Archon vs OpenHands
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Open-source tool that runs AI coding agents through repeatable YAML workflows with checks and approval steps.
Open source · MIT
A self-hosted control panel that runs AI coding agents on your machine, in Docker, or in the cloud.
The short answer
Choose Archon if you need…
- Developers who want AI coding runs to follow the same plan, test and review steps each time
- Teams that already use Claude Code or Codex and want to keep their own accounts and project guidance
- Repository owners who want approval gates and a record of every run
- People who want to automate a multi-step process beyond software, using the same YAML engine
Choose OpenHands if you need…
- Developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off
- Teams that want a shared agent server for tasks like code review or dependency updates
- People who want to connect agents to Slack, GitHub, or Linear through automations
- Users who want to choose their own LLM provider
Side-by-side
| Archon | OpenHands | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.8k | 92.5k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Archon
Archon lets you describe a process as a YAML workflow: a graph of steps where AI agents handle judgment, scripts run checks like tests, and a person is asked to decide at chosen points. It runs Claude Code, Codex and Pi through their own CLIs, so the goal is to make AI coding runs follow the same steps each time. The README also describes a bundled workflow pack that takes a GitHub issue through to a merged pull request.
OpenHands
Agent Canvas is a self-hosted control center for AI coding agents. You start conversations with agents and set up automations, such as generating reports that publish to Slack or breaking GitHub issues into tasks. It runs on your own machine by default and can also connect to agents running in Docker, on virtual machines, or on OpenHands Cloud or Enterprise infrastructure. It can run the open source OpenHands agent or third-party agents such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI.
Best for
Archon
- Developers who want AI coding runs to follow the same plan, test and review steps each time
- Teams that already use Claude Code or Codex and want to keep their own accounts and project guidance
- Repository owners who want approval gates and a record of every run
- People who want to automate a multi-step process beyond software, using the same YAML engine
OpenHands
- Developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off
- Teams that want a shared agent server for tasks like code review or dependency updates
- People who want to connect agents to Slack, GitHub, or Linear through automations
- Users who want to choose their own LLM provider
Strengths
Archon
- Workflows are plain YAML files stored in your repository, so the process is visible and versionable
- Runs can pause for a human decision and resume, with an event log and cost record for each run
- Self-hosted, with SQLite by default and PostgreSQL optional
OpenHands
- Self-hosted, so you control where agents run and where your work is stored
- Supports several agents and backends from one frontend
- Released under the MIT license with a large public community (about 92,000 stars)
Not ideal for
Archon
- Someone wanting a single chat-style coding assistant with no setup, since the README describes a workflow engine that needs configuration
- Teams unwilling to let automated runs open pull requests or touch their repository
- Users without a working Claude Code or Codex setup, since the agents are required
- People who need a hosted service; the README describes a self-hosted install
OpenHands
- People who need strong isolation by default: the quickstart without a sandbox gives the agent full access to your filesystem
- Non-technical users who are not comfortable with Node.js, npm, Docker, or the command line
- Anyone who needs a fully hosted service with no setup, since the README centers on self-hosting
Trade-offs
Archon
- The README describes many moving parts (workflows, queues, providers, forges, chat adapters), so setup has a learning curve
- The GitHub-based pack uses the gh CLI today, and the README does not detail its limits beyond that
- Its claims about results, such as the share of merged pull requests built by Archon, come from the README and were not independently checked
OpenHands
- Running without a sandbox gives the agent full access to your filesystem, so the Docker options need careful setup
- Multiple features depend on configuring backends, LLM keys, and integrations, which takes effort
- The README is truncated and does not fully document security hardening or every integration; see the linked docs
Getting started
Archon
Install on macOS or Linux
curl -fsSL https://archon.diy/install | bashInstall on Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://archon.diy/install.ps1 | iexOpenHands
Install globally with npm (no sandbox)
npm install -g @openhands/agent-canvasStart the full local stack
agent-canvasFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Archon and OpenHands?
Archon: Open-source tool that runs AI coding agents through repeatable YAML workflows with checks and approval steps. OpenHands: A self-hosted control panel that runs AI coding agents on your machine, in Docker, or in the cloud. Archon suits developers who want ai coding runs to follow the same plan, test and review steps each time, while OpenHands suits developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off.
Are Archon and OpenHands free?
Archon: Free and open source. OpenHands: Free and open source.
Is Archon or OpenHands more popular?
OpenHands has more GitHub stars (92.5k) than Archon (23.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Archon and OpenHands?
Other options people compare them with include PR Agent, oh-my-claudecode, ECC, opencodex, Composio.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.