CompareAs of 9 October 2026
AyCode or Claude Desktop?
Both run Claude Code in a window instead of a terminal. Claude Desktop is Anthropic’s own app, made for Claude. AyCode puts Claude Code next to the other agents you use, with your notes as their shared memory.
- Claude Desktop: macOS, Windows and Linux as beta, Claude only; its Code tab needs a paid Claude plan.
- AyCode: Claude Code plus Codex, Antigravity, Grok, Kimi, DeepSeek, Z.ai and local models.
- AyCode turns your Obsidian vault into a Second Brain that your agents can search.
- Claude Desktop has Anthropic’s own extras, such as computer use, Dispatch and cloud sessions.
Side by side
| Claude Desktop | AyCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | macOS, Windows (x64 and ARM64), Linux as beta for Ubuntu and Debian | Mac with Apple Silicon; Windows 10 and 11 and 64-bit Linux as beta |
| Models | Claude, through Anthropic or a cloud such as Amazon Bedrock | Claude through Claude Code, plus Codex, Antigravity with Gemini, Grok, OpenCode, Cline, Pi, Kimi, Mistral Vibe, Z.ai, DeepSeek, Hermes and local models |
| Price | Code tab with a paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise | AyCode is free; Claude Code as signed in on your computer, or with an API key; the other agents on their own plans. |
| Parallel work | Several sessions with Git isolation | Several chats, each in its own git worktree; one prompt to up to four models |
| Phone | Dispatch from your phone (Pro and Max) | iPhone and Apple Watch companion, in TestFlight |
What Claude Desktop does well
It is Anthropic’s own app, so it follows Claude Code closely. Its Code tab has parallel sessions with Git isolation, an integrated terminal and file editor, visual diff review and PR monitoring. On Pro and Max plans it adds computer use as a research preview and Dispatch, which starts sessions from your phone. Cloud sessions keep running when you close the app, and Team and Enterprise plans get admin controls and single sign-on.
If you only ever use Claude, that is a lot, and it comes from the people who make the model.
What AyCode adds
- Other agents next to Claude: Codex, Antigravity with Gemini, Grok, Kimi Code, DeepSeek, Z.ai, Mistral Vibe and more, each in its own chat or on the same task. Your coding agents.
- Two agents on one task: in a Duo, Claude Code and Codex take turns, checking and building on each other’s work, and a second model can review any diff. Parallel agents.
- Costs in view: what each agent costs, with budgets you set yourself. Usage and limits.
- Your notes as memory: the Second Brain from your Obsidian vault, and AyNotes for meetings.
Moving over, or using both
AyCode uses Claude Code as it is installed and signed in on your computer, or with an API key, and keeps no passwords of its own. The move-in assistant takes over your Claude Code sessions from the terminal as whole chats, together with MCP servers and skills, so you can simply continue them. You can keep Claude Desktop next to it.
Questions
Can AyCode run Kimi, DeepSeek or local models next to Claude Code?
Yes. Kimi Code, DeepSeek, Z.ai and others run as their own agents next to Claude Code, and Codex in AyCode can use local models from Ollama or LM Studio. You pick the agent and model per chat.
Does AyCode run on Linux?
Yes, as a beta: an AppImage or a .deb for 64-bit Linux.
Can I bring my Claude Code sessions along?
Yes. The move-in assistant takes over Claude Code sessions from the terminal as whole chats, together with MCP servers and skills.
Is AyCode made by Anthropic?
No. AyCode is made by Ayont. AyCode runs Claude Code as one agent among several.
Sources
What this page says about other apps comes from their own pages, checked on 9 October 2026. Apps change fast; the sources below have the current state.
Claude, Claude Code, Codex, ChatGPT, Conductor, T3 Code and Cursor are trademarks of their respective owners. AyCode is an independent product by Ayont and not affiliated with these companies. What these pages say about their apps comes from their own pages (date above).
Try it with the agents you already have
AyCode is free, on the Mac and as a beta on Windows and Linux, and works with the agent apps you already use. AyCode by Ayont, at aycode.ai.