splash

SplashCompareChatGPT desktop app

Splash and ChatGPT desktop app, compared.

Splash and the ChatGPT desktop app both run several coding-agent sessions at once, each in your checkout or its own git worktree. The ChatGPT desktop app, which the Codex app merged into in July 2026, runs OpenAI’s Codex locally, on SSH hosts or in the cloud; Splash, free and open source, drives many vendors’ agents over the Agent Client Protocol.

Checked 9 October 202658 sourcesNot affiliated with OpenAI

Splash

Helge Sverre

A desktop app for running several coding agents at once, each session in its project folder or its own git worktree. It drives agents over the Agent Client Protocol.12

splash.computer

ChatGPT desktop app

OpenAI

OpenAI’s desktop app for ChatGPT, whose Codex mode runs coding-agent threads in parallel: in your checkout, a Git worktree, an SSH host or OpenAI’s cloud. The standalone Codex app merged into it in July 2026.3456

learn.chatgpt.com

Side by side

SplashChatGPT desktop app
The basics
What it is Desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser17 Desktop app with Codex as a mode beside ChatGPT; OpenAI also offers web and mobile apps, the Codex CLI and an IDE extension348
Release status v0.2.1, early development19 26.924, a macOS security update from 25 September 2026; Linux is in preview. Launched as the Codex app in February 2026101112
License Open source (MIT)13 No license or source published for the app; it bundles Codex, whose CLI and app server are open source (Apache-2.0)141516
Price Free17 Included in ChatGPT Free, Go ($8 a month), Plus ($20), Pro ($100/$200/$500), Business (from $20 per user), Enterprise and Edu18
Platforms macOS 14+ (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 11 x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x6419 macOS (Apple silicon, Intel), Windows 10 version 19041+ (x64, Arm64), Linux preview (x64, ARM64) for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora and Arch20212211
Agents
Agents Ships launch commands for 20 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Gemini, Goose, OpenCode2324 OpenAI’s Codex; custom agents and subagents are Codex setups with their own model and instructions. Other vendors’ agents are not documented325
How it runs agents Agent Client Protocol over stdio, natively or through a pinned adapter for the vendor’s CLI232 Runs the Codex build bundled with the app, and the Codex app server on SSH hosts; the docs never mention ACP14526
Agent sign-in Who pays for the model You install and sign in to each agent’s CLI yourself; Splash runs it with that login24 ChatGPT sign-in draws on your plan’s usage, and an OpenAI API key is billed at API rates; Amazon Bedrock also works2728
Account required Splash has no accounts; splash-server asks for a token it keeps in its data folder297 A ChatGPT account or OpenAI API key by default; Amazon Bedrock with AWS credentials, or provider credentials for an organization’s gateway, can stand in32728
Permission requests When an agent asks before it acts Yes: Shown in the transcript and answered with the 1–9 keys; pending ones wait in Needs attention30 Yes: Ask for approval, Approve for me (sends eligible requests to automatic review) or Full access; local commands run in an OS sandbox3132
MCP servers Partly: Read-only list of MCP servers from Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Pool and Glue config files3033 Yes: STDIO and streamable HTTP servers, with configuration shared with the CLI and IDE extension; plugins can bundle skills and MCP servers3435
Working in parallel
Isolation per session Yes: The project folder, or a git worktree on its own branch per session30 Yes: Per chat: Local (your checkout), a Codex-managed Git worktree in detached HEAD, or a Cloud workspace; permanent worktrees also exist364
