Okena

Okena is a desktop workspace for coordinating command-line agents and projects. It is best suited to developers who want persistent, project-aware terminal sessions; its main trade-off is that its broad workspace features may be more than a single-terminal workflow needs.

Overview

Okena puts multiple CLI agents and projects in one native terminal multiplexer. Its combination of customizable layouts, session restoration and Git worktree views makes it a more structured place to manage parallel work than a terminal focused only on running commands.

The maker describes Okena as free and open source under the MIT License and says it was made by the creators of Contember. Persistence is local, so saved layouts and sessions stay within the local workspace rather than serving as a hosted collaboration layer.

Key features

Arrange projects around the work

Side-by-side project columns, tabs, split panes, detachable terminal windows and fullscreen mode offer several ways to organize active work. Custom pane layouts and per-project preferences help make recurring setups fit individual projects. That flexibility suits developers switching among multiple agents or repositories; it is less compelling if a basic terminal session is all that is needed.

Keep output and sessions

GPU-accelerated rendering and scrollback of up to 100,000 lines give users room to revisit substantial command output. Okena can save and restore terminal sessions and workspace layouts across app restarts, reducing the work of rebuilding a multi-project setup. The persistence is local, not a shared hosted session.

Project-aware Git and integrations

Git worktrees can be managed as projects, with branches and change statistics visible in the workspace. The repository documents Claude Code and OpenAI Codex status or usage integrations, Docker Compose project services and editor file opening. Together, these features make Okena particularly relevant to developers whose command-line work is organized around agents, containers and multiple worktrees.

Companion access and safeguards

A local HTTP and WebSocket remote-control API works with a browser client and iOS and Android companion apps. Remote pairing uses HMAC-SHA256 token authentication and rate-limited pairing codes; downloaded updates are SHA256 verified. This provides a route to companion access while retaining a local-control model, rather than implying a hosted remote workspace.

Customization and installation

Shortcuts, themes, shell settings and lifecycle hooks are customizable. Shell installation commands are provided for macOS and Linux, with a PowerShell command for Windows; building from source is also documented. The available platform mix spans desktop operating systems plus companion access on web and mobile, but the terminal application itself is for macOS, Linux and Windows.

Pricing

Okena has one plan: Free and open source costs free and is licensed under MIT. It covers macOS, Linux and Windows. There is no paid tier to weigh against the free version, making it a straightforward choice for developers comfortable with open-source software and local persistence.

Platforms

The native application runs on macOS, Linux and Windows. Web, Android and iOS provide companion access, while the documented API offers another way to control the local workspace. This is a desktop-first tool with mobile and browser reach, not a claim that the full native terminal runs on every companion platform.

Who it's for

Okena is a strong fit for developers running several CLI agents or projects at once, especially those who want worktree-aware organization and the ability to restore a tailored layout after restarting. Its customizable workspace and companion controls add value when projects involve repeated setups or occasional remote control. Readers seeking hosted collaboration, or who simply want a lightweight multiplexer without project organization, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros: Local restoration of both sessions and layouts avoids rebuilding a multi-project workspace after an app restart.

Pros: Git worktree management with branch and change statistics keeps project context alongside terminal work.

Pros: Companion apps, a browser client and a local remote-control API extend access beyond the desktop application.

Cons: Persistence is local, so it is not a hosted shared-session solution.

Cons: The many layout, integration and customization options may be unnecessary overhead for users who only need a conventional terminal multiplexer.

Alternatives

For a terminal-multiplexer comparison, see Terminal Multiplexers.

Zellij is another free, open-source option at free, with no account required; choose it if its platform coverage, including iOS and web, is a better fit. Zellij.online is a paid hosted session-sharing option with a free tier in closed beta.

muxel is free and open source at free under GPL-3.0 for Linux, macOS and Windows; it is an option for readers seeking a desktop multiplexer across those systems.

muxterm costs nothing and is MIT-licensed, self-hosted and distributed as a single binary; choose it if that deployment model is the priority.

p2pmux is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux and macOS.

Quil has a free plan, no paid tier and no hosted version; it suits readers who specifically want a local-only option across Linux, macOS and Windows.

WMUX is a free, MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

TermStation is a free alternative for Android, Linux, macOS, web and Windows.

tmux is a free open-source choice for Linux, macOS and self-hosted use, with API support.

Verdict

Choose Okena if you want a free, open-source desktop workspace that combines persistent terminal sessions, project layouts and Git worktrees, with browser and mobile companion access. Its strongest reason to choose it is the way it joins those project-oriented features in one local tool; its clearest reason to look elsewhere is that it is not a hosted shared-session service and may be excessive for a simpler terminal workflow.