# Herdr — AI Coding Tool Review & Pricing

> Herdr is an open-source agent multiplexer that runs inside your existing terminal and owns the terminals of coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode. A background server keeps panes alive across detaches, SSH drops and restarts, and each pane shows whether its agent is working, blocked or idle.

Source: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/herdr · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · Category: Terminal & CLI Agents · Published by dosa.dev

## At a glance

- **Tool**: Herdr
- **Company**: Herdr
- **Category**: [Terminal & CLI Agents](https://ai.dosa.dev/category/cli-agents)
- **Pricing model**: Open Source
- **Official website**: https://herdr.dev

## Key features

- Background server keeps agent panes running after detach or SSH disconnect and restores layouts after restarts
- Per-pane working, blocked and idle status so stuck agents are easy to spot
- Local and saved SSH machines combined in one window with a shared agent list
- CLI and socket API plus an agent skill so agents can spawn panes and prompt each other
- tmux-style prefix keys alongside first-class mouse splitting and dragging
- Plugin marketplace and a single Rust binary with no Electron

## Pricing

**Model**: Open Source

Herdr is free and open source under Apache-2.0. You bring your own coding-agent CLIs and their subscriptions or API keys.

## Who it is for

- **Best for**: Developers running several CLI coding agents at once, locally or over SSH, who want tmux-style persistence with agent-aware status.
- **Not ideal for**: Developers who want a graphical IDE or desktop app rather than a terminal-based workflow.

## Verdict

A fast-moving, widely adopted terminal runtime for multi-agent work that adds agent awareness and persistence without replacing the agents themselves.

## Recent updates

Released v0.9.5 on October 14, 2026, a hotfix for v0.9.4 (October 13, 2026), which added `herdr plugin update` and persistent Windows notifications.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Herdr free?

Yes - Herdr is Open Source. Herdr is free and open source under Apache-2.0. You bring your own coding-agent CLIs and their subscriptions or API keys.

### Is Herdr open source?

Yes - Herdr is open source. Herdr is free and open source under Apache-2.0. You bring your own coding-agent CLIs and their subscriptions or API keys.

### Who is Herdr best for?

Developers running several CLI coding agents at once, locally or over SSH, who want tmux-style persistence with agent-aware status.

### Who is Herdr not ideal for?

Developers who want a graphical IDE or desktop app rather than a terminal-based workflow.

### What are the best Herdr alternatives?

The closest Herdr alternatives on ai.dosa.dev are Claude Code, Codex CLI, Amp - all listed under Terminal & CLI Agents.

### Who makes Herdr?

Herdr is developed by Herdr. It is listed in the Terminal & CLI Agents category on ai.dosa.dev.

## Top alternatives

- [Claude Code](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/claude-code) (Freemium) — Solo founders, indie hackers, and developers working in real-world codebases who need help with complex, multi-file engineering tasks like refactoring and bug fixing.
- [Codex CLI](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/codex-cli) (Freemium) — Developers needing a terminal-integrated agent for coding tasks, local repository refactoring, automated testing, and code reviews.
- [Amp](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/amp) (Freemium) — Developers who need autonomous agents to handle long-running tasks, code reviews, testing, and complex multi-step feature implementation across different environments.
- [Aider](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/aider) (Open Source) — Developers comfortable with command-line workflows who want full control over model selection, git-centric history, and cost-efficient coding without subscription markups.
- [Gemini CLI](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/gemini-cli) (Freemium) — Developers who need AI-powered coding assistance, terminal-based automation, and direct control over their workflow within their local shell.
- [Goose](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/goose) (Free) — Developers and teams who require a vendor-neutral, highly extensible agent platform that supports local execution and complex, multi-step workflow automation.
- Full alternatives guide: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/herdr/alternatives