Both Pane and Superset are agent-agnostic tools for running AI coding agents in parallel. The key difference: Pane is the only one with first-class support for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Superset is built and tested on macOS — Windows and Linux support is unofficial and untested.
| pane | superset | |
|---|---|---|
| platform | windows + mac + linux (first-class) | mac (tested). win/linux unofficial |
| agents | any CLI agent | any CLI agent |
| diff viewer | built-in, syntax-highlighted | built-in (side-by-side + inline) |
| git workflow | commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all keyboard | worktrees + merge |
| keyboard-first | every action has a shortcut. command palette (⌘K) | keyboard shortcuts for common actions |
| worktree management | automatic — create pane, get worktree. delete pane, cleaned up | automatic per workspace |
| session persistence | yes — survives restarts | yes |
| open source | yes (AGPL-3.0) | yes (Apache-2.0) |
| pricing | free | free + pro ($20/seat/mo) |
| notifications | desktop + sound | yes |
| terminal engine | xterm.js (same as VS Code), 50k scrollback | xterm.js |
| system dependencies | git only | bun, git 2.20+, github CLI, caddy |
cross-platform — actually
Pane runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux with identical UI, shortcuts, and features. Windows is a first-class citizen — not a "might work" footnote. Superset's README states macOS is the only tested platform. 70% of developers use Windows or Linux.
zero dependencies beyond git
Pane requires git and nothing else. Superset requires Bun v1.0+, Git 2.20+, GitHub CLI, and Caddy. Fewer dependencies means fewer things that can break.
keyboard-first by design
Every single action in Pane has a keyboard shortcut — new pane, switch pane, view diff, commit, push, rebase, squash, merge. The command palette (⌘K) puts everything one keystroke away. Pane was built as a keyboard app that happens to have a GUI.
full git workflow from the keyboard
Commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all from keyboard shortcuts with command preview before execution. The agent writes code, you review the diff, you ship. That loop is seamless in Pane.
always free
Pane is free and open source under AGPL-3.0. No paid tier. Superset has a $20/seat/month Pro plan.
Both are agent-agnostic — run Claude Code, Codex, Aider, Goose, or any CLI agent. Both use git worktrees for isolation. Both are open source. Both have built-in diff viewers and session persistence. Both are Electron apps using xterm.js for terminals.
If you're on macOS and want either tool, both work. If you're on Windows or Linux, Pane is the only option with first-class support. If you want a keyboard-first workflow with zero extra dependencies and full git control — Pane is built for that.
Is Superset the same as Apache Superset?
No. Superset (superset.sh) is an AI coding agent orchestrator — a desktop app for running multiple CLI agents in parallel. Apache Superset is a completely separate data visualization platform. They share a name but are unrelated products.
Does Superset work on Windows?
Superset's README states macOS is the only tested platform. Windows and Linux support is listed but unofficial and untested. Pane has first-class Windows, Mac, and Linux support with identical features on all platforms.
Is Pane or Superset better for running Claude Code?
Both run Claude Code equally well — they're both agent-agnostic and give agents a real terminal. The difference is platform support (Pane works on Windows, Superset doesn't officially) and dependencies (Pane needs only git, Superset needs Bun, GitHub CLI, and Caddy).
Are Pane and Superset both free?
Pane is free and always will be. Superset has a free tier and a Pro tier at $20/seat/month. Both are open source — Pane under AGPL-3.0, Superset under Apache-2.0.
Can I switch from Superset to Pane?
Yes. Both tools run the same CLI agents in terminals. Your agents, API keys, and git repos work the same way in both. Pane just gives you first-class cross-platform support and a keyboard-first workflow.