openrig logo
openrig
★ 8.3k
vs
Orkas logo
Orkas
★ 2.2k

openrig vs Orkas

openrig: OpenRig wraps coding agent harnesses into a rig: a persistent team defined in YAML and booted with one command, with Claude Code and Codex managed as one system. You talk to a lead agent about the outcome you want, and it coordinates specialists across teams and surfaces results and decisions.; Orkas: Orkas is an open-source, local-first multi-agent desktop app. A Commander agent plans a goal and coordinates specialist agents, and can also drive external CLI agents such as Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode as local sessions. Conversations, files and API keys stay on your disk, and model calls go straight from your machine to the provider.

01

TL;DR

openrig logo
openrigMulti-Agent · ★ 8.3k

Run a persistent team of coding agents on a repository

Orkas logo
OrkasMulti-Agent · ★ 2.2k
When to choose:
  • You want a desktop app where one chat coordinates several agents, instead of writing orchestration code.
  • You already use Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode and want one place to dispatch work to them.
  • You want your data, keys and agents on your own disk, with your own model keys.
When to skip:
  • You only want a single all-purpose chatbot; the README itself says Orkas is not for that.
  • You want a code library to embed in your own app, or a fully hosted team: the README lists both as not a fit.
  • You need Linux packages today: it runs from source on glibc 2.34+ only.
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
openrig logoopenrig
Orkas logoOrkas
Category
Multi-Agent
Multi-Agent
Stars
★ 8.3k
★ 2.2k
License
Apache-2.0
MIT
Install Command
npx skills add https://github.com/mvschwarz/openrig/tree/v0.7.0/skills/rigs --skill rigs --agent claude-code
git clone https://github.com/Orkas-AI/Orkas.git && cd Orkas && ./run.sh
Updated
1d ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
agent-team, agent-orchestration, claude-code
agent-collaboration, agent-harness, agent-orchestration
03

Features

openrig logoopenrig
01Agent teams defined in YAML and started with one command
02Claude Code, Codex and Pi in the same rig
03Kernel operator agent that adapts a starter team to your provider
04TUI showing seats with runtime, model, context and state
05Installable as a rigs skill in Claude Code or Codex
Orkas logoOrkas
01A Commander that plans a goal and dispatches it to specialist agents in parallel or in sequence; nine specialists ship with the app
02Drives external CLI agents (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Hermes-Agent) as local subprocesses from one chat
03Bring your own model keys: Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek, Kimi, GLM, Qwen and others, or a local OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible endpoint
04Each agent keeps its own private skills and memory and improves through reflection after each task
05Local storage of conversations, files, knowledge bases and keys; macOS and Windows installers, Linux from source
04

Use Cases

openrig logoopenrig
↳Run a persistent team of coding agents on a repository
↳Have a lead agent coordinate specialists toward one outcome
↳Combine Claude Code and Codex in one managed system
Orkas logoOrkas
↳Turn one goal into research, a written report and a slide deck through a chain of specialist agents
↳Break a product spec into tasks and hand them to coding agents such as Claude Code or Codex
↳Chat with local documents and run data analysis without sending files to a vendor cloud
05

Best For

openrig logoopenrig
—
Orkas logoOrkas
Trending
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between openrig and Orkas?
Both openrig and Orkas are in the Multi-Agent category. openrig has 8.3k stars, while Orkas has 2.2k stars.
Which is better, openrig or Orkas?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose openrig if Run a persistent team of coding agents on a repository, and Orkas if Turn one goal into research, a written report and a slide deck through a chain of specialist agents.
Is openrig free or open source?
Yes, openrig is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
Is Orkas free or open source?
Yes, Orkas is open source on GitHub (MIT).
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