Reasonix 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
An open-source AI coding assistant that reads, edits and tests code in your project folder.
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 Reasonix if you need…
- Developers who want an AI assistant to make multi-step changes in a local project
- People who want to choose or switch their own model provider
- Users who want to approve each action or review a plan before work starts
- Those who prefer a desktop app, terminal, browser, or VS Code extension interface
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
| Reasonix | OpenHands | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 36k | 92.5k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Reasonix
Reasonix is an open-source AI coding assistant that runs on your own computer. You describe a task in plain language, and it reads code, edits files and runs commands and tests inside the project folder you choose, showing you each step. You choose the AI model: a DeepSeek preset is built in, and any OpenAI-compatible service can be added, with payment going directly to the model provider.
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
Reasonix
- Developers who want an AI assistant to make multi-step changes in a local project
- People who want to choose or switch their own model provider
- Users who want to approve each action or review a plan before work starts
- Those who prefer a desktop app, terminal, browser, or VS Code extension interface
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
Reasonix
- Runs on your computer and works inside the project folder you pick
- Lets you choose the permission level, from asking every time to limited autonomy
- Offers several interfaces: desktop app, terminal, browser, and editor via ACP
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
Reasonix
- People who want a hosted service with no setup or API key, since you must supply a model provider and key
- Anyone who expects rewind to undo shell command side effects, because the README says only files changed by its edit tools are covered
- Those who need a fully offline setup, since the model is a service you configure and it receives what it reads
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
Reasonix
- You must supply and pay for your own model provider and key
- Rewind does not cover changes made by shell commands
- The README is truncated and does not fully document setup details for every platform
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
Reasonix
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/esengine/DeepSeek-ReasonixOpenHands
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 Reasonix and OpenHands?
Reasonix: An open-source AI coding assistant that reads, edits and tests code in your project folder. OpenHands: A self-hosted control panel that runs AI coding agents on your machine, in Docker, or in the cloud. Reasonix suits developers who want an ai assistant to make multi-step changes in a local project, while OpenHands suits developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off.
Are Reasonix and OpenHands free?
Reasonix: Free and open source. OpenHands: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Reasonix or OpenHands?
Reasonix is easier to get started with (rated beginner); OpenHands is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Reasonix or OpenHands more popular?
OpenHands has more GitHub stars (92.5k) than Reasonix (36k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Reasonix and OpenHands?
Other options people compare them with include CowAgent, nanobot, Ollama, magpie, DSH Desktop.
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.