CodexBar vs Orca
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
A menu bar app (plus CLI) that shows your AI coding tool usage limits and reset times.
Open source · MIT
A desktop app for running several coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree.
The short answer
Choose CodexBar if you need…
- Developers who use several AI coding tools and want to see remaining limits at a glance
- People on usage-capped subscription plans who want to plan long tasks around reset times
- Mac users who prefer a menu bar indicator over a web dashboard
- Linux users who want the CLI or the Qt desktop app
Choose Orca if you need…
- Developers who already use CLI coding agents and want to run several at once
- People who want to compare outputs from different agents on the same prompt
- Developers who work on remote machines and want agents running there over SSH
- Teams that review AI-generated diffs and want to annotate them before committing
Side-by-side
| CodexBar | Orca | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 22.9k | 113k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Download the app |
| Main language | Swift | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
CodexBar
CodexBar is a small menu bar app for macOS that shows how much of your AI coding provider limits you have used and when each limit resets. It supports a long list of providers, including OpenAI Codex and Claude Code as named in its description. It reuses existing provider sessions such as OAuth, API keys, browser cookies, or local CLI files, and the README says it does not store passwords. A Linux desktop app and a CLI are also available.
Orca
Orca is a desktop application (with a mobile companion) where you run coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode or Pi at the same time. Each agent gets its own isolated git worktree, and everything is tracked in one place. You can compare results from several agents and keep the one you want.
Best for
CodexBar
- Developers who use several AI coding tools and want to see remaining limits at a glance
- People on usage-capped subscription plans who want to plan long tasks around reset times
- Mac users who prefer a menu bar indicator over a web dashboard
- Linux users who want the CLI or the Qt desktop app
Orca
- Developers who already use CLI coding agents and want to run several at once
- People who want to compare outputs from different agents on the same prompt
- Developers who work on remote machines and want agents running there over SSH
- Teams that review AI-generated diffs and want to annotate them before committing
Strengths
CodexBar
- Shows usage limits and reset times in one place across many providers
- Reuses existing sessions and states that no passwords are stored
- Available as a macOS menu bar app, a Linux desktop app, and a CLI
Orca
- Runs agents in isolated git worktrees, so parallel work does not collide
- Works with any CLI agent that runs in a terminal, according to the README
- Released under the MIT license and the source is public
Not ideal for
CodexBar
- Users on platforms other than macOS or Linux, since the README lists no Windows support
- People who do not want any app reading provider session cookies or local files, since the README says it reuses browser cookies and local files for many providers
- Users of providers outside the README's list, since it covers only the providers it names
Orca
- People who do not use coding agents, since the core value depends on running them
- Users who need a fully browser-based tool, because the README describes a desktop app with a separate mobile companion
- Anyone who needs a clearly documented, stable feature list, since the README says the changelog is the real feature list and changes often
Trade-offs
CodexBar
- Each provider needs its own setup (CLI login, cookies, or API key), and some depend on browser sessions that may change
- The README describes some providers as experimental or partial, such as Antigravity
- Linux desktop needs glibc 2.39+, Qt 6.4+, and a separate CLI install
Orca
- The README is truncated and short on setup detail, so the full requirements are unclear from it
- Feature list is described as perpetually behind, so the documentation may not match the current app
- Requires you to bring your own agent subscriptions or accounts
Getting started
CodexBar
Install the macOS app with Homebrew
brew install --cask codexbarInstall the CLI on Linux with Homebrew
brew install steipete/tap/codexbarOrca
Download the desktop app from the releases page (macOS, Windows, Linux builds are listed)
git clone https://github.com/stablyai/orcaFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between CodexBar and Orca?
CodexBar: A menu bar app (plus CLI) that shows your AI coding tool usage limits and reset times. Orca: A desktop app for running several coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree. CodexBar suits developers who use several ai coding tools and want to see remaining limits at a glance, while Orca suits developers who already use cli coding agents and want to run several at once.
Are CodexBar and Orca free?
CodexBar: Free and open source. Orca: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, CodexBar or Orca?
CodexBar is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Orca is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is CodexBar or Orca more popular?
Orca has more GitHub stars (113k) than CodexBar (22.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to CodexBar and Orca?
Other options people compare them with include CC Switch, OmniRoute, CLIProxyAPI, magpie, Happy.
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.