Conductor alternative: running Claude Code and Codex on a Mac after the Meta deal
Conductor, the Mac app many developers used to run Claude Code and Codex agents in parallel, is joining Meta. Conductor Cloud went read-only on 13 November and shuts down on 20 November 2026. The local app keeps getting new models and critical fixes until early 2027.
If you want a tool with a future, here are the options, including ours, and where each one is the better pick.
What happened to Conductor
- Conductor 0.93.0 announced that the team is joining Meta (reported 5 November 2026).
- Conductor Cloud: read-only from 13 November, shut down on 20 November. Cloud workspaces and chats can be moved to a Mac or exported.
- Local Conductor on your Mac: new models and critical bug fixes until early 2027, so nothing breaks today, but plan the move.
What Conductor did well
Each Conductor workspace was its own Git worktree, so several agents could work on one repository without touching each other's files, and you reviewed the diff of each before merging. Whatever you move to should keep that habit: one agent, one branch, one review.
The options
| Tool | Agents | Pick it when | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHIPIT | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI and Grok side by side in one native Mac window | You use more than one vendor, want @handoffs, an approval for every file write and a usage dashboard, or someone on the team does not code | Dzhura subscription, $25 a month or $199 a year, plus your agent plan |
| Claude Code desktop app | Claude Code only | Your whole team is on Claude and wants the vendor's own app | Included with Claude plans |
| Codex app | Codex only | You only use Codex | Included with ChatGPT plans |
| Terminal, tmux and Git worktrees | Any command-line agent | You want full control and no extra app | Free |
Moving from Conductor to SHIPIT
- Before 20 November, move your Conductor Cloud workspaces to your Mac or export them.
- Install SHIPIT (macOS 14 or later) and sign in to the same Claude and OpenAI accounts. SHIPIT installs Claude Code and Codex if they are missing.
- Open each repository as a workspace in the Code tab. For a branch you want isolated, use Create Git worktree from the pane menu.
- Switch on Parallel chats in Settings, Agents & AI, and set a cap on concurrent turns.
- Keep Ask before acting on while you learn how the agents behave, then loosen it per chat.
Where SHIPIT is not the better pick
- You need Windows or Linux. SHIPIT is Mac only.
- Your team only uses Claude and does not want to pay for another app. The Claude Code desktop app is included in the plan.
- You want every agent put in its own worktree automatically. In SHIPIT agents work in the folders you open; a worktree is one click, not the default.
Questions and answers
Is Conductor shutting down?
Conductor Cloud shuts down on 20 November 2026. The local Mac app keeps working and gets new models and critical fixes until early 2027, after Conductor joined Meta.
What is the closest Conductor alternative on a Mac?
It depends on what you used it for. For Claude Code only, the Claude Code desktop app. For Codex only, the Codex app. For both vendors side by side with handoffs and approvals in one native window, SHIPIT.
Does SHIPIT use Git worktrees?
Yes, on request. The pane menu creates a Git worktree for a new branch, and the workspace wizard can start one. Agents are not put into worktrees automatically.
Can SHIPIT run Claude Code and Codex at the same time?
Yes. Open a Claude Code pane and a Codex pane side by side, or make two teammates on different engines and switch on Parallel chats.
Sources
Conductor cloud shutdown dates, AlternativeTo, 5 November 2026: https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/11/conductor-0-93-0-sets-cloud-shutdown-dates-after-meta-move/