Setup scripts and dev servers No: A worktree is a plain git checkout; Splash runs no setup scripts or dev servers3037 Yes: Setup scripts run on each new worktree; top-bar actions start dev servers or tests; .worktreeinclude copies ignored files such as .env3836
Built-in browser No: No built-in browser; the workbench holds git changes, a file tree, diff and file tabs, and a terminal30 Yes: Shows sites and local web apps, such as a dev server, in a chat, with visual comments for the agent39
Scheduled tasks No: No scheduler; an agent starts when you create, continue or prompt a session40 Yes: Recurring tasks run in the background on local projects, in the project folder or an isolated worktree, while the computer and app stay on41
Terminal Yes: A terminal in the session folder30 Yes: A terminal in each chat, scoped to its project or worktree, whose output the agent can read; Windows offers PowerShell, Command Prompt, Git Bash or WSL4243
What needs you Yes: One queue for permission requests, connection failures and finished turns, kept across restarts3044 Yes: An Activity list, where available, of unread, running and waiting chats; a floating pet shows Running, Needs input, Ready or Blocked45
Notifications Yes: Notifies when a background session needs permission or finishes a turn; can be turned off4647 Yes: System notifications for finished turns (never, in the background or always), with separate switches for permission requests and questions45
Review and shipping
Review changes Yes: Latest response, failed tools and every changed file as a diff, with a box to send feedback30 Yes: Git diffs of unstaged, staged, commit, branch or last-turn changes; stage or revert hunks, comment on lines, run /review3848
Create pull requests No: Shows the PR for a session’s branch and starts worktrees from PR heads; does not create PRs3049 Yes: Commit, push and open a pull request from the app; no merge control is documented3848
GitHub Yes: Issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories, through the gh CLI3049 Yes: Through the GitHub CLI and the Code Review plugin: a PR inbox across repositories, diffs, comments and checks, review submission, and Fix for failing checks4348
Issue trackers Partly: GitHub (github.com), through the gh CLI; no Linear or Jira3049 Partly: Linear issues assigned to Codex and @codex mentions in GitHub Issues start cloud tasks; Codex Security can file findings in Jira; no in-app issue view is documented505152
Where it runs
Cloud execution No: Agents run as child processes on your computer, or on your own server with splash-server17 Yes: Cloud tasks in their own remote workspaces, started or continued from the app, web or mobile; ChatGPT sign-in required427
Remote access Yes: splash-server runs on the machine with your code; you use it in a browser over an SSH tunnel. Single user.7 Yes: Remote projects on SSH hosts, which need Codex installed; the ChatGPT phone apps can also control a Mac or Windows host553
Mobile app No: No mobile app; builds cover macOS, Windows, Ubuntu and a headless server19 Yes: ChatGPT for iOS and Android approves actions and shows diffs for a linked Mac or Windows host, and starts cloud tasks5544
Auto-update No: Download new versions from GitHub Releases; the app does not update itself1955 Yes: Updates itself; on macOS and Windows, admins can switch the updater off and roll out approved versions56
History and search
Existing agent history Conversations started outside the app Yes: Browse, preview and import conversations agents list over ACP, including ones started outside Splash3044 Yes: Imports setup and the last 30 days of chats from Claude Code, Claude Cowork and Cursor, and can keep them in sync57
Search transcripts Yes: Search titles, folders and saved transcript text, archived sessions included30 Partly: Search chats; where expanded matching is available, it also looks at message text and Git branch names58

