Okena review
A free, open-source workspace for managing persistent terminal projects across devices.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Okena is an open-source terminal multiplexer for developers managing multiple projects, command-line sessions, and coding agents. It runs as a native application on macOS, Linux, and Windows, while web access and mobile companion applications extend the workspace beyond the desktop. Its core layout combines tabs, horizontal and vertical split panes, detachable floating terminal windows, multi-project columns, and sidebar navigation. Git worktree management, branch status, terminal search, and customizable themes, fonts, keybindings, and lifecycle hooks make it suited to users who want a structured command-line workspace rather than a single terminal window.
Okena is free and open source. The product has no published paid tiers, so there is no plan-by-plan upgrade path or paid feature boundary to evaluate. Its platform coverage is a major part of the offering: desktop applications cover macOS, Linux, and Windows, while web, Android, and iOS provide companion access. Integrations include Git, Git worktrees, Docker Compose, WSL, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex. The remote HTTP/WebSocket control API also gives technical teams a way to connect external tooling to terminal workspaces.
The standout capability is workspace and session persistence, which is documented as local workspace and backend persistence. That fits developers who return to several projects and want their layouts and terminal sessions retained, with search and a searchable command palette helping navigate larger workspaces. Okena is a strong choice for individual developers and technical users who value customization, worktrees, and agent-oriented terminal management without a subscription. Teams looking for shared sessions, collaboration features, or synchronized workspaces should consider a tool designed around those requirements instead.
Okena pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source across desktop, web, and mobile access
- Local workspace persistence with tabs, panes, columns, and detached windows
- Git worktrees, Docker Compose, coding agents, APIs, and terminal search
- Where it doesn't
- Persistence is local rather than shared across devices
- Remote control requires working with HTTP or WebSocket APIs
- Its focus is terminal workflows rather than broader team collaboration
Okena fact sheet, pricing and score →
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