Byobu vs Okena
Byobu
byobu.org
Okena
okena.devSide by side
| Figure | Byobu | Okena |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Terminal Multiplexers | 8.1 (#6) | 8.0 (#8) |
| Integrations | Byobu integrates with tmux and GNU Screen as backends and can display system indicators including network, Wi-Fi, battery, updates, RAID status, and custom scripts. | The repository documents Claude Code and OpenAI Codex status or usage integrations, Docker Compose project services, and editor file opening. |
| Layouts | Users can save and restore split-pane layouts, and define repeatable window sets in configuration files. | It supports side-by-side project columns, tabs, split panes, detachable terminal windows, and fullscreen mode. |
| License | Byobu is GPLv3-licensed open-source software hosted on GitHub. | The maker describes Okena as free and open source under the MIT License. |
| Session persistence | Users can detach and reattach to sessions while their windows, processes, and history survive. | Okena can save and restore workspace layouts and terminal sessions across app restarts. |
Plans
In their own words
Byobu
Byobu is a free, GPLv3-licensed text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer for Linux, BSD, and macOS. It runs over tmux or GNU Screen and adds function-key controls, status notifications, profiles, and split-pane layouts. Users can create, rename, reorder, split, zoom, and synchronize windows and panes, then save layouts for restoration or define repeatable window sets in configuration files. Detaching and reattaching preserves windows, processes, and history, with up to 10,000 lines of scrollback per window. A two-line status bar can display CPU, memory, disk, network, battery, load, time, and other indicators, each independently toggleable. The interactive F9 menu changes notifications, keybinding sets, profiles, and backend selection. Byobu defaults to tmux when available but supports GNU Screen and switching through byobu-select-backend. The project requires tmux 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen. Support is largely volunteer-led through GitHub Issues and StackExchange.
Okena
Okena is a native terminal multiplexer for running multiple command-line agents and projects in one window. Workspaces can be arranged as side-by-side project columns, tabs, split panes, detachable terminal windows, or fullscreen. The terminal uses GPU-accelerated rendering and supports scrollback of up to 100,000 lines. Okena can save and restore workspace layouts and terminal sessions across restarts; persistence is local. Users can manage Git worktrees as projects and view branches and change statistics. Documented integrations include status or usage information for Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, Docker Compose project services, and opening files in editors. Remote control is documented through a local HTTP and WebSocket API, with a browser client and iOS and Android companion apps. Pairing uses HMAC-SHA256 token authentication and rate-limited pairing codes, and downloaded updates are SHA256 verified. Okena is free and open source under the MIT License, with a listed plan of free. Installation commands are provided for macOS, Linux, and Windows, alongside instructions for building from source.