Agentastic vs Zed for multi-agent coding
Zed is a fast, open-source editor written in Rust, with real-time collaboration, an Agent Panel that runs several agent threads at once, and external agents such as Claude Agent and Codex over ACP. Agentastic is a native macOS app built around agents rather than the editor: it launches many CLI agents in parallel, isolates each one in a worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM, and gives you terminals, a browser, diffs, and review passes before anything lands. The two fit together: open any Agentastic worktree in Zed when you want to edit by hand.
The practical Zed + Agentastic workflow#
Keep Zed for fast editing, then use Agentastic when the work splits into several agent tasks that need isolation, review, and merge discipline.
- Pick Zed once from the Open in button in Agentastic's toolbar; it stays the default, so every worktree is one click from Zed.
- Run Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenHands, Junie, and 48 other CLI agents in parallel, each in its own worktree or container.
- Review each diff, run a Claude, Codex, CodeRabbit, or Greptile review pass, and merge the best result.
Who should choose each option#
Agentastic
Choose Agentastic if you want a Mac control layer for many CLI agents: isolated worktrees or containers, Ghostty terminals, an agent-drivable browser, review passes, and remote or cloud runs.
Zed
Choose Zed if the editor is the center of your day and you want speed, multiplayer editing, and agent threads in the same window, on macOS, Windows, or Linux.
Feature comparison#
| Feature | Agentastic | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Native macOS app (Swift) | Open-source editor written in Rust for macOS, Windows, and Linux |
| Editor | Built in (LSP, search, source control), with one-click handoff to Zed, VS Code, Cursor, Xcode, or JetBrains IDEs | Zed is the editor |
| Parallel agents | 55 built-in agent definitions, each task in its own worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM | Agent threads and Terminal Threads in the Threads Sidebar, with optional worktree isolation |
| External agents | Each provider's CLI in a Ghostty terminal, or structured Chat for 30 agents | ACP agents such as Claude Agent, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, and Copilot |
| Real-time collaboration | No; share a chat or a localhost preview by link | Yes: multiplayer editing, channels, and voice chat |
| Review | Diff viewer plus Claude, Codex, CodeRabbit, or Greptile review passes | Editor diffs and the Git panel |
| Price | Free | Personal free; Pro $10/month; Business $30 per seat per month |
Pricing#
Agentastic
Free. Bring your own agent subscriptions.
Zed
Personal is free, with 2,000 accepted edit predictions and unlimited use of your own API keys or external agents. Pro is $10 a month for Zed-hosted models and unlimited predictions; Business is $30 per seat per month.
Using them together#
Pick Zed once from the Open in button in Agentastic's toolbar and it stays the default, so every worktree opens in Zed with one click. You get Zed for editing and Agentastic for the parallel-agent layer: terminals, browser sessions, branches, diffs, review, and handoff.
Frequently asked questions#
Should I use Zed or Agentastic for multi-agent coding?
Use Zed when editing is the main job and you want agent threads beside your code. Use Agentastic when several CLI agents work at once and each needs its own worktree, terminal, and review pass. Many people keep both, since Agentastic opens any worktree in Zed.
Does Zed support git worktrees for agents?
Yes. Zed's parallel agents can run a thread in a linked git worktree and restore that worktree when you reopen the thread. Agentastic makes a worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM part of launching every task, and runs your setup and teardown scripts for each one.
Can I run Claude Code in Zed?
Yes, as an external agent over ACP or in a Terminal Thread. Agentastic runs the Claude Code CLI itself, with its native settings, skills, hooks, and MCP servers intact, in as many parallel worktrees as you like.
Is Zed free?
Yes. Zed's Personal plan is free, and you can use your own API keys or external agents without paying Zed (pricing). Agentastic is also free; with both, model costs stay with your providers.
How is Agentastic different from Zed parallel agents?
Zed keeps agent threads inside the editor window. Agentastic is an app-level coordinator for external CLI agents: it tracks worktrees, terminals, browsers, diffs, reviews, and pull requests across many runs, and can move a task to a container, SSH host, or cloud VM.
Zed vs Cursor: what is the difference?
Zed is an open-source editor written in Rust with multiplayer editing; Cursor is built on the VS Code codebase and centers on its own agent and Tab completions. See Cursor vs Zed for the full comparison.
What about Zed vs Conductor?
Zed is an editor; Conductor is a Mac app that runs Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode in parallel workspaces. Agentastic covers the Conductor side with more agents and isolation options, and opens any worktree in Zed when you want to edit.
Further reading#
Zed, Cursor, VS Code, and Agentastic for Claude Code users
isolation, parallelism, and where editors fit
how the isolation layer differs across tools
what a native Mac editor costs to build, and why
See also#
Cursor is an AI editor built on VS Code with its own agents and Tab. Zed is a fast open-source Rust editor with multiplayer and external agents. Compare them.
Agentastic runs 53 CLI agents side by side in isolated worktrees on macOS. Cursor is an AI code editor with Tab, its own agents, and cloud runs. Compare them.
Agentastic runs 53 CLI agents in parallel worktrees on macOS. VS Code is the cross-platform editor where Copilot, Claude, and Codex agents run in sessions.
Windsurf is now Devin Desktop, an AI IDE with an Agent Command Center. Compare it with Agentastic, a free Mac workspace that runs many CLI agents at once.
Xcode now runs coding agents like Claude Agent and Codex inside Apple's IDE. Agentastic runs 53 CLI agents in parallel worktrees on any repository.