muxel
muxel: A free, open-source workspace for managing multiple local and remote coding sessions. Ranked #3 of 29 in Terminal Multiplexers by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for cross-platform developers and coding agents.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forCross-platform developers and coding agents
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Persistence scopeBoth
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0
- Rich panes, tabs, saved layouts, and persistent sessions
- Built-in Git worktrees, editor, file browser, and agent tracking
Where it doesn't
- No collaboration features
- GPL-3.0 terms may not suit every commercial use
- Focused on developers managing multiple coding sessions
Our verdict on muxel
muxel is a native desktop terminal multiplexer for developers running multiple coding agents and shells at once. It creates tiled and tabbed workspaces on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with resizable horizontal and vertical panes, drag-to-reorder tabs, cross-pane moves, and configurable presets for shells and coding agents. Saved layouts preserve split sizes, tabs, and window geometry, making it suited to repeatable multi-session development workflows.
Its feature depth extends beyond terminal arrangement. Live agent status tracking, notifications, scheduled task loops, and on-demand task runners support ongoing coding workflows, while Git worktrees include review and GitHub pull-request actions. The built-in code editor, file browser, Git diff tools, scrollback search, and clickable URLs keep related tasks inside the desktop application. Remote SSH projects can maintain persistent tmux sessions, and session sync plus workspace persistence support both local and remote work.
muxel is a strong fit for developers and coding agents that need several organized sessions across desktop platforms without a subscription plan. It is less suitable for teams seeking built-in collaboration, since collaboration is not included, or for organizations whose commercial use cannot comply with GPL-3.0 terms. Buyers who want a focused terminal multiplexer with Git, automation, remote sessions, and desktop workspace management should consider it; those prioritizing shared team workspaces should choose a product built around collaboration instead.
Your product? Our editors can test muxel in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
muxel pricing
muxel fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Persistence scope | Both |
| Session synchronization | Yes |
| Collaboration features | No |
| Custom pane layouts | Yes |
| Plugins or extensions | Not verified |
| Access platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows desktop app; remote SSH hosts |
| Maximum sessions | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | muxel.sh |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to muxel
- ZellijA free, open-source multiplexer with layouts, plugins, persistence, and collaboration.9.4
- tmuxA free, scriptable way to manage persistent local terminal sessions across Unix platforms.9.2
- TUIOSAn open-source multiplexer with workspaces, persistence, layouts, scripting, and web terminal access.8.9
muxel vs the competition
Compare muxel with any tool side by side →
Used muxel? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used muxel for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
muxel is listed in our Terminal Multiplexers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/muxel/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/muxel.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update