PATerminal vs Orca
Competitor column last checked:
Orca calls itself an agent development environment: every agent gets its own git worktree, terminal, and a Chromium window, and there is a mobile companion for checking on runs. It is free and open source under the MIT license.
PATerminal stays closer to a terminal. It does not force a worktree per session, keeps the app small, and puts its effort into status, notes, resume, and letting two agents hand work to each other.
| What you get | PATerminal | Orca |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6/mo or $60/yr after a 30-day free trial. | Free, open source (MIT). |
| Platforms | Windows 10+ and macOS 11+. | macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus a mobile companion app. |
| How agents are isolated | Your choice. Run sessions in one checkout or create worktrees from the git panel. | One git worktree per agent by design. |
| Which agents | Any CLI agent, on your own subscription. | Any CLI agent (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Cursor CLI and more), on your own subscription. |
| Resuming a conversation after a restart | Detects Claude Code / Codex and reattaches with --resume, scrollback included. | Not confirmed on the date shown. |
| Two agents working together | Pair mode: implement × review, cross-review, brainstorm, co-implement. | No direct equivalent confirmed on the date shown. |
| Browser for the agent | Not included. | A Chromium window per worktree; click an element to send it to the agent. |
| Remote machines | Local only. | Can run agents on a remote box or VPS. |
| Session notes and status | Group, pin, colour, one-line note, and running / waiting / done per session. | Review-focused agent output view. |
| Telemetry | None. | Not confirmed on the date shown. |
PATerminal's complete source code is public on GitHub. Read exactly what the app does, build it yourself, and confirm it sends no telemetry. View the source on GitHub
Orca is the better choice when
- You want one worktree per agent enforced for you, with a browser attached to each.
- You run agents on a remote server and want to check on them from your phone.
- You prefer open-source tools you can build yourself.
PATerminal is the better choice when
- You want a terminal, not an IDE, and decide yourself when a worktree is worth it.
- You need sessions to come back after a restart with their conversation attached.
- You want two agents to review or brainstorm with each other without wiring it up yourself.
Other comparisons
Sources checked for the competitor column
Product names belong to their owners. Details about other products come from their public websites, documentation, and release notes on the date shown, and can change at any time. Pricing is listed in USD as published by each vendor. Spotted something out of date? Email sleepsheep0901@gmail.com.