Head to head · Agent harnesses · October 2026 research run
Conductor vs Qoder CLI
Qoder CLI scores 59.5 (C) on agent readiness against Conductor's 41.3 (E), and leads in every scored category. Both do agent harnesses.
Best agent harnesses and coding agents · All 1500 harnesses comparisons
Which one, for what
Best for Existing Conductor users planning their move before Cloud closes on 20 November 2026 and the local app winds down in early 2027.
Also in its favour
- No incidents deducted, where Qoder CLI loses 3 points for them
Watch for
No new downloads or sign-ups since 4 November 2026
Best for Developers already on Qoder who want the same agent in a terminal, in CI through a PAT, in Zed through ACP, or embedded through the Agent SDK.
Ahead on
- Reliability, 51 against 25
- Schema & documentation, 81 against 60
- Agent ergonomics, 80 against 55
- Security & auth, 58 against 45
- Payments & pricing, 35 against 0
- Maintenance & community, 72 against 58
- Transparency & trust, 61 against 53
Watch for
No local sandbox is documented, and auto mode approves read-only tools on any path
Why the edge
Each category where one leads by five points or more, with the reason behind each side's score from its assessment. The numbers are in the table below; this is what they stand for.
Payments & pricing Qoder CLI +35
Conductor 0
No new sign-ups since 4 November, free users can't upgrade, and no price is shown. No protocol, no published price, no open free tier, no onboarding (0).
Qoder CLI 35
Harness reading of the published rubric, scored on the Qoder subscription the CLI needs. No payment protocol (0). Plan prices, the Credit Pack price ($20 for 1,500 credits) and per-model credit factors are public in the docs without a login. qoder.com/pricing is disallowed by robots.txt and wasn't read (20). A Free plan with basic models for a limited number of messages and a 14-day Pro trial with 300 credits. We found no statement on whether a card is needed (15). A person signs in through a browser, and a PAT is created by hand at qoder.com/account/integrations (0). 0+20+15+0 = 35. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run).
Reliability Qoder CLI +26
Conductor 25
Read as local software that is winding down. Installed from Conductor's own download, which stopped taking new users on 4 November 2026 (10). Closed source, so no public CI or issue tracker (0, 0). A dated changelog, newest 0.93.0 on 4 November (15). Version 0.93 (0). 10 + 0 + 0 + 15 + 0 = 25.
Qoder CLI 51
Local-package reading, the same as the other closed-source harnesses. An install script for macOS, Linux and Windows on arm64 and amd64 that checks a SHA-256 from a manifest on the same download host, and an npm package with Node.js 20 or later stated (20). No public CI or test suite, since no source is published (0). We found no public issue tracker for the CLI. The forum's bug-reports category, shared by every Qoder product, had 116 new topics in the month to 18 October, and 15 of the 29 topics on its first page had no reply. A few named the CLI (8). Versions are semver-shaped and every release is dated in the release notes, but removals such as /goal take in 1.1.11 shipped in patch versions without a breaking-change label (8). 1.0.0 on 20 May 2026, now 1.1.73 (15). 20+0+8+8+15 = 51. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run).
Agent ergonomics Qoder CLI +25
Conductor 55
Harness reading. Each task gets a workspace, branch, terminal and diff, with pull requests and merges from the app, and an API for integrations; not re-read in detail (55).
Qoder CLI 80
Framework reading, adapted to a harness driven by a pipeline. --tools, --allowed-tools and --disallowed-tools restrict built-in tools, and --strict-mcp-config with --allowed-mcp-server-names limits MCP servers. Nothing on deferred MCP tool loading was found (18). text, json and stream-json output, --max-turns, --max-output-tokens and --no-session-persistence (16). Distinct exit codes for authentication, input, configuration, turn-limit and tool failures, and SDK Result subtypes with error codes (16). --continue, --resume, --session-id, --fork-session, SDK checkpoints with rewind, and --max-model-request-retries (15). Official SDKs in TypeScript and Python, an ACP server, and headless runs that need only a PAT and a permission flag (15). 18+16+16+15+15 = 80. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run).
Schema & documentation Qoder CLI +21
Conductor 60
Harness reading. Docs for workspaces, review and merge, a Conductor API reference page linked from the docs (not read), and security and permissions pages (60).
