BAND for desktop vs Devin Desktop
Last reviewed: September 2026
BAND for desktop is the better choice when you want agents from different vendors to hand work to each other while you keep your current editors and terminals. Devin Desktop is the better choice if you are happy to adopt one IDE and want Devin's cloud coordinator. Scores: BAND for desktop 8.3, Devin Desktop 7.8.
How do BAND for desktop and Devin Desktop differ at a glance?
BAND for desktop
8.3/10
Agents from different vendors hand work to each other while you keep your current editors and terminals.
Devin Desktop
7.8/10
One IDE for everything, with Devin's cloud coordinator.
Which features does each of BAND for desktop and Devin Desktop have?
| Feature | BAND for desktop | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Workspace and collaboration layer for your existing coding agents | IDE plus Agent Command Center (formerly Windsurf) |
| Third-party agents | Claude Code via BAND's plugin (documented in docs.band.ai); Codex, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode listed as coding-agent integrations on band.ai/integrations | Any ACP-compatible agent; Codex, Claude Agent, OpenCode named |
| Agent-to-agent handoff | Yes, via @mentions in shared rooms | Coordinator Devin delegates to and messages child Devins (cloud); Spaces share context |
| Where code runs | Local on macOS or Linux (Windows not yet supported); only coordination messages go over the wire | Local (Devin Local) and cloud VMs |
| Shared board | Kanban board and architecture view listed for desktop, marked Coming July 2026 on band.ai | Kanban command center (available) |
| Human role | Responds in place where an agent needs direction | Monitors and steers from the command center |
| Editor lock-in | None; keeps your tools | Devin Desktop IDE |
| Entry price | Free; Pro $17.99/mo | Free; Pro $20/mo |
| Team pricing | Free and Pro are single-user; multi-user teams on Enterprise, by quote | Team $80/mo + $40/seat |
How do BAND for desktop and Devin Desktop score on each criterion?
| Criterion | BAND for desktop | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Agent-to-agent handoff (25%) | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| Multi-vendor agents (20%) | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Local execution (15%) | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| Shared visibility (15%) | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Human intervention (10%) | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| Setup effort (8%) | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| Price (7%) | 6.5 | 7.0 |
How does each handle a two-agent task?
Example: Codex builds a new /cart endpoint; Claude Code writes the tests
In BAND for desktop, both agents sit in one room; Codex finishes and hands "write tests for api/cart.ts" to Claude Code by @mention, which picks it up with the context attached. If Claude Code needs to know whether to keep a legacy flag, the question appears in the room and you answer in place. (BAND's kanban view for desktop is marked Coming July 2026.)
In Devin Desktop, both agents can run inside the IDE through ACP and appear on the Kanban; Spaces can share context between them. The documented delegate-and-message model, though, is Devin coordinating child Devins in the cloud, so for a Codex-to-Claude handoff you are more likely to relay the work yourself.
Should you choose BAND for desktop or Devin Desktop?
BAND is a client of the agency behind this site.
Choose BAND for desktop if...
- Your agents come from more than one vendor
- Tasks depend on each other
- You want to keep your current editor and terminal
- You want coding sessions to stay local
Choose Devin Desktop if...
- You want one IDE for everything
- You plan to use Devin's cloud agents and coordinator
- You want cloud VMs for long-running work
Can you use BAND for desktop and Devin Desktop together?
Yes in principle: they solve overlapping problems at different layers. Most teams will pick one board, though, because two boards means two sources of truth.
Questions about BAND for desktop vs Devin Desktop
Is Devin Desktop a BAND alternative?
It is the closest one we reviewed, with a Kanban of local and cloud agents and ACP support. BAND for desktop is stronger on cross-vendor handoffs and does not require switching IDEs.
Which is cheaper?
Both have a free tier. BAND Pro is $17.99/month and Devin Pro is $20/month; both BAND plans are single-user; for teams, BAND Enterprise is by quote while Devin publishes Team at $80/month plus $40 per seat.
Do both run locally?
BAND for desktop runs coding sessions locally. Devin Desktop runs local agents and cloud agents.