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Coterm

Coterm is a macOS workspace for two developers to collaborate in a shared terminal, browser, and coding-agent session.

Place
#6 of 26
Score
7.3
Coterm's website

What Coterm is

Coterm is a macOS workspace for two developers to collaborate in a shared terminal, browser, and coding-agent session. A live room lets both people follow the terminal, see who is present, and share previews. Its shared workflow lists support for Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Aider, Amp, Cursor Agent, and other CLI agents. The Ghostty-based terminal has vertical tabs, a notification panel, and a socket-based control API; a CLI and Unix socket offer programmatic control. Coterm can run locally without a Coterm-hosted account service, while its collaboration relay, control plane, presence, and approval flow run in the user's Cloudflare account. It is free to use under GPL-3.0-or-later. The desktop app installs from a DMG or Homebrew and requires macOS 14.0 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel Macs. An iOS companion app is in beta for attaching to a Mac's terminals. After relaunch, the app restores layout and metadata, but not arbitrary live process state; unsupported apps reopen as normal terminals.

Good

  • Free to use under GPL-3.0-or-later.
  • Supports a broad range of listed CLI agents.
  • Collaboration runs in the user's Cloudflare account.
  • Offers a CLI and Unix socket for programmatic control.

Watch out

  • Desktop app requires macOS 14.0 or later.
  • iOS companion app is in beta.
  • Does not restore arbitrary live process state.

Who it suits

Coterm suits developers who want to pair in a shared terminal and coding-agent workflow, especially those who can use a Mac and want to self-host collaboration. Its beta iOS companion may suit users who want to attach to a Mac's terminals from a phone.

Verdict

Coterm combines a local Mac workspace with self-hosted pairing features and CLI-agent support. Keep in mind that its session restore covers layout and metadata, not arbitrary running processes.

Plans and prices

From Coterm's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
CotermFreeFree to use · GPL-3.0-or-later · macOS app · optional self-hosted collaboration backend
FreeFreemacOS desktop app · self-hosted collaboration backend optional · GPL-3.0-or-later source · Free to use
Founders EditionPriced on requestIncludes early access to the beta iOS companion and other early features · Not stated

The facts

Each one read from Coterm's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Account requirement
The Mac app works locally without a Coterm-hosted account service, and pair programming is self-hosted.checked 4 Oct 2026
Agent hibernation
An opt-in setting can suspend idle off-screen coding-agent processes and restore them when their tab is revisited.checked 15 Oct 2026
Agent support
The site lists Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Aider, Amp, Cursor Agent, and other CLI agents as supported in the shared workflow.checked 4 Oct 2026
Build from source
The repository instructions require cloning with submodules, running setup scripts and using Xcode for a macOS build.checked 15 Oct 2026
CLI and socket API
Coterm exposes a CLI and newline-delimited JSON Unix-socket interface for workspace, pane, notification and sidebar control.checked 15 Oct 2026
Configuration format
Settings use commented JSON with a published schema and support global and project-local coterm.json files.checked 15 Oct 2026
Data handling
The iOS documentation says interactive terminal content and keystrokes flow directly between the phone and Mac rather than through Coterm servers.checked 15 Oct 2026
Distribution
Homebrew lists a coterm cask, but its description identifies a different Datadog terminal-recording utility rather than the coterm.cc product.checked 15 Oct 2026
Documentation depth
The documentation covers configuration keys, keyboard shortcuts, skills, browser automation, diagnostics, customization and API commands.checked 15 Oct 2026
File previews
The app can preview text, code, PDFs, images, audio, video and Quick Look files inside Coterm.checked 15 Oct 2026
Independent discussion
A Reddit post describes Coterm as free, open source and self-hosted, while warning that early builds were rough, macOS-only and initially not notarized.checked 15 Oct 2026
Independent recommendation
A software-comparison page presents Coterm as an option for pairing around Claude Code, Codex and other CLI agents, emphasizing self-hosting.checked 15 Oct 2026
Installation and requirements
The app can be installed from a DMG or Homebrew and requires macOS 14.0 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel Macs.checked 4 Oct 2026
Integrations
Automation hooks are documented for Claude Code, Amp, Cursor, Gemini CLI and Kiro CLI.checked 15 Oct 2026
License
Coterm’s source is published under the GPL-3.0-or-later license.checked 15 Oct 2026
Limit: early maturity
The independent Reddit discussion characterizes early Coterm builds as rough and initially lacking notarization.checked 15 Oct 2026
Limit: hosted service dependency
Pair programming requires deploying and operating the collaboration backend in the customer’s Cloudflare account.checked 15 Oct 2026

The company

Company
The site's legal pages identify the company as emergent.inc.checked 4 Oct 2026
Company identity
The public GitHub organization behind the repository is named Mana, lists the United States and links to mana.am; no legal company name or founding year is stated there.checked 15 Oct 2026
Company size
No Coterm-specific employee count, headquarters address, funding record or Crunchbase profile was stated on the opened official and company pages.checked 15 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Core app features
The docs describe a Ghostty-based terminal with vertical tabs, a notification panel, and a socket-based control API.checked 4 Oct 2026
Embedded browser
Coterm includes browser panes with configurable search engines, URL routing, download behavior and developer tools.checked 15 Oct 2026
iOS companion
An iOS beta app is distributed through TestFlight and requires a Mac running Coterm plus a network path to that Mac.checked 15 Oct 2026
iOS networking limit
Coterm does not provide networking for the iOS companion; users must provide connectivity such as Tailscale or WireGuard.checked 15 Oct 2026

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