also the full comparison.