--- title: "T3 Code vs Bamboo vs Delta vs Zed: Which Claude Code UI?" url: "https://goremy.ai/blog/articles/t3-code-vs-bamboo-vs-delta-vs-zed" author: Luis Chavez-Mattos editor: Luis Chavez-Mattos editor_title: Director, Product published: "2026-11-06T07:40:08.975Z" updated: "2026-11-09T18:55:52.464Z" topic: AI Coding Tools description: "Compare T3 Code, Bamboo, Delta and Zed's external Claude agent on price, Claude subscription support, work trees, multi-agent features and data privacy." --- # T3 Code vs Bamboo vs Delta vs Zed: Which Claude Code UI? > Compare T3 Code, Bamboo, Delta and Zed's external Claude agent on price, Claude subscription support, work trees, multi-agent features and data privacy. Edited by Luis Chavez-Mattos, Director, Product · Published 2026-11-06 · Updated 2026-11-09 ## Which interface should you use to manage Claude Code tasks? For most people, start with Claude Code itself, Zed as the editor, and T3 Code if you want a dedicated task interface. T3 Code is free, open source, and reuses your existing Claude login. Zed's external Claude agent also works with a Claude subscription. Bamboo costs $20 a month on top of Claude and is still in alpha. Delta uploads your project files and, per its current docs, does not yet support Claude subscription sign-in. ## TL;DR - **T3 Code is the default pick**: it is free, open source, and picks up the Claude login you already set up in the CLI. - **Zed's external Claude agent works with a Claude subscription** through the Agent Client Protocol (ACP), and you do not need a Zed AI subscription for it. - **Bamboo adds a task board and architect/worker teams**, but it costs $20 a month for two personal devices, separate from Claude, and it is in alpha. - **Delta cannot use a Claude subscription today**, since its docs list direct Claude sign-in as coming soon. An Anthropic API key works, but that is separate API billing. - **Delta uploads tracked, non-ignored project files** to its servers, so think before importing a private repo. - **Switching interfaces does not buy more usage**, because Claude chat and Claude Code draw from the same plan allowance. ## What does each interface actually do? All four sit on top of Claude Code or a similar agent. They differ in how they organize work. | Tool | Cost | Claude subscription | Multi-agent / isolation | Status | |---|---|---|---|---| | T3 Code | Free, open source | Yes, reuses CLI login | Optional work tree per task | Desktop app, browser version via npx | | Bamboo | $20/month, two personal devices | Yes, sign into Claude Code first | Architect plus up to three workers, team profiles | Alpha | | Delta | Personal free; Pro $10/month with $5 monthly hosted model credit | Not yet (listed as coming soon) | Isolated Delta work trees | Public beta | | Zed (external Claude agent) | Editor is free | Yes, via ACP | Single agent thread | Stable editor | Zed is the odd one out. It is an editor first, and the Claude agent is one panel inside it. The other three are workspaces built around agent tasks. ## How does T3 Code work with Claude Code? T3 Code gives you a workspace for agent conversations, project files, changes, and Git operations. It does not replace the underlying agent or its account. You install Claude Code, run `claude auth login`, then enable Claude under providers in T3 Code settings. If the app cannot find the CLI, you can set the binary path by hand. Install options on a Mac: ``` brew install --cask t3-code npx t3@latest ``` The first installs the desktop app. The second starts the browser version. Two details matter in practice. First, choose supervised permissions explicitly for a first project instead of assuming that is the default. Second, when you create a task you can pick a new work tree. That gives the task its own branch and working folder, so two tasks do not edit the same checkout. The review flow is the main draw. You can inspect what changed in a turn, compare a branch to its base, then commit, push, or open a pull request. If you want to look at an agent's files in Zed, open the work tree folder. Your original project folder will not necessarily show unmerged agent changes. ## Is Bamboo worth $20 a month? Bamboo is a native desktop workspace for coding agents. It supports Claude Code and also tools like Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code, and Antigravity. It keeps projects, conversations, agent teams, and code reviews in one place. What it adds over T3 Code: - A task board with pending work, in-progress tasks, and review before completion. - File diffs, a browser, screenshots, and visual references, handy when you want to show the agent what a UI should look like. - An architect agent that plans and coordinates up to three