Best AQ Alternatives in 2026
The best alternatives to AQ, the multiplayer cloud coding harness, including Paradev, Conductor, Cursor, the Codex app, and Orca, compared by where agents run, team sessions, review, and pricing.
AQ is a browser app that runs real CLI coding agents, such as Claude Code and Codex, on a cloud VM, with one Git worktree per workspace and live terminals that teammates can join through a link. If you want agents next to your local tools by default, with the option to run them on hosts you own or in cloud workspaces, and a desktop app with diff review, pull requests, and a browser, Paradev is built for that loop.
Our recommendation: choose Paradev if you want a local-first desktop workspace with a full review path and the option to run in the cloud. The alternatives below cover other preferences, including other team cloud products.
Download Paradev to try a small task, or read Paradev vs AQ for the direct comparison. This guide is published by Paradev; recommendations describe workflow fit rather than benchmark results.
The Short Version
| Alternative | Best for | Where agents run | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradev | Local-first desktop workspace with PR review, automations, remote and cloud workspaces | Your machine, hosts you add, or cloud workspaces | Source-available (ELv2) |
| Conductor | Mac app with multiplayer cloud workspaces | Your Mac or Conductor Cloud | Proprietary |
| Cursor | AI editor with an Agents Window and cloud agents | Your machine, SSH, Cursor cloud VMs, or self-hosted workers | Proprietary |
| Codex app | OpenAI's coding surface with cloud tasks | Your machine or OpenAI cloud environments | Proprietary |
| Orca | Free open-source desktop ADE with SSH and remote servers | Your machine, SSH hosts, or Remote Orca Servers (beta) | Open source (MIT) |
Why Look for an AQ Alternative?
AQ is built for teams that share live agent sessions on an always-on machine. Common reasons to look elsewhere:
- Local tools. You want agents next to your editor, local databases, and private services, not only on a runner VM.
- Desktop review. You want a diff view, pull request checks, and review threads in a native app.
- Solo use. You work alone and do not need multiplayer terminals.
- Price. AQ Team is $50 per user/month in early access.
The Best Alternatives
Paradev
Paradev runs any CLI agent, such as Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor's agent, Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, and Amp, with a Git worktree and branch for every workspace. The Changes pane commits, pushes, and opens a PR, and the PR pane shows checks, review threads, and merge. An in-app browser with Design Mode sends a picked element to an agent. Workspaces run on your machine by default, on any macOS or Linux host you add through Remote Access with access per member, or in cloud workspaces that run without your own computer. The iPhone and iPad app reaches all of them, and Pro adds remote access, the iPhone and iPad app, and automations.
For the direct comparison, see Paradev vs AQ.
Conductor
Conductor is a Mac app that runs Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode in parallel workspaces. Its Pro plan at $50/month adds cloud workspaces, multiplayer with up to 5 Pro users, an API, and an iOS app; Teams is $60 per user/month. Choose it if you want AQ-style collaboration in a desktop app.
See Paradev vs Conductor.
Cursor
Cursor is an AI editor with an Agents Window that runs agents locally, over SSH, on Cursor's cloud VMs, or on self-hosted workers, plus an iOS app. Choose it if you want an editor at the center and Cursor's own agent.
See Paradev vs Cursor.
Codex app
The Codex app in the ChatGPT desktop app runs parallel Codex chats in local worktrees and per-task cloud environments, and is included with every ChatGPT plan. Choose it if your team uses only Codex.
See Paradev vs Codex App.
Orca
Orca is a free, MIT-licensed desktop agent development environment for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It runs agents in parallel worktrees, with SSH worktrees, Remote Orca Servers in beta, scheduled automations, and beta mobile apps.
See Paradev vs Orca.
How To Choose
- For a local-first desktop workspace with PR review and the option to run on hosts or in the cloud, choose Paradev.
- For multiplayer cloud workspaces in a Mac app, choose Conductor.
- For an editor with cloud agents, choose Cursor.
- For Codex only, choose the Codex app.
- For a free, open-source desktop app, choose Orca.
Verdict
AQ is a good fit when two people need to watch and steer the same live terminal on an always-on VM. Choose Paradev when you want agents next to your local tools first, a native review path to a merged PR, and cloud or remote hosts when you need them. For the wider landscape, see where to run coding agents.
What To Try First
- Keep your agent: launch the CLI you already use in a Paradev workspace.
- Run two tasks: start a second workspace on its own branch and let both agents work.
- Review in place: inspect each diff, run your checks, and open a PR from the Changes pane.
- Go remote: add a second machine as a host, or start a cloud workspace, and continue from the iPhone app.
Download Paradev, then follow the parallel-task walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AQ alternative?
For developers who want a local-first desktop workspace with PR review and cloud workspaces when needed, Paradev is our recommendation. For multiplayer cloud sessions, Conductor is the closest match.
Can teammates join the same agent session in Paradev?
Not as a live shared terminal. Paradev shares hosts with access per member, and teammates open workspaces on hosts they can reach. AQ and Conductor offer live multiplayer.
Is there an open-source AQ alternative?
Yes. Orca is MIT-licensed. Paradev is source-available under Elastic License 2.0. AQ, Conductor, Cursor, and the Codex app are proprietary.
Do these tools replace my coding-agent subscription?
No. You still pay your agent provider for Claude Code, Codex, or other agent usage.