splash

SplashCompareZenflow

Splash and Zenflow, compared.

Splash and Zenflow both run several coding agents at once and can give each its own git worktree. Zenflow, from Zencoder, runs Claude Code, Codex, Gemini or Zencoder’s own agent through step-based workflows, and its paid plans add credits for hosted models. Splash, a free, open-source desktop app, drives agents over the Agent Client Protocol.

Checked 10 October 202653 sourcesNot affiliated with Zencoder

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

Zenflow

Zencoder

A desktop app that runs Claude Code, Codex, Gemini or Zencoder’s own agent on parallel tasks in git worktrees, through step-based workflows with review and pull requests. A Work mode handles non-coding tasks.34567

zencoder.ai

Side by side

SplashZenflow
The basics
What it is Desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser18 Desktop app with Code and Work modes, plus a server for a remote VM, reached over SSH or in a browser34910
Release status v0.2.1, early development111 Launched December 2025. The changelog ends at v2.3.4 (26 August 2026); the Remote Hosts doc asks for 2.5.1 or later12139
License Open source (MIT)14 Proprietary and closed source; a revocable license for professional development use that forbids reverse engineering15
Price Free16 Free plan; Pro $45, Pro Plus $95 and Pro Max $195 per user a month ($40, $85 and $175 a month if billed yearly), each with model credits; Enterprise custom171812
Platforms macOS 14+ (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 11 x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x6419 macOS (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows x64, Linux x64 (.deb and .rpm); the remote server runs on Ubuntu39
Built with Rust, with a Svelte 5 frontend in a webview, built on the Elyra framework20 Electron, with an embedded Chromium browser; the source code isn’t public21715
Agents
Agents Ships launch commands for 20 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Gemini, Goose, OpenCode2223 Zencoder’s own agent (ZenCLI), Claude Code, Codex and Gemini; custom models plug in as OpenAI-compatible or Gemini endpoints2462526
How it runs agents Agent Client Protocol over stdio, natively or through a pinned adapter for the vendor’s CLI222 Each agent’s CLI on your computer, in a chat that streams tool calls and commands; the docs name no protocol24527257
Agent sign-in Who pays for the model You install and sign in to each agent’s CLI yourself; Splash runs it with that login23 Claude Pro/Max or an Anthropic key; an OpenAI key (Codex); Google AI or Vertex (Gemini); or Zencoder credits for hosted models27282917
Account required Splash has no accounts; splash-server asks for a token it keeps in its data folder308 The terms say basic features work without one; the install guide has you sign in, and integrations need an account15431
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 attention32 Yes: Set per preset: Claude Code’s skip-permissions and auto-approve modes, Codex sandbox modes such as Always ask, ZenCLI shell-command confirmation627212833
MCP servers Partly: Read-only list of MCP servers from Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Pool and Glue config files3234 Yes: Add MCP servers in settings; a built-in Zenflow MCP server lets agents create tasks and trigger automations3536
Working in parallel
Isolation per session Yes: The project folder, or a git worktree on its own branch per session32 Yes: A worktree on its own branch per Code task, removed on archive; Work tasks use a folder; no container sandbox documented537
Setup scripts and dev servers No: A worktree is a plain git checkout; Splash runs no setup scripts or dev servers3238 Yes: Setup scripts per worktree, verification after each agent turn and copied .env files; the dev server command isn’t run automatically yet75
What needs you Yes: One queue for permission requests, connection failures and finished turns, kept across restarts3239 Yes: Kanban board and task list with live status, inline agent questions, an Action needed banner and desktop notifications40333635
Agents handing off work One agent launching or messaging another No: Each session is one agent in one folder; sessions don’t hand work to each other132 Yes: Workflow steps switch between agent presets, agents can start subagents, and the built-in MCP server lets agents create tasks64136
Scheduled tasks Agents that start without a prompt from you No: No scheduler; an agent starts when you create, continue or prompt a session20 Yes: Automations run on a schedule, as a new task each time or inside one task; custom cron expressions since August 20264213
Built-in browser No: No built-in browser; the workbench holds git changes, a file tree, diff and file tabs, and a terminal32 Yes: An embedded Chromium browser for localhost previews; copy an element for the agent, and agents control it through MCP tools74333
Review and shipping
Review changes Yes: Latest response, failed tools and every changed file as a diff, with a box to send feedback32 Yes: Diffs with a checkpoint per turn, rollback and hunk picking, plus reviewer agents from another model; no line comments documented443543
Create pull requests No: Shows the PR for a session’s branch and starts worktrees from PR heads; does not create PRs3245 Yes: Opens a GitHub PR, draft or not, after pushing the task’s branch, with merge strategies; PR status updates the task73346
GitHub Yes: Issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories, through the gh CLI3245 Yes: Connected by OAuth or a token with a Zencoder account; issues can start tasks, PR comments can re-run agents, and an agent can monitor CI and fix failing runs463633
Issue trackers Partly: GitHub (github.com), through the gh CLI; no Linear or Jira3245 Yes: Tasks from GitHub, Jira or Linear issues; Jira and Linear get status updates and links to the branch or PR364748
Where it runs
Remote access Yes: splash-server runs on the machine with your code; you use it in a browser over an SSH tunnel. Single user.8 Partly: Remote hosts, marked experimental, keep tasks running on an Ubuntu VM over SSH; a public VPS install serves a browser UI910
Mobile app No: No mobile app; builds cover macOS, Windows, Ubuntu and a headless server19 No: No mobile app listed; downloads cover macOS, Windows and Linux. A Slack, Telegram or Discord assistant starts tasks and sends updates34950
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 Splash3239 Not documented: Importing sessions started outside Zenflow isn’t documented; the Import issue button brings in tracker issues7
Search transcripts Yes: Search titles, folders and saved transcript text, archived sessions included32 Not documented: Searching chat text isn’t documented; archived tasks can be browsed and searched, and keep their chat logs51

