At a glance
| Point | Mux | OpenClowd |
|---|---|---|
| License | GNU AGPL-3.0. | Permissive open-source license planned, with the final choice still open. |
| Execution | Local directory, Git worktree, or remote server over SSH. | Persistent sessions on a developer-controlled always-on host. |
| Interface | Desktop and browser application, VS Code extension, responsive server mode. | Browser-first web control plane with mobile companion use. |
| Agent model | A custom multi-model agent loop with broad provider support. | Launches existing terminal-based agents rather than supplying its own loop. |
| Product center | Flexible client and server modes for isolated agent workspaces. | A planned persistent workspace model around terminal sessions and host services. |
| Availability | Shipping for macOS and Linux. | In development with no public installer. |
Give the architecture its due
Mux has already crossed the local versus remote divide
Mux can run directly in a project, isolate work in Git worktrees, or execute on a server through SSH. Its server mode is responsive for mobile use, and the VS Code extension provides a route back into a full editor.
Coder's remote-development background shows in that flexibility. It also means OpenClowd cannot claim that an open, remote, mobile-reachable agent workflow is unique.
A subtle but important split
Mux supplies the agent loop; OpenClowd organizes agents you already run
Mux supports many models and providers inside its own agent experience. That can produce a coherent UI and consistent controls across models.
OpenClowd's planned baseline is lower-level and more agnostic: launch the terminal agent as a command, keep its own authentication and behavior, then wrap the session with status, history, files, diffs, previews, and workspace context. Developers who want their existing Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode CLI unchanged may prefer that boundary.
Where OpenClowd must earn the difference
The workspace around the session has to be the product
OpenClowd's product model is a workspace containing one or more repositories, multiple persistent sessions, terminals, status signals, file and diff context, Git awareness, and app or port previews. It is intended to run continuously on the host rather than act mainly as a client choosing an execution target.
That is a product thesis, not a shipped advantage. Mux already has strong code review, Git divergence, agent status, and remote execution. OpenClowd will need to deliver a clearer persistent workspace and easier secure self-hosting to justify the distinction.
Against Mux, openness is table stakes. The full hosted workspace has to be better.
The decision
A flexible open agent app or a dedicated hosted workspace
Mux is the comparison that most clearly forces OpenClowd to compete on product quality rather than category labels.
Choose Mux when you want a working AGPL product now, value its custom multi-model loop, and want to switch between local, worktree, SSH, desktop, browser, and VS Code modes.
Follow OpenClowd when you want existing terminal agents to remain the agent layer and a persistent, browser-first workspace on your own host to remain the center of the system.
Questions, answered
What people usually ask next
01Can Mux run remotely?
Yes. Mux supports remote execution over SSH and a browser server mode with a responsive mobile interface.
02Is Mux open source?
Yes. Coder publishes Mux under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.
03Does Mux run the same CLI agents as OpenClowd?
Mux provides its own agent loop with support for many models and providers. OpenClowd is designed to launch existing terminal agents directly. Those approaches can serve similar workflows through different integration boundaries.
Research notes
Sources
Product details change quickly. These first-party pages were checked on .
- 01Coder Mux repository
License, execution modes, model support, server mode, mobile UI, and VS Code extension.