Orca vs Superset
Orca and Superset are desktop environments that run CLI coding agents in parallel with one git worktree per task and built-in diff review. Orca is MIT-licensed and cross-platform. Superset is macOS-first under the Elastic License 2.0, adds per-workspace ports, a CLI, SDK and MCP server, and sells Pro features such as remote access, mobile and automations.
Facts side by side
| Fact | Orca | Superset |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Orchestrator | Orchestrator |
| Languages / SDKs | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| License | MIT | unknown |
| Pricing model | Open source, free | Open core |
| Orchestration pattern | Other | Supervisor |
| GitHub stars | 82,020 (as of 2026-09-30) | 14,764 (as of 2026-09-30) |
| GitHub forks | 5,324 | 1,313 |
| Last push | 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-30 |
| Latest release | v1.4.217 | desktop-v1.32.0 |
| Repository | stablyai/orca | superset-sh/superset |
| Website | www.onorca.dev | superset.sh |
| Documentation | www.onorca.dev | docs.superset.sh |
| Last verified | 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-30 |
| MCP support | Partial (checked 2026-09-30) | Yes (checked 2026-09-30) |
| A2A support | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) |
| AG-UI support | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) |
| Install verified | Not yet | Not yet |
Choose Orca if
- You need Windows or Linux as a supported platform.
- You need an OSI open-source license.
- You want remote hosts over SSH or your own server without a paid plan.
Choose Superset if
- You want per-workspace port allocation so several dev servers can run side by side.
- You want to script the environment through a CLI, TypeScript SDK or MCP server, including a documented orchestrate skill that returns one branch and pull request per worker.
- You are on macOS and fine with a source-available license and a paid Pro plan for remote access.
Migration notes
Work lives in git worktrees and branches in both, so moving is a matter of pushing branches and re-creating workspaces. Superset installs lifecycle hooks and command wrappers into the agent configs to show status; if you leave Superset, remove them or the agents keep calling a missing wrapper. Orca instead pre-fills permission-bypass flags on launch, which you may want to switch to Manual. License terms differ in a way that matters for teams: the Elastic License 2.0 forbids offering Superset as a hosted or managed service, while Orca is MIT. Superset's Linux build is experimental and Windows is not available.
FAQ
Is Superset open source?
Its source is public under the Elastic License 2.0, which is source-available and not an OSI open-source license. GitHub therefore reports no standard license.
What does Superset Pro add?
The pricing page lists Free, Pro and Enterprise plans; remote access, mobile and automations are Pro features. The README says running agents in parallel on your own machine stays free.
Do they touch my model traffic?
Both say no: the agent CLIs talk to your provider on your own accounts.