Agentastic vs Nimbalyst
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Nimbalyst and Agentastic both put coding agents in a desktop workspace, but they center on different work. Nimbalyst is an open-source (MIT) Electron app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that wraps Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Copilot with visual editors: WYSIWYG markdown, mockups, diagrams, Excalidraw, data models, and an agent-driven task tracker. Agentastic is a native Swift app for macOS that is terminal-first: it runs dozens of CLI agents in parallel, isolates each task in a worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM, and puts terminals, a browser, diffs, and review passes around them.
Who should choose each option
Agentastic
Choose Agentastic if your work is mostly code: many agents in parallel, real terminals, containers or remote and cloud runs, browser automation, and review passes before merge, on a Mac.
Nimbalyst
Choose Nimbalyst if specs, mockups, diagrams, and task boards are as much a part of the work as code, or if you need Windows or Linux and an MIT-licensed codebase.
Feature comparison
| Agentastic | Nimbalyst | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Native macOS app (Swift) | Electron app (TypeScript), open source under MIT |
| Platforms | macOS 14+ | macOS, Windows, Linux; iOS app |
| Agents | 55 built-in definitions plus any terminal command | Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and Copilot |
| Main surface | Each agent's CLI in a Ghostty terminal, or structured Chat for 30 agents | Agent sessions with inline red and green edit cards, plus a chat sidebar |
| Parallel isolation | Worktree per task by default; Docker or Apple container, SSH host, or cloud VM | Optional worktree per session, in Developer Mode |
| Visual editors | Notion-style Markdown documents with comments you can send to an agent; Mermaid diagrams | WYSIWYG markdown, mockups, diagrams, Excalidraw, mind maps, data models, slides, and spreadsheets |
| Task tracking | Kanban board of worktrees; Linear and Sentry intake | Built-in tracker and Kanban that agents work from |
| Code editor and terminal | Editor with LSP; GPU-accelerated Ghostty terminals | Code editor; embedded terminal in Developer Mode |
| Review | Diff viewer plus Claude, Codex, CodeRabbit, or Greptile review passes | Accept or reject AI edits inline; a pull request review mode |
| Remote and cloud runs | SSH hosts, plus Modal, Fly.io, or Vercel Sandbox on your own accounts | Mobile app for remote session and file management |
| Collaboration | Share a chat or a localhost preview by link | Teams (beta): real-time editing of docs, mockups, and trackers |
| Mobile | iPhone app in public beta on TestFlight (iOS 18+) | iOS app on the App Store |
| License and price | Free, closed source | Free for individuals and MIT-licensed; Teams $20 per user per month after its beta |
Pricing
Agentastic
Free. Bring your own agent subscriptions or API keys.
Nimbalyst
Free for individuals, with no feature limits on the Individual plan. Teams is in beta and free during it, then $20 per user per month or $200 per user per year; Enterprise is custom. You bring your own Claude Code or Codex subscription or API key.
Using them together
They can share a repository: use Nimbalyst for specs, mockups, and task boards, and Agentastic for parallel coding runs, since both work with ordinary git branches and files on disk. Most people still settle on one main workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nimbalyst open source?
Yes. Nimbalyst is MIT-licensed, with its code at github.com/nimbalyst/nimbalyst. Agentastic is free but closed source.
Does Nimbalyst have an Android app?
Nimbalyst's download page lists an iOS app on the App Store and desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, but no Android app. Agentastic's mobile app is iPhone-only too, in public beta on TestFlight.
Is Nimbalyst free?
Yes for individuals: the Individual plan has no feature limits, and you bring your own Claude Code or Codex access (pricing). Teams collaboration is free during its beta, then $20 per user per month. Agentastic is free.
How do Nimbalyst and Agentastic run Claude Code?
Nimbalyst runs on top of Claude Code and Codex and shows their edits as red and green cards you accept or reject. Agentastic launches the Claude Code CLI itself, in a terminal or as structured Chat, with its settings, hooks, and MCP servers intact, and can run it beside 52 other agents.
Which is better for planning and docs?
Nimbalyst. Its WYSIWYG markdown, mockups, diagrams, and tracker are the core of the product. Agentastic has a Notion-style Markdown editor whose comments you can send to an agent, but it is built mainly for running and reviewing code changes.
Does Nimbalyst run agents in parallel worktrees?
Yes. Turn on Developer Mode and each session can run in its own git worktree (worktree docs). Agentastic creates a worktree for every task by default and can also use Docker or Apple containers, SSH hosts, or cloud VMs.
What are the alternatives to Nimbalyst?
For a code-first Mac workspace, Agentastic; for cross-platform open source, Orca or Paseo; for first-party apps, Claude Code Desktop or the Codex app. See Nimbalyst alternatives.
Further reading
- Nimbalyst alternatives — visual and code-first workspaces for coding agents
- Best Claude Code GUI apps for Mac — Nimbalyst, Agentastic, Claude Code Desktop, and more
- Markdown documents in Agentastic — the Notion-style editor and sending a passage to an agent
- AI coding agent orchestration tools — the wider roundup this comparison sits inside
See also
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