Qoder CLI 81
Framework reading. A CLI reference with types and defaults for every flag, a settings reference with types and defaults, TypeScript declaration files and a Python reference for the SDK, and Result and error-code tables. No schema for the stream-json events was found (16). docs.qoder.com/llms.txt indexes every page with a Markdown twin, and robots.txt allows both (10). The permissions page states what each mode does and is best for, what headless runs do with ask, and which actions skip the auto classifier (17). Permission modes and output formats are enums and rules have a fixed syntax (12). CI examples, an SDK error page with exit codes 0, 1, 41, 42, 44, 52, 53, 54 and 130, Result subtypes and a troubleshooting index. Code 44 names a sandbox the docs don't describe (14). Dated release notes for the CLI and the SDK, though the SDK notes stop at 1.0.41 on 15 September while npm has 1.0.53, and the CLI reference still names the removed lite model (12). 16+10+17+12+14+12 = 81. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run).
Maintenance & community Qoder CLI +14
Conductor 58
0.93.0 on 4 November 2026 (30). Several dated releases in 90 days, per the changelog index (20). Discord, a subreddit and email for support (8). Closed app, no package or CI to read (0). 30 + 20 + 8 + 0 + 0 = 58. The local app gets new models and critical fixes only until early 2027.
Qoder CLI 72
1.1.73 on 16 October 2026, 19 days before 4 November (30). 74 dated CLI versions between 20 July and 16 October 2026, well over three of them after 6 August (20). No public issue tracker. A Discourse forum with bug-report and feature-request categories, where 15 of the 29 bug reports on the first page had no reply when read on 18 October (7). Current official SDKs, @qoder-ai/qoder-agent-sdk 1.0.53 on 15 October and qoder-agent-sdk 1.0.15 on PyPI on 23 September 2026 (12). No public CI. npm versions carry registry signatures and the install script checks a SHA-256 (3). 30+20+7+12+3 = 72. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run). npm and PyPI were not reachable for newer versions.
Security & auth Qoder CLI +13
Conductor 45
Closed app. Telemetry and data handling weren't read beyond the transition notice (10 of 30). A security and permissions page (10 of 20). No prompt-injection guidance found (5). No audit log found (5). SOC 2 Type II report at trust.conductor.build (15 of 20). 10 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 15 = 45.
Qoder CLI 58
Framework reading (telemetry defaults, approvals, guardrails, sandboxing), five lines. Browser sign-in with background refresh, or a PAT created with chosen permissions and an expiry and revocable, plus scoped service accounts for organisations. Usage statistics and AI code statistics are on by default with documented opt-outs, and the privacy policy lets users turn off Share & Improve depending on the plan, without saying which plans or the default (18). Five permission modes, deny over ask over allow across seven rule layers, ask turned into deny in headless runs, a dont_ask mode, trusted directories, protected paths and an administrator switch that disables YOLO. No local sandbox is documented, and auto mode lets an AI classifier decide and approves read-only tools on any path (14). Workspace files can't add auto-mode rules, protected paths stop the agent changing shell startup files or .mcp.json without approval, and network paths always ask on Windows. A project's .qoder/settings.json is still one of the rule layers, and nothing contains a command once approved (9). The enterprise audit log records administrative and configuration events for administrators and says it leaves out prompts, terminal commands, MCP call parameters and CLI execution, and individuals have local session history only (5). qoder.com/enterprise says Qoder is certified to ISO/IEC 27001 and has completed a SOC 2 Type II audit. No security.txt, disclosure policy or bug bounty was found, and fixes appear as one-line release notes without advisories. Graded 12 against the named comparables for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 claims with no disclosure route (fireworks-inference, people-data-labs, launchdarkly), where the 18 October check gave 9 (12). 18+14+9+5+12 = 58. Per the 18 October check, not re-read on 4 November (Qoder's terms bar scraping its Services by automated means, so its sites are paused for this run).
Score by category
| Category | Weight this run | Conductor | Qoder CLI | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 16%20 | 25 | 51 | Qoder CLI +26 |
| Performance | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13%16.2 | 60 | 81 | Qoder CLI +21 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13%16.2 | 55 | 80 | Qoder CLI +25 |
| Security & auth | 14%17.5 | 45 | 58 | Qoder CLI +13 |
| Payments & pricing | 10%12.5 | 0 | 35 | Qoder CLI +35 |
| Task success | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7%8.8 | 58 | 72 | Qoder CLI +14 |
| Transparency & trust | 7%8.8 | 53 | 61 | Qoder CLI +8 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -3 | |
| Total | E 41.3/100 | C 59.5/100 |
Facts side by side
| Fact | Conductor | Qoder CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |
| Vendor | Conductor (joining Meta) | Qoder (BRIGHT ZENITH PRIVATE LIMITED) |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports | ||
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Paid | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Proprietary. A closed-source Mac app and hosted Conductor Cloud under Conductor's terms | Proprietary, under the Qoder Terms of Service (BRIGHT ZENITH PRIVATE LIMITED, last updated 29 April 2026). No source is published, and the Agent SDK's LICENSE file points to the same terms |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-11-04 | 2026-10-16 |
| Terms last updated | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict automated access | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not read yet | couldn't be read |
| Popularity | none | 5k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | none | 3.5/5 (4) |
How the scores have moved
Conductor
No score change since it was listed.
