MXterm vs Orca: two desktop workspaces for coding-agent workflows
MXterm and Orca are desktop apps for coding-agent workflows, but their docs describe worktree use differently. Orca's docs describe a worktree for every task; in MXterm, each agent can work on its own branch in its own worktree. The difference is in what each builds around the agents. This comparison puts Orca's own description alongside MXterm's, then shows when it makes sense to stay with Orca. Everything quoted about Orca was read on its own pages on 28 October 2026; the sources are listed at the bottom.
What Orca says it is
Orca's README describes it as "The AI Orchestrator for 100x builders" and says you can "Run Codex, ClaudeCode, OpenCode or Pi side-by-side — each in its own worktree, tracked in one place." Its documentation calls it "a desktop IDE", and its site title is "Orca — The agent development environment".
On how it keeps agents apart, the docs say: "every task gets its own on-disk copy of the repo via git worktree." The README says: "Works with any CLI agent — if it runs in a terminal, it runs in Orca." It also says it is published under the "MIT License". It lists downloads for macOS, Windows and Linux, and its docs describe driving agents on remote machines over SSH.
What MXterm is
MXterm Pro is a native desktop app for macOS and Windows that puts your real terminals, your AI coding agents and your SSH servers in one workspace. It runs the CLIs you install, such as Claude Code and Codex. Each agent can work on its own branch in its own worktree. For a walkthrough, see running Claude Code in MXterm and isolating AI agents with git worktrees.
Side by side
| Orca (its own words, read 28 Oct 2026) | MXterm | |
|---|---|---|
| What it calls itself | "The agent development environment" (onorca.dev) | "One command center for terminals, agents and servers." |
| Agents | "Works with any CLI agent — if it runs in a terminal, it runs in Orca." (README) | Runs the CLIs you install, such as Claude Code and Codex. |
| Keeping agents apart | "every task gets its own on-disk copy of the repo via git worktree" (docs) | Each agent can work on its own branch in its own worktree. |
| Platforms | "Download the desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux" (download page) | A native desktop app for macOS and Windows (Windows support is new); Linux is an early build (a .deb for Ubuntu 22.04 or later). We have not run this build on a real Linux desktop. |
| License | "MIT License" (README) | See the note under the table. |
| Remote machines | "Orca can drive agents on remote machines over SSH" (SSH docs) | SSH and an SFTP panel in the same window as your agents. |
| Around the terminal | "Terminals, diffs, a browser, and a CLI, in one app built for agents." (onorca.dev) | With Claude Code and Codex, see which agent is working, waiting or done, and a question from either appears on a card on your desktop. Put your agents in one room and stay in charge. |
On the licence row: MXterm's own licence terms are on its pages and are not covered here; this page makes no claim about them. The two columns describe different things, so they are not feature-for-feature. A blank or short cell in one column does not mean the other tool lacks the thing; it means that page of that tool was not read for it.
Stay with Orca if
- You want an open-source tool under the MIT License, as its README states.
- You want the same desktop app on macOS, Windows and Linux, as its download page lists.
- You want terminals, diffs and a browser inside one app built around agents, as its site describes.
- You want to run agents on a remote machine through Orca over SSH, as its docs describe.
Choose MXterm if
- You want SSH hosts and an SFTP panel in the same window as your agents.
- You want to see, for Claude Code and Codex, which agent is working, waiting or done, and to answer their questions from a card on your desktop without hunting for the right pane.
- You want agents in one room: in the Control Room they message each other and you are the Moderator. Messages wait while you type.
- You want split panes that run real shells.
To try MXterm, use the download page. To compare with other desktop apps for coding agents, see MXterm vs Conductor and MXterm vs Superset IDE.
Multi-pane SSH, Command Recipes (Cmd+J), and a multi-agent Control Room (formerly War Room): free to start.
Already have MXterm Pro? Read the setup guide →
New to MXterm Pro? See pricing →
Frequently Asked Questions
Both use git worktrees, but the descriptions differ. Orca's docs say "every task gets its own on-disk copy of the repo via git worktree". In MXterm, each agent can work on its own branch in its own worktree. A worktree reduces collisions; agents can still edit the same file. (Orca docs, read 28 October 2026.)
Orca's site describes "Terminals, diffs, a browser, and a CLI, in one app built for agents." Whether that covers your editor needs is for you to judge; this page makes no claim either way. (onorca.dev, read 28 October 2026.)
Orca's README says it "Works with any CLI agent". MXterm runs the CLIs you install, such as Claude Code and Codex. Whether a particular agent behaves the same in each is not covered here. (Orca README, read 28 October 2026.)
If you want an open-source app on macOS, Windows and Linux with a browser and diffs in the app, start with Orca. If you want SSH and an SFTP panel next to your agents, a Control Room where agents message each other, and status you can see at a glance, try MXterm. ### Sources for Orca (all read 2026-10-28) github.com/stablyai/orca (README); onorca.dev; onorca.dev/download; www.onorca.dev/docs; www.onorca.dev/docs/model/worktrees; www.onorca.dev/docs/ssh; github.com/stablyai/orca/releases. Review used to find them: vibecodinghub.org/blog/orca-review (its star count and version are older than the project's own pages; none of its numbers are used here).