Where they differ

How agents connect

The ChatGPT desktop app runs OpenAI’s Codex from a binary bundled with the app, and starts the Codex app server on SSH hosts; its custom agents are Codex configurations. Splash starts each agent as a child process and speaks the Agent Client Protocol with it. In Splash, Codex is one of those agents, through the codex-acp adapter.145251242

Where it runs

The ChatGPT desktop app runs on macOS and Windows, with Linux in preview. Codex chats run locally, on an SSH host or as cloud tasks, and the ChatGPT phone apps can control a Mac or Windows host. Splash runs agents on your computer, or on your own server as splash-server, used in a browser over an SSH tunnel.811451917

Accounts, plans and license

Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app draws on a ChatGPT plan’s usage, from Free to Enterprise, or an OpenAI API key at API rates; Amazon Bedrock is another route. OpenAI publishes no source for the app; the Codex it bundles is open source under Apache-2.0. Splash is free and MIT-licensed, has no accounts, and runs each agent on that agent’s own login.18272814151617132924

Pull requests and GitHub

Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app commits, pushes and opens pull requests, and its Code Review plugin shows a PR’s diff, comments and checks and submits reviews. Splash does not create pull requests; its GitHub view triages issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories through the gh CLI and links them to local sessions.38483049

Around the session

The ChatGPT desktop app adds tooling around each Codex chat: setup scripts and top-bar actions, a built-in browser, Computer Use on macOS and Windows, scheduled tasks, Handoff between Local, a worktree and an SSH host, and worktree cleanup that saves snapshots. Both apps follow chats that need you, show diffs, search past chats and import other agents’ conversations. The ChatGPT app imports from Claude Code, Claude Cowork and Cursor; Splash imports from agents that list their sessions over ACP, and its Needs attention queue, kept across restarts, also holds connection failures.38391141536454858573044

Which one fits

Splash may suit you if

  • You want to run agents from several vendors, Codex among them, side by side in one app.
  • You want a free, MIT-licensed app with no account of its own.
  • You want permission requests, failures and finished turns in one queue, and search across saved transcripts.
  • You want to browse and import conversations your agents started outside the app.

ChatGPT desktop app may suit you if

  • You work mainly with OpenAI’s Codex and have a ChatGPT plan, Free included.
  • You want cloud tasks, SSH hosts and control from an iOS or Android phone.
  • You want setup scripts, dev-server actions and a built-in browser alongside each worktree.
  • You want to commit, open pull requests and review them in the same app.

Sources

Facts about ChatGPT desktop app come from its public website, documentation and repositories as they read on 9 October 2026; we haven't confirmed each one by running ChatGPT desktop app. Facts about Splash link to its source. Products change, so check the linked pages before deciding. Something wrong or out of date? Open an issue.

  1. 1 Splash README Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  2. 2 Agent Client Protocol agentclientprotocol.com · agentclientprotocol.com · checked 2026-10-09
  3. 3 ChatGPT desktop app OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  4. 4 Codex environments OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  5. 5 Remote connections OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  6. 6 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: 9 July 2026 OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  7. 7 Splash README: Run as a web app over SSH Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  8. 8 Quickstart OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  9. 9 Splash releases Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  10. 10 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: 25 September 2026 OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  11. 11 ChatGPT desktop app for Linux OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  12. 12 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: Introducing the Codex app (2 February 2026) OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  13. 13 LICENSE Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  14. 14 Troubleshooting OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  15. 15 Open Source OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  16. 16 LICENSE openai/codex on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  17. 17 Download Splash splash.computer · splash.computer · checked 2026-10-09
  18. 18 Pricing OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  19. 19 Splash README: Download the app Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  20. 20 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: 16 April 2026 OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  21. 21 ChatGPT OpenAI on the Microsoft Store · apps.microsoft.com · checked 2026-10-09
  22. 22 Deploy the Windows app OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  23. 23 src/agents/registry.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  24. 24 Splash README: Agents Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  25. 25 Subagents OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  26. 26 Codex App Server OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  27. 27 Authentication OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  28. 28 Use ChatGPT Work and Codex with Amazon Bedrock OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  29. 29 Splash README: Build from source Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  30. 30 Splash README: Features Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  31. 31 Permissions OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  32. 32 Sandbox OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  33. 33 src/agents/customize.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  34. 34 Model Context Protocol OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  35. 35 Plugins OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  36. 36 Worktrees OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  37. 37 src/worktree.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  38. 38 Local environments OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  39. 39 Browser OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  40. 40 Splash README: How it works Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  41. 41 Scheduled tasks OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  42. 42 Integrated terminal OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  43. 43 ChatGPT desktop app for Windows OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  44. 44 Splash README: Existing sessions and review Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  45. 45 Notifications OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  46. 46 app/src/components/settings/General.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  47. 47 app/src/lib/system.ts Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  48. 48 Code review OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  49. 49 Splash README: GitHub view Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  50. 50 Use Codex in Linear OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  51. 51 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: 22 October 2025 OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  52. 52 Export and track security findings OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  53. 53 ChatGPT & Codex changelog: 25 June 2026 OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  54. 54 Codex on mobile OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  55. 55 app/src/components/settings/About.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  56. 56 Manage app updates OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  57. 57 Import from another agent OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09
  58. 58 Commands OpenAI · learn.chatgpt.com · checked 2026-10-09