Best Multi-Agent Desktop Apps (2026)

You Shouldn’t Have to Pick One Agent

Six months ago, the question was “Claude Code or Codex?” Now the question is “which tool lets me use both?”

Claude Code is better at large refactors. Codex is faster for targeted edits and code review. Gemini CLI handles documentation well. Each AI coding agent has strengths and those relative strengths will change over time, and the developers getting the most out of them are not picking one, they are running multiple agents from a single interface.

A new category of multi-agent desktop apps has emerged to support this workflow. Some are terminal multiplexers. Some are full workspaces. Some are IDE features you might not know about. This post compares every option worth considering in 2026.

Why One App for Multiple Agents

Running Claude Code in one terminal and Codex in another technically works. Here is why it falls apart in practice.

Context fragmentation. Each agent runs in isolation. The Codex session does not know what your Claude Code session just refactored. You become the message bus between agents, copy-pasting context and re-explaining decisions.

Session sprawl multiplied. Managing five Claude Code sessions is already hard. Managing five Claude Code sessions and three Codex sessions across two projects is impossible without visual tooling. You need one place to see all your agents, regardless of provider.

Inconsistent review workflows. Reviewing Claude Code output in the terminal, then reviewing Codex output in the Codex app, then reviewing Copilot output in VS Code means three different review interfaces for the same kind of work. A multi-agent desktop app gives you one review workflow for all agents.

The tools below solve these problems to varying degrees.

VS Code Multi-Agent Mode

Price: Free (with agent subscriptions)

Since the January 2026 release, VS Code supports running Claude Code, Codex, and GitHub Copilot agents side by side. All agents appear in the same Agent Sessions view. You can delegate tasks between them, compare outputs, and switch between sessions without leaving your editor.

Strengths:

• Zero additional tooling. If you already use VS Code, multi-agent support is built in.
• Unified session view across Claude Code, Codex, and Copilot.
• Deep integration with your existing editor workflow.
• Free — you only pay for the agent subscriptions you already have.

Limitations:

• Tied to VS Code. If you use a different editor for your main work, this does not help.
• Session management is basic — a flat list, not a kanban or project-organized view.
• No visual planning tools, mockup editors, or diagram support.
• Limited isolation between agents — no automatic git worktree separation.

Best for: VS Code users who want multi-agent support without adding another tool to their stack.

JetBrains Air

Price: Free (preview)

JetBrains Air is a standalone desktop app for orchestrating multiple AI coding agents. It supports Codex, Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and JetBrains’ own Junie agent out of the box. Tasks run locally by default, with optional Docker container and git worktree isolation.

Strengths:

• Four-agent support on day one, with more planned.
• Standalone app — not tied to any specific IDE.
• Docker and worktree isolation for safe parallel work.
• Backed by JetBrains, with deep understanding of developer tooling.

Limitations:

• macOS only in preview. Windows and Linux coming later.
• New product — still early, feature set evolving.
• No visual editors, diagram tools, or planning features.
• No mobile access for monitoring agents remotely.

Best for: Developers who want a dedicated multi-agent orchestration tool from a trusted vendor.

Claude Squad

Price: Free (open source)

Claude Squad is a terminal-based manager for multiple AI agents. Despite the name, it supports Claude Code, Codex, Aider, OpenCode, and Amp. Each agent gets its own git worktree, so parallel sessions do not conflict.

With 5,800 GitHub stars, it has the largest community of any open-source multi-agent tool.

Strengths:

• Five-agent support with git worktree isolation per session.
• Open source with active community.
• Lightweight — runs in the terminal, minimal overhead.
• Tmux-based session management.

Limitations:

• Terminal UI only. No graphical interface.
• No visual diff review, file change tracking, or planning tools.
• Session management is functional but basic — no kanban, no tagging.
• Requires comfort with tmux-style workflows.

Best for: Terminal-native developers who want multi-agent orchestration without leaving the command line.

Nimbalyst

Price: Free for individuals

Nimbalyst is a multi-agent workspace — not just an orchestration layer, but a full development environment with visual editors alongside your AI agents. It supports Claude Code natively and Codex through provider configuration.

The key difference from the tools above: Nimbalyst is not a terminal multiplexer or a thin wrapper. It is a workspace where you plan features with visual mockups and diagrams, run agents to build them, review changes with inline diffs, and track progress on a kanban board. The agents are integrated into a broader workflow rather than being the entire product.

Strengths:

• Multi-agent support with Claude Code and Codex.
• Visual planning tools: markdown editor, mockup designer, Excalidraw diagrams, data model editor.
• Session kanban board with tagging, filtering, and project organization.
• Git worktree isolation for parallel sessions.
• File traceability — see exactly which files each agent read and wrote.
• iOS companion app for monitoring agents from your phone.
• Free for individuals. Desktop app on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Limitations:

• Narrower agent support
• Heavier than a terminal multiplexer if you only need basic session listing.

Best for: Developers and teams who want a full workspace around their AI agents — not just a way to run them, but a way to plan, build, review, and ship with them.

Comparison Table

Feature	VS Code	JetBrains Air	Claude Squad	Nimbalyst
Claude Code support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Codex support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other agents	Copilot	Gemini, Junie	Aider, OpenCode, Amp	Via config
GUI interface	Yes	Yes	No (TUI)	Yes
Git worktree isolation	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Visual planning tools	No	No	No	Yes
Session kanban	No	No	No	Yes
File traceability	Partial	No	No	Yes
Mobile access	No	No	No	Yes (iOS)
Free tier	Yes	Yes (preview)	Yes	Yes

How to Choose

If you already live in VS Code, the built-in multi-agent mode is the obvious starting point. No new tools, no context switching. Just add agent extensions and go.

If you want a standalone multi-agent tool, JetBrains Air is the most polished standalone option for orchestrating multiple agents outside of an IDE.

If you live in the terminal, Claude Squad gives you multi-agent orchestration without leaving the command line.

If you want a workspace, Nimbalyst is the only tool that pairs multi-agent support with visual planning, kanban session management, file traceability, and mobile monitoring. The other tools help you run agents. Nimbalyst helps you ship with them.