The Conductor alternative with a spec gate and a team layer.

Conductor is a polished, free Mac app that runs parallel coding agents in git worktrees, genuinely good software. AIDEN adds what it deliberately leaves out: an enforced spec approval gate, a full kanban board, team mode, and a business model built to last.

Download AIDEN, free See AIDEN home

macOS 12+ · Windows & Linux waitlist open

Quick answer

Conductor (conductor.build) is an active, well-regarded, YC-backed Mac app that runs parallel Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode agents in git worktrees, it raised a $22M Series A from Spark and Matrix, it's currently free with no paid tier, and it's earned its reputation for polish. AIDEN shares the foundation, parallel agents, worktree isolation, bring-your-own CLIs, and differs in workflow opinion: an enforced spec-approval gate before any agent codes (Conductor runs agents without a gating workflow), a full kanban story board rather than a session list, team mode with shared boards and review queues, an embedded browser, terminal, and VS Code panel, and voice control. AIDEN runs on macOS 12+, Apple Silicon and Intel, with Windows and Linux on a waitlist.

Conductor in one line: Active, well-regarded, YC-backed free Mac app running parallel Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode agents in git worktrees
Conductor funding: Y Combinator S24; $22M Series A from Spark and Matrix; currently free with no paid tier
Conductor platforms: Mac app; Conductor publishes no system requirements, so we don't state one
AIDEN in one line: Spec-first orchestrator: enforced approval gate, kanban board, team mode, embedded browser/terminal/VS Code, voice control
AIDEN platforms: macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon and Intel); Windows/Linux waitlist
AIDEN pricing: Free for 1 project, Solo $19/mo, $169 lifetime, Team $10/seat/mo (min 3)

Stick with Conductor when

You want a free, minimal, polished runner without workflow opinions, Conductor gets out of your way beautifully.
Your agent of choice is Cursor or OpenCode, Conductor runs those alongside Claude Code and Codex; AIDEN runs Claude Code and Codex.
You work solo and don't need shared boards, review queues, or team features.
You prefer the lightest possible layer over your CLIs, no spec gates, no board ceremony.

Switch to AIDEN when

You want an enforced spec approval gate, a written plan you sign off before any agent touches code.
You want a full kanban board (stories, statuses, review queue) rather than a list of sessions.
You work with others, team mode gives shared boards and review queues at $10/seat/mo.
You want the workspace extras: embedded browser, terminal, and VS Code panel, plus voice control.
You want a tool whose pricing is its sustainability plan, free tier plus paid tiers, rather than free-for-now.

Conductor vs AIDEN, side by side

Feature	Conductor	AIDEN
Parallel agents in git worktrees	Yes	Yes
Enforced spec approval gate	No	Yes
Kanban story board	Session list-style view	Full board with statuses and review queue
Team mode / shared boards	No	Yes
Agent CLIs supported	Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode	Claude Code, Codex
Mix agents from different vendors	Yes, multiple CLIs supported	Yes, Claude Code and Codex on one board
Embedded browser / terminal / VS Code panel	No	Yes
Voice control	No	Yes
Price / business model	Free, no paid tier (VC-funded, $22M Series A)	Free, Solo $19/mo or $169 lifetime, Team $10/seat/mo (min 3)

Conductor data last reviewed 2026-07-26. Individual claims are not yet independently sourced — check Conductor's own documentation before relying on them.

Conductor runs Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode, www.conductor.build/docs/faq
Conductor is YC-backed, free today, with a $22M Series A from Spark and Matrix, conductor.build

Switching from Conductor?

Download AIDEN free and bring your existing Claude Code or Codex setup. Runs on macOS in minutes, no credit card required.

Download AIDEN free

Free to start · macOS 12+ · No credit card required

How the switch actually goes

Conductor is still easy to recommend for solo builders: it's fast, polished, and worktree-per-agent works. The switch to AIDEN usually happens for workflow and team structure, not because Conductor stops being good. AIDEN forces a spec review before agents code, gives shared boards and review queues to teams, and packages the orchestration layer as a paid product instead of a free tool with an open-ended roadmap question.

QUESTIONS

Conductor vs AIDEN, FAQ

Is Conductor free?

Yes, currently. Conductor is free with no paid tier, backed by Y Combinator (S24) and a $22M Series A from Spark and Matrix. That's a genuine advantage today. The flip side is that its eventual pricing is undefined, free-forever funded by venture capital usually becomes a priced product later. AIDEN charges from day one (free tier plus paid tiers), which is the boring version of sustainability.

What's the core difference between Conductor and AIDEN?

Both run parallel coding agents in git worktrees on your Mac with your own subscriptions, Conductor supports Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode; AIDEN runs Claude Code and Codex. The difference is workflow opinion: AIDEN enforces a spec approval gate before agents code and organizes work as a kanban board with team mode, shared boards, and review queues. Conductor is deliberately lighter, a polished runner without a gating workflow or team layer.

Which agents does Conductor run?

Conductor's docs list Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode, so a mixed fleet is well covered. AIDEN runs two engines, Claude Code and Codex, and puts them on one spec-gated kanban board. If your agent of choice is Cursor or OpenCode, Conductor is the one that supports it today.

What platforms does each app run on?

AIDEN runs on macOS 12 or later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel, with Windows and Linux on a waitlist. Conductor ships as a Mac app; it doesn't publish system requirements on its site or docs, so we won't state a minimum macOS version or chip requirement on its behalf, check with Conductor before assuming your machine is covered.

Do I need Conductor or AIDEN if Claude Code has Agent Teams?

Honest answer: for two or three sessions, maybe not, Claude Code's own multi-session features can be enough if you're comfortable coordinating in the terminal. Both tools earn their place when parallelism grows: worktree isolation, a visual overview of every agent, and (in AIDEN's case) spec gates, a review queue, and PRs. See our claude-code-orchestration guide for where the built-in features stop.

CONTINUE

Keep reading

Vibe Kanban alternative

Vibe Kanban shut down in April 2026. AIDEN is the maintained, spec-first board for your agents.

Desktop apps for coding agents

The 2026 landscape: Conductor, Sculptor, the Codex app, AIDEN, and how to choose.

Claude Code orchestration

Run several Claude Code sessions in parallel with a board, branches, and PRs.

Manage multiple Claude Code sessions

From terminal tabs to worktrees to a board: scaling past one agent without losing track.

Stop chatting. Start shipping.

Try AIDEN free. Bring your existing Claude Code or Codex setup.

Download AIDEN, free See pricing