muxel

Muxel is a desktop workspace for developers who want coding agents and shells side by side, with Git and task tools in the same app. Its strongest case is local control over a busy set of sessions; Windows users should weigh the lack of tmux session persistence.

Overview

Rather than supplying AI agents, Muxel brings configurable agent sessions and ordinary shells into one terminal-based workspace. It adds an editor, file browser, diff review, Git controls, and command palette, making it a practical fit for people who move between agent output and project files. It is less suitable for anyone seeking an all-in-one AI service: users configure their own providers and remain responsible for their terms and costs.

Muxel is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with a separate commercial license from ProjectHax LLC. The maker says the app does not send projects, terminal contents, prompts, or usage data to it. Configured agents and service providers may receive data under their own privacy policies.

For more options in this category, see Terminal Multiplexers.

Key features

Sessions arranged around the work

Horizontal and vertical splits, tabs, and detachable panes let users arrange shells and agent sessions by task. Live labels show whether agents are working, idle, blocked, or done; desktop notifications can call attention to an unfocused agent. That combination is useful when several jobs are running, though Muxel organizes sessions rather than providing the agents themselves.

Configurable agent presets

Built-in presets cover Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code, Pi, and Shell, and users can configure them. The range makes the workspace adaptable to different agent and shell setups without locking the user into one named agent.

Git worktrees and scheduled prompts

Isolated Git worktrees, in-worktree review, and GitHub pull request actions support parallel project work. Prompt-based task runners can be launched on demand or saved prompts scheduled every few minutes, hourly, or daily. These are useful workflow tools for people already running agents, but they do not remove the need to choose, configure, and pay for any third-party services involved.

Remote execution, local interface

Agents can run on remote hosts over SSH while the interface, editor, and file browser remain local. This suits developers who need remote compute or project access without moving their desktop workspace. Muxel also includes terminal scrollback search for finding earlier command output.

Pricing

The Free & open source plan costs nothing and is GPL-3.0 licensed for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It includes the core workspace without a stated seat quota or free-plan cap. A separate commercial license is available from ProjectHax LLC, but it has custom pricing. The free license is the clear fit for individuals comfortable with GPL-3.0; organizations seeking a commercial license should consider the separate option. Agent and service-provider charges are outside Muxel and remain the user's responsibility.

Platforms

Muxel is a desktop app for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with downloads including Linux AppImage, deb, rpm, and tar.gz packages; macOS dmg and zip; and Windows installers and portable zip files. SSH support lets projects use remote hosts while the interface and file tools stay local. One meaningful platform trade-off is that tmux session persistence is Unix-only and disabled on Windows, so Windows users should not choose Muxel if persistent tmux sessions are essential.

Who it's for

Muxel is best for developers coordinating several coding agents and shells who want panes, Git worktrees, prompt scheduling, and file tools in one local desktop workspace. Its local-data approach may appeal to users who do not want project or prompt data sent to the app maker, while still requiring trust in the separately configured providers. It is a weaker fit for users who want hosted collaboration: collaboration features are absent.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Configurable presets span several agents and Shell, so users can arrange varied sessions in one workspace.
• Pros: Worktrees, review, pull request actions, and scheduled prompts connect agent work to practical project workflows.
• Pros: Remote SSH execution keeps the interface, editor, and file browser local.
• Cons: Windows lacks tmux session persistence, a drawback for users who depend on sessions surviving interruptions.
• Cons: No collaboration features are included, limiting its fit for teams sharing a workspace.
• Cons: Users must bring and pay for configured agents and services; Muxel itself does not supply them.

Alternatives

Okena is another free option spanning Android, iOS, web, desktop, and API platforms, so it is worth considering when broader platform reach matters more than Muxel's stated agent-and-shell workspace focus.

Zellij is free and open source with no account required; choose it if you want that approach, or consider Zellij.online for hosted session sharing, which is in closed beta and has a free tier.

muxterm is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted single binary, making it a fit for readers who prefer that distribution model.

p2pmux is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux and macOS users who want an alternative limited to those platforms.

Quil has no paid tier or hosted version, so it is an option for users who specifically want a free local offering.

WMUX is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

amux is free MIT-licensed software for Linux and macOS, installable from source, a Homebrew tap, or GitHub Releases.

Byobu is free GPLv3 software for Linux and macOS that requires tmux 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen.

Verdict

Choose Muxel if you run coding agents and shells side by side and want Git worktrees, scheduled prompts, and local desktop tools without paying for the app. Its breadth of session and project controls is the main reason to pick it; look elsewhere if shared collaboration or Windows tmux persistence is a requirement.