Plandex vs ShellGPT
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
Open-source terminal AI coding agent for planning and making large, multi-file code changes.
Open source · MIT
A command-line tool that uses AI language models to write shell commands, code, and answers.
The short answer
Choose Plandex if you need…
- Developers working in large codebases who want an AI agent to handle multi-file changes
- People comfortable working in a terminal
- Developers who want to choose or compare different model providers
- Teams that want to self-host the server with Docker
Choose ShellGPT if you need…
- Developers who often forget shell or command-line syntax
- People who want AI answers piped in from files, logs, or git diffs
- Users comfortable with the terminal who have an OpenAI API key
- Anyone who wants to keep a multi-turn chat session from the command line
Side-by-side
| Plandex | ShellGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | CLI |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 15.9k | 12.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | Python |
| Last code update | 13 months ago | 4 months ago |
What each one is
Plandex
Plandex is a terminal-based AI coding tool that plans and carries out coding tasks spanning many steps and many files. It keeps AI-generated changes in a diff review sandbox separate from your project until you approve them, and it can run commands and debug their output. Developers use it when AI tools struggle with larger projects.
ShellGPT
ShellGPT (the sgpt command) lets you ask an AI model questions straight from your terminal and get back shell commands, code snippets, or explanations. It can read input from pipes and files, so you can feed it things like a git diff or log output. People use it to avoid looking up command syntax online.
Best for
Plandex
- Developers working in large codebases who want an AI agent to handle multi-file changes
- People comfortable working in a terminal
- Developers who want to choose or compare different model providers
- Teams that want to self-host the server with Docker
ShellGPT
- Developers who often forget shell or command-line syntax
- People who want AI answers piped in from files, logs, or git diffs
- Users comfortable with the terminal who have an OpenAI API key
- Anyone who wants to keep a multi-turn chat session from the command line
Strengths
Plandex
- Keeps AI-generated changes in a diff review sandbox until you approve them
- Offers both fully automatic and step-by-step review modes
- Supports version control of plan updates, including branches for comparing models
ShellGPT
- Works from the terminal with pipes and redirection, fitting into existing workflows
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the README says it works with common shells like Bash, Zsh, and PowerShell
- Open source under the MIT license with a large user base (about 12,000 stars)
Not ideal for
Plandex
- Windows users without WSL, because the README says it only works correctly in the WSL shell, not CMD or PowerShell
- People who want a point-and-click graphical interface, since it is terminal-based
- Anyone expecting Plandex Cloud, since the README says it is winding down and no longer accepts new users
ShellGPT
- People who do not want to pay for OpenAI API usage, since the README says the default backend is paid and local models are not optimized for it
- Users who need a graphical interface, because it is a terminal tool
- People who will run shell commands without reading them first, since the tool offers to execute AI-generated commands
Trade-offs
Plandex
- Requires API keys or a provider account, and the README notes Plandex Cloud is no longer accepting new users
- Full autonomy can run commands on your machine, so careful review and configuration matter
ShellGPT
- Requires an OpenAI API key by default, and the README notes OpenAI API usage is not free
- The README states it is not optimized for local models and may not work as expected with them
- AI-generated shell commands can be wrong, so outputs need review before running
Getting started
Plandex
Install the CLI (macOS/Linux, per README)
curl -sL https://plandex.ai/install.sh | bashSet an OpenRouter API key (if using OpenRouter)
export OPENROUTER_API_KEY=...Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Plandex and ShellGPT?
Plandex: Open-source terminal AI coding agent for planning and making large, multi-file code changes. ShellGPT: A command-line tool that uses AI language models to write shell commands, code, and answers. Plandex suits developers working in large codebases who want an ai agent to handle multi-file changes, while ShellGPT suits developers who often forget shell or command-line syntax.
Are Plandex and ShellGPT free?
Plandex: Free and open source. ShellGPT: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Plandex or ShellGPT?
ShellGPT is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Plandex is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Plandex or ShellGPT more popular?
Plandex has more GitHub stars (15.9k) than ShellGPT (12.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Plandex and ShellGPT?
Other options people compare them with include Repomix, jcode, omp, MiMoCode, warp.
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.