workers on separate assignments. - Mixed models and tools, saved as a team profile. The cost is real. Bamboo is $20 a month for two personal devices, and your Claude or other provider usage is separate. With monthly Claude Pro, that is $40 a month before tax. It is also in alpha, so expect bugs and changes. It is worth it if you will use the task board and team coordination. If you mostly run one agent at a time, T3 Code covers the basics for free. Whatever you pick, give parallel workers clearly separated files and responsibilities so they do not rewrite each other's work. ## What is Delta, and why does it complicate things? Delta is a separate application from the team behind Zed. It pairs conversations and the code changes they produce with a version history system called Delta DB. The pitch is that you can trace a change back to the conversation that produced it, then review and collaborate around that context. It is in public beta. On Mac it needs Apple Silicon and macOS 13 or newer. You sign in with your Zed account, accept the early access agreement, add a Git repository, and choose an isolated Delta work tree for each task. Providers are configured under settings, then LLM providers. Two caveats matter: 1. **Claude subscription support is missing.** The docs list direct Claude subscription sign-in as coming soon, and bringing external clients in through ACP is listed as in progress on the roadmap. An Anthropic API key works, but you pay API rates instead of using your plan. 2. **Privacy.** Delta uploads tracked and non-ignored project files to its servers. An isolated work tree separates edits. It does not turn the agent into a sandbox. Personal is free. Pro is $10 a month with $5 of monthly hosted model credit, then usage billing. Existing Zed subscriptions also cover Delta. ## How do you use Claude in Zed without paying for Zed AI? Zed's editor is free. Its paid hosted AI features are a separate choice. To use your Claude subscription you have two routes: 1. Open Zed's built-in terminal in your project and run `claude`. This is the same CLI. 2. Open the command palette (Command Shift P), run `zed: acp registry`, install the Claude agent integration, and start a new Claude agent thread. Run `/login` if sign-in does not appear, and choose your Claude subscription. ACP, the Agent Client Protocol, lets an editor talk to an external coding agent and show the interaction inside the editor. Select the external Claude agent specifically. Picking an Anthropic model for Zed's own agent is a different provider and billing setup. Seeing "Claude" in a model picker does not mean your Pro plan is paying for it. ## Do these tools change what you pay Anthropic? No. Claude chat and Claude Code share one plan allowance, and a new terminal or interface does not add more. Parallel agents also draw from the same pool. Current US web prices before tax, as stated in the source: | Plan | Price | Includes Claude Code | |---|---|---| | Free | $0 | No | | Pro | $20/month, or $200 upfront for a year | Yes | | Max 5x | $100/month | Yes | | Max 20x | $200/month | Yes | The 5x and 20x figures refer to per-session usage compared with Pro. They do not mean unlimited use. Starting on Pro makes sense, and moving up only when limits regularly interrupt useful work. One trap: an approved API key configured earlier can put Claude Code on API billing instead of your subscription. Run `/status` inside a session to check which account is in use. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use T3 Code with a Claude Pro subscription? Yes. Install Claude Code, sign in with `claude auth login` using your subscribed account, then enable Claude in T3 Code's provider settings. It reuses that login. T3 Code itself is free and open source. ### Does Delta work with Claude Pro or Max? Not directly, based on its current docs. Direct Claude subscription sign-in is listed as coming soon. You can connect an Anthropic API key, but that bills separately from your subscription. ### Is Bamboo only for Claude Code? No. It also supports Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code, and Antigravity. You can mix models and tools and save the setup as a team profile. It requires Claude Code installed and signed in if you want to use Claude. ### Do I need a Zed subscription to run Claude in Zed? No. The editor is free, and the external Claude agent through ACP uses your Claude subscription. Zed's paid hosted AI features are optional and separate. ### Which one should a beginner pick? Start with Claude Code in the terminal and Zed for inspecting files. Add T3 Code when you want multiple tasks, work trees, and a review-and-commit flow. Try Bamboo or Delta later if their specific features appeal to you.