muxel
Muxel is a desktop terminal workspace for running AI coding agents and shells side by side.
What muxel is
Muxel is a desktop terminal workspace for running AI coding agents and shells side by side. It works on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can also run agents on remote hosts through SSH while its interface, editor, and file browser stay local. Arrange work with horizontal or vertical pane splits, tabs, and separate windows; configurable presets include Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code, Pi, and Shell. Git worktrees provide isolated projects with review and GitHub pull request actions. Prompt-based task runners can launch jobs and schedule saved prompts every few minutes, hourly, or daily. Muxel also includes an editor, file browser, diff review, Git controls, a command palette, and terminal scrollback search. Agent status shows whether work is active, idle, blocked, or done, with desktop notifications for unattended agents needing attention. Muxel is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with a separate commercial license available. Its maker says the app does not send project data, terminal contents, prompts, or usage to them, though configured providers have their own data policies.
Good
- Configurable presets cover several agents and shells.
- Git worktrees support review and pull request actions.
- Remote agents can run over SSH.
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0.
Watch out
- tmux session persistence is disabled on Windows.
- Users are responsible for configured providers’ terms and costs.
Who it suits
Muxel suits people who want coding agents and shells organized in one desktop workspace. It is available across Linux, macOS, and Windows, though tmux session persistence is Unix-only and disabled on Windows.
Verdict
Muxel brings agent sessions, shells, Git worktrees, and task automation into one desktop workspace. Consider its Windows persistence limitation and the separate terms and costs of configured providers.
Plans and prices
From muxel's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free & open source | Free | GPL-3.0 · Linux / macOS / Windows |
The facts
Each one read from muxel's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Agent integrations
- Built-in configurable presets include Shell, Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code and Pi.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Agent panes
- Panes can be split horizontally or vertically, with tabs and layouts that persist per project.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Agent presets
- Built-in agent presets include Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code, Pi, and Shell; presets are configurable.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Agent status
- Live status identifies agents as working, idle, blocked or done, with desktop notifications when an unfocused agent needs attention.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Built-in tools
- The app includes an editor, file browser, diff review, Git controls, command palette, and terminal scrollback search.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Downloads
- Downloads are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, including Linux AppImage, deb, rpm, and tar.gz packages; macOS dmg and zip; and Windows installers and portable zip files.checked 2 Oct 2001
- GitHub integration
- Git worktrees include in-worktree review and GitHub pull request actions.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Git worktrees
- Muxel supports isolated Git worktrees with review and GitHub pull request actions.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Intended users
- The maker describes muxel as a tool for people running coding agents and shells side by side.checked 3 Oct 2001
- License
- The software is available under GPL-3.0 and a separate commercial license for uses that cannot comply with the GPL.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Local data
- The maker says the app runs locally and does not send projects, terminal contents, prompts or usage to them.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Privacy
- The app runs locally and does not send projects, terminal contents, prompts, or usage data to ProjectHax LLC; configured agents and service providers receive data according to their own policies.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Product
- muxel is a native terminal multiplexer for managing multiple AI coding agents from one window.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Remote projects
- Projects can run agents on remote hosts over SSH while the interface, editor and file browser remain local.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Remote work
- Muxel can run agents on remote hosts over SSH, with the interface, editor, and file browser remaining local.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Support
- The maker directs questions about its terms and privacy policy to its GitHub issue tracker.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Task automation
- Task runners can launch agents with templated prompts, and scheduled loops can run prompts every few minutes, hourly or daily.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Third-party services
- Data sent from the machine goes to the agents and LLM or service providers the user configures, under those providers’ privacy policies.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Website data
- The website says it uses no accounts, tracking cookies, third-party analytics, or advertising networks; Cloudflare collects standard traffic and security metrics.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Website privacy
- The site says it uses no accounts, tracking cookies, third-party analytics or advertising networks; Cloudflare collects standard traffic and security metrics.checked 3 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Platform limits
- The GitHub README says tmux session persistence is Unix-only and disabled on Windows.checked 3 Oct 2001
Money
- Third-party costs
- Muxel does not operate the third-party agents or services users configure, and users are responsible for their terms, pricing, and incurred costs.checked 2 Oct 2001
The full review of muxel
Muxel is a desktop workspace for developers coordinating multiple coding agents and shells. It is best suited to people who want agent sessions alongside Git and task tools without paying for the app itself. Its strongest caveat is that tmux session persistence is disabled on Windows.