Verdicts
Conductor
Conductor ran parallel coding agents on the Mac, and Meta is acquiring it. It has taken no new users since 4 November 2026, Cloud turns read-only on 13 November and shuts down on 20 November, and the local app winds down in early 2027, when all user data is deleted.
Qoder CLI
A closed-source terminal agent with a documented headless mode, an ACP server, typed TypeScript and Python SDKs and near-daily releases. Permission rules and modes are detailed, but no local sandbox is documented, usage statistics are on by default, and security fixes appear only as one-line release notes with no advisories or disclosure policy.
Before you call either
Conductor
- Export your data from Settings, Account, Export data before 20 November 2026
- Move Cloud workspaces to your Mac with Transfer to local before 13 November
- Plan a move off the local app before early 2027; see the agent-harnesses category for alternatives
Qoder CLI
- Set
QODER_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKENin CI. The browser sign-in can't complete in a headless run - Pass
--permission-modewith--allowed-toolsin headless runs. Every ask is denied, and--yoloremoves all checks - Set
--max-turnson unattended runs, and branch on exit codes 41 (authentication) and 53 (turn limit) - Set
privacy.usageStatisticsEnabledandaiCodeStatistics.enabledto false in ~/.qoder/settings.json if usage data must stay local - Don't pass
--model lite. The Lite tier was removed on 18 September 2026 and headless requests naming it fail
Questions
Which is better for AI agents, Conductor or Qoder CLI?
Qoder CLI scores 59.5 (C) on agent readiness against Conductor's 41.3 (E), and leads in every scored category.
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- Conductor vs Unstoppable
- Conductor vs Verdent
- Conductor vs Vibe-Trading
- Conductor vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)
- Crush vs Qoder CLI
- Cursor CLI vs Qoder CLI
- DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Qoder CLI
- dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) vs Qoder CLI
- Devin vs Qoder CLI
- Droid CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Pi vs Qoder CLI
- Emdash vs Qoder CLI
- Gemini CLI vs Qoder CLI
- GitHub Copilot CLI vs Qoder CLI
- goose vs Qoder CLI
- Harness² vs Qoder CLI
- HarnessRouter vs Qoder CLI
- Jules vs Qoder CLI
- Junie CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Kilo Code CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Kimi Code CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Kiro CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Letta vs Qoder CLI
- mini-swe-agent vs Qoder CLI
- MiniMax Code vs Qoder CLI
- Mistral Vibe CLI vs Qoder CLI
- Muse Code vs Qoder CLI
- OpenAI Agents API vs Qoder CLI
- OpenAI Codex vs Qoder CLI
- OpenCode vs Qoder CLI
- OpenHands vs Qoder CLI
- Orca vs Qoder CLI
- Paseo vs Qoder CLI
- Prime Agent vs Qoder CLI
- Qoder CLI vs Qwen Code
- Qoder CLI vs Mirror CLI
- Qoder CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI
- Qoder CLI vs Sculptor
- Qoder CLI vs T3 Code
- Qoder CLI vs Traycer
- Qoder CLI vs Unstoppable
- Qoder CLI vs Verdent
- Qoder CLI vs Vibe-Trading
- Qoder CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)
- Clawboo vs Conductor
- Clawboo vs Qoder CLI
- CLI Manager vs Conductor
- CLI Manager vs Qoder CLI
- Conductor vs Harness
- Conductor vs Paperclip
- Conductor vs Parallax
- Harness vs Qoder CLI
- OpenMausBot vs Qoder CLI
- Paperclip vs Qoder CLI
- Parallax vs Qoder CLI
Machine-readable
- This page as Markdown
/compare/conductor-vs-qoder-cli.md· slim.min.md· JSON.json(or sendAccept: text/markdown) - Each listing in full
/api/v1/tools/conductor.json·/api/v1/tools/qoder-cli.json - From a terminal
anchor compare conductor qoder-cli(the CLI) - Over MCP
compare_tools {"a": "conductor", "b": "qoder-cli"}at/mcp, no key