Claude Code session managers - what exists and what each one solves

Claude Code session managers: what exists and what each one solves

Many users struggle with managing multiple Claude Code sessions, especially when dealing with more than two. As the number of sessions increases, it becomes challenging to remember what each session is doing. The term "session manager" is misleading, as the primary goal is to know the state of each session without opening it.

Claude Code already has a built-in solution: an agent view in the terminal itself, which groups active sessions by state and highlights those that require immediate attention. This feature is free and solves the most common case for users who don't need additional tools.

However, when the problem persists beyond two or three sessions, users may require more advanced options. At that point, installing an app with a user-friendly interface becomes necessary.

The following session managers offer various features tailored to specific needs:

1. Conductor: A Mac app that runs Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor. It offers a review-and-open-PR workflow, making it ideal for macOS users who prefer a lean interface.

2. Nimbalyst: An open-source session manager with free access for individuals and wide platform coverage, including macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS. If you're not using a Mac, this is a good starting point.

3. Claude Squad: An open-source terminal app with a text interface, isolating each session in its own worktree. This option is suitable for users who find desktop apps cumbersome.

4. CanvasCode: A macOS app with a canvas-style interface, where each agent gets its own panel. The focus is on maintaining context, with every agent displaying a one-sentence summary of its current task. CanvasCode also alerts users when a session is stuck, even when switching between projects.