Where they differ

How agents connect

Zenflow runs Zencoder’s ZenCLI or the Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLIs installed locally, and streams their tool calls into its chat panel. The docs name no protocol and no way to add other agent CLIs; custom models plug in as OpenAI-compatible or Gemini endpoints. Splash speaks the Agent Client Protocol with every agent, natively or through an adapter.242575226222

Around the task

Zenflow builds each task around a workflow (built-in ones like Spec First, or your own in Markdown) with a preset per step, setup and verification scripts, a reviewer agent from another model, per-turn checkpoints and a GitHub PR; automations start tasks on a schedule. Splash centers on conversations: a Needs attention queue, a review screen, transcript search and imported sessions.5674344423239

Price, accounts and license

Zenflow is closed source. Its Free plan uses your own keys plus a few hosted models; paid plans at $45 to $195 per user a month ($40 to $175 billed yearly) add model credits, and higher tiers add team credit pools, SSO and audit logs. The terms allow basic use without a Zencoder account, but integrations need one. Splash is free, MIT-licensed and has no accounts.1517185331141630

Where agents run

Zenflow’s desktop app runs on macOS, Windows x64 and Linux x64. Remote hosts, still marked experimental, run a Zenflow server on an Ubuntu VM reached over SSH; a public VPS install serves it to a browser; and a messaging assistant takes tasks from Slack, Telegram or Discord. Splash runs on macOS, Windows and Ubuntu, or as splash-server reached through an SSH tunnel.391049198

Which one fits

Splash may suit you if

  • You want a free, MIT-licensed app that needs no account.
  • You want Copilot, OpenCode, Goose and other agents in the same chat view as Claude Code, Codex and Gemini.
  • You want every agent driven over the Agent Client Protocol, with permission requests answered in the transcript.
  • You want to import conversations your agents started outside the app and search their saved text.

Zenflow may suit you if

  • You want each task run through a workflow, with setup and verification scripts and a reviewer agent from another model.
  • You want to go from a GitHub, Jira or Linear issue to a GitHub pull request in one app.
  • You want scheduled automations, a built-in browser and a chat assistant in Slack, Telegram or Discord.
  • You want one plan that covers hosted models from several providers, with team credit pools and SSO on higher tiers.

Sources

Facts about Zenflow come from its public website, documentation and repositories as they read on 10 October 2026; we haven't confirmed each one by running Zenflow. 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 Download Zenflow Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  4. 4 Install Zenflow Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  5. 5 Zenflow Concepts Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  6. 6 Agent Presets Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  7. 7 Projects & Tasks Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  8. 8 Splash README: Run as a web app over SSH Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  9. 9 Remote Hosts Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  10. 10 VPS Setup Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  11. 11 Splash releases Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  12. 12 Introducing Zenflow Work: AI Orchestration for the Other 75 Percent Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  13. 13 August 2026 (Zenflow Changelog) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  14. 14 LICENSE Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  15. 15 Terms of Service: Zenflow Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  16. 16 Download Splash splash.computer · splash.computer · checked 2026-10-09
  17. 17 Pricing & Plans Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  18. 18 Pricing Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  19. 19 Splash README: Download the app Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  20. 20 Splash README: How it works Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  21. 21 May 2026 (Zenflow Changelog) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  22. 22 src/agents/registry.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  23. 23 Splash README: Agents Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  24. 24 Zenflow Code (Quickstart) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  25. 25 Troubleshooting Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  26. 26 Custom Models Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  27. 27 Claude Code Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  28. 28 Codex (OpenAI) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  29. 29 Gemini Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  30. 30 Splash README: Build from source Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  31. 31 Integrations Overview Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  32. 32 Splash README: Features Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  33. 33 March 2026 (Zenflow Changelog) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  34. 34 src/agents/customize.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  35. 35 Settings Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  36. 36 February 2026 (Zenflow Changelog) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  37. 37 Git and Worktrees Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  38. 38 src/worktree.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  39. 39 Splash README: Existing sessions and review Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  40. 40 Blast Multiple Agents Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  41. 41 SubAgents Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  42. 42 Automations Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  43. 43 Zenflow by Zencoder Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  44. 44 Tracking Changes Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  45. 45 Splash README: GitHub view Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  46. 46 GitHub Integration Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  47. 47 Jira Integration Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  48. 48 Linear Integration Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  49. 49 Zencoder | The AI Coding Agent Zencoder · zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  50. 50 Zenflow Changelog Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  51. 51 Archiving Tasks Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  52. 52 Overview (CLIs) Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10
  53. 53 Models Zencoder · docs.zencoder.ai · checked 2026-10-10