PandaSend vs mtmux
mtmux and PandaSend both let you reach your terminal sessions from a phone browser, end-to-end encrypted, with phone-friendly keys and per-device revocation. The difference is who they're for. mtmux plugs into tmux for people who already live in it. PandaSend is an app that needs no tmux. Facts about mtmux come from its site, as of October 2026.
| PandaSend | mtmux | |
|---|---|---|
| What it serves | Its own sessions, which keep running in the background | The tmux sessions you already run |
| Requirements | Nothing else: a desktop app (Mac, Windows beta) or a static binary (Linux) | tmux and Node 22 or later |
| Computers | Mac, Windows (beta), Linux x64 and ARM64 | macOS, Linux, WSL |
| Encryption | End to end, through PandaSend's relay | End-to-end encrypted tunnel |
| Notifications | When any session waits for input | Not described on its site |
| Source | Closed source | Open source (MIT) |
| Price | Free on your network; remote $4.99/month per computer after a 14-day trial | Free for 1 server and 3 devices; Pro $10/month |
tmux or no tmux
If tmux is already how you work, mtmux is a natural fit. It attaches to the sessions, windows and panes you've already arranged, and makes them reachable from a browser.
If you don't use tmux, or don't want to remember to start it before every job, PandaSend handles that part. Every session it opens keeps running in a background process on your computer. Closing the window, quitting or updating the app, or losing your phone's signal doesn't end it. On Windows, it's a native app rather than a WSL setup.
Choose mtmux if
- You live in tmux and want your existing panes and windows on your phone.
- One computer and three devices are enough, for free.
- You want open source.
Choose PandaSend if
- You don't use tmux, or want sessions that survive without it.
- You want a desktop app on Mac or Windows rather than a command-line setup.
- You want a notification when a session is waiting for you.
Questions
Do I need tmux for PandaSend?
No. PandaSend keeps sessions running itself, in a background process on your computer. mtmux is built around tmux: it serves the tmux sessions you already run.
How much do they cost?
mtmux is free for one server and three devices, and Pro is $10 a month. PandaSend is free on your own network, and remote access is $4.99 a month (or $49 a year) per computer, with unlimited phones, after a 14-day trial.
Do they work on Windows?
mtmux runs under WSL. PandaSend has a native Windows app (beta) whose sessions run PowerShell by default.