termdeck
We build one of these, so read this with that in mind. We have tried to say plainly where each tool is the better pick, including the ones that compete with us.
Three camps
- Official vendor remotes. One agent, built in, free with the subscription.
- Phone apps for your own machine. The agent runs on your computer, the app relays it.
- Cloud runners. The agent runs on a VM somebody else hosts, so your laptop can be off.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Camp | Agents | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code Remote Control | Official | Claude Code | Included with Pro or Max | Claude only, one session |
| Codex Remote (ChatGPT app) | Official | Codex | Included with ChatGPT | Codex desktop app users |
| Happy | Your machine | Claude Code, Codex | Free, open source | Free and end to end encrypted |
| Omnara | Your machine | Claude Code and others | From $9 a month | Voice and an agent dashboard |
| AgentsRoom | Your machine | 14 CLIs | Free tier | Widest agent list |
| Grass | Cloud | Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode | Free tier, then paid | Laptop can be off |
| Termdeck | Your machine | Claude Code, Codex, Grok | From $9.99 a month | Many machines, one board |
Prices and agent lists change often. Check each vendor before you buy.
Claude Code Remote Control
Type /remote-control in a Claude Code session, scan the QR code, and the Claude app becomes a second screen. Nothing to install, nothing extra to pay. It covers one Claude Code session at a time and nothing else. If that is all you need, use it. Our full comparison.
Codex Remote in the ChatGPT app
OpenAI's equivalent, rolled out in May 2026. Pairing starts in the Codex desktop app and the phone side lives in ChatGPT. Great if you use the Codex app; less so if you live in Codex CLI on Linux. See Codex remote control for the CLI.
Happy
A free, open source phone app with end to end encryption, for Claude Code and Codex. The default pick for one person, one machine, zero budget. Our comparison with Happy.
Omnara
A hosted control plane with a web dashboard, parallel agents and voice. Its relay can read your conversations unless you self host, which matters for proprietary code.
AgentsRoom
Supports the longest list of CLIs and has native apps. Pick it if you rotate through many less common agents.
Grass
Runs agents on an always on cloud VM, so a closed laptop does not stop them. The trade is that your repo and tools live on their VM, not your machine.
Termdeck
Termdeck is built for people who run more than one agent on more than one machine.
- Remote. Every machine you own on one board, from any browser or the phone app. The agent connects out, so there is no VPN or port to open.
- All in one. Claude Code, Codex and Grok Build share one transcript view, one approval card and one diff view. Switch accounts at a rate limit in one click.
- Terminal mode. A tmux style grid of chats in the browser, any agent in any pane. See Terminal mode.
- Approve from the lock screen. Push notifications with Allow and Deny buttons.
It is not free and it has no self hosted option. Your machine has to be on, since the agent runs there.
How to choose
- One agent, one machine, no budget: the official remote or Happy.
- Your laptop is often closed: a cloud runner such as Grass.
- Claude, Codex and Grok across several machines, or you want a terminal grid: Termdeck.