Overview
Muxel brings terminal sessions, agent status, Git workflows, and local editing and file browsing into one native desktop app. Sessions can run locally or on remote hosts over SSH, while the interface, editor, and file browser remain local. That arrangement suits a developer who wants one control point for several project sessions; it does not remove the need to choose and pay for any third-party agents or services.
Muxel is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with a separate commercial license available from ProjectHax LLC. Its maker says the app does not send projects, terminal contents, prompts, or usage data to the company. Data sent to configured agents and service providers is governed by their own policies, and their terms and costs remain the user's responsibility.
For more choices in the category, see Terminal Multiplexers.
Key features
Flexible session layout and status
Horizontal and vertical pane splits, tabs, and the ability to move panes into separate windows let users arrange concurrent sessions around their work. Status labels identify agents as working, idle, blocked, or done; desktop notifications can call attention to an unfocused agent. These cues help when several tasks are running, while the configurable presets let users bring Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code, Pi, or Shell into the same workspace.
Git worktrees and task automation
Isolated Git worktrees give parallel work a separate working context, with in-worktree review and GitHub pull request actions close at hand. Prompt-based task runners can launch work, and saved prompts can be scheduled every few minutes, hourly, or daily. This is useful for recurring agent tasks, but users still need to configure the agents and services that execute them.
Local tools and remote hosts
An included editor, file browser, diff review, Git controls, command palette, and terminal scrollback search reduce the need to leave the workspace for common project tasks. SSH support extends agent sessions to remote hosts without moving the interface, editor, or file browser off the local machine. Users who need only a basic terminal multiplexer may find this broader agent-oriented toolkit unnecessary.
Pricing
The Free & open source plan costs nothing and covers Linux, macOS, and Windows under GPL-3.0. It includes custom pane layouts and session synchronization, but no collaboration features. There is no paid tier or quota stated for the free plan; a separate commercial license is available from ProjectHax LLC, and third-party agent and service costs are separate. Muxel does not operate those providers, so their pricing and terms apply independently.
Platforms
Muxel is a Linux, macOS, and Windows desktop app, with downloads including Linux AppImage, deb, rpm, and tar.gz packages; macOS dmg and zip; and Windows installers and portable zip files. Remote SSH hosts are supported for running agents. One platform-specific limitation matters: tmux session persistence is Unix-only and disabled on Windows, so Windows users who depend on persistent sessions should look elsewhere.
Who it's for
Muxel is a strong fit for developers who run coding agents and shells side by side, especially those managing parallel Git worktrees, scheduled prompts, or a mix of local and SSH-hosted work. It is less suitable for teams seeking built-in collaboration, Windows users who require tmux persistence, or anyone expecting the app's free license to cover third-party agent usage.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Free GPL-3.0 desktop app across Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a separate commercial license for users who need one.
- Pros: Combines configurable agent presets, status notifications, Git worktrees, and prompt scheduling in one workspace.
- Pros: SSH-hosted agents can be managed while the interface and project tools stay local.
- Cons: Collaboration features are absent, limiting its fit for users who need shared workspaces.
- Cons: tmux session persistence is disabled on Windows, a meaningful drawback for users who rely on sessions surviving disconnection.
- Cons: Configured providers have separate privacy policies, terms, and costs; Muxel does not cover or control them.
Alternatives
Zellij is another free, open-source option for readers who want a multiplexer across desktop and mobile platforms; its hosted session-sharing service is a separate offering in closed beta.
Okena is worth considering for readers who want a free option spanning desktop, mobile, web, and API platforms.
tmux is a free, open-source choice for Linux and macOS users seeking a traditional multiplexer with no paid tiers or usage limits stated.
p2pmux is a free MIT-licensed alternative for Linux and macOS users.
Quil suits readers looking for a free local app across Linux, macOS, and Windows, without a hosted version or paid tier.
TermStation is another free option, with Android, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows platforms.
muxterm is a free, MIT-licensed self-hosted option for readers who want a single binary across Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
Ferrix is another free option for Linux and macOS.
Verdict
Choose Muxel if you coordinate several coding agents or shells and want Git worktrees, task scheduling, and local project tools in the same free, open-source desktop workspace. Its mix of local and SSH-hosted sessions is the clearest reason to pick it. Look elsewhere if Windows persistence or built-in collaboration is essential, and account separately for the providers and services you configure.
