@gent and Claude Code Remote Control

Remote Control shows a live Claude Code session in the Claude app or a browser. @gent sends a task by email and replies in the same thread. You can use both together.

The difference

Remote Control connects the Claude app, claude.ai/code or a browser to a Claude Code session on your computer. You see the session as it runs and type into it from your phone.

@gent reads the tasks you email to your own +agents address. It runs Codex or Claude Code on your computer and replies in the same Gmail thread. You need no app other than your mail app.

Use both

@gent can open a Claude task in a Terminal window with Remote Control on. You start the task from your mail app. Then you can follow the live session in the Claude app.

$ atgent remote-control on

Put terminal in the subject's brackets, or make it the default with atgent mode terminal claude. The projects and config page lists the subject forms.

Mail · Inbox

me (4)8:41 AMClaude [terminal]: review the auth flow

me (3)YesterdayCodex/website: fix the footer links

Claude [terminal]: review the auth flowto you+agents@gmail.com

me8:39 AM1

Review the login and session code. List the problems you find before you change anything.

meRunner8:39 AM2

Queued: claude / main / agent default / terminal

meRunner8:40 AM

Started. Your agent is working on this task.

meRunner8:41 AM3

CompletedOpened in a Terminal window on your computer. The agent runs there; its output stays in that window. Email replies queue while local ownership is held. Close the session, then run atgent handoff 7c41e2d0 to enable email turns. Remote Control is on for this session.

Task 7c41e2d0. Reply in this thread to continue, or reply status / stop.

1The task. The subject picks Claude Code and a Terminal window. The body is the instruction.
2Queued. The runner names the agent, the project, the model and the mode.
3Opened with Remote Control. The session runs in a Terminal window on your computer. Open it in the Claude app to follow it live. To continue by email later, close it and run atgent handoff.

The connect a session guide covers atgent handoff and replies that wait for a local session.

Side by side

@gentRemote Control

Where the agent runsYour computerYour computer

AgentsCodex and Claude CodeClaude Code

How you reach itAny mail app that sends from your GmailThe Claude app on iOS or Android, claude.ai/code or the session URL

Sign-in it needsYour Gmail with IMAP, and your agent already signed inA claude.ai sign-in on Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise. API keys are not supported.

Behind an LLM gatewayWorks with the agent as you configured itUnavailable when ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL points at another host

Team and EnterpriseNo admin settingAn Owner must turn on the Remote Control toggle

What you seeQueued, Started and the result as replies in one threadThe live session, as it runs

Your computerAwake and online, with the runner activeOn, with the claude process running

When @gent fits

You use Codex as well as Claude Code.
Claude Code signs in with an API key or through a gateway.
You want to send a task and read the result later, not watch it run.

When Remote Control fits better

You want to watch and steer a Claude session step by step.
You already work in the Claude app and want the session there.

Questions

Can I use @gent and Remote Control together?

Yes. Run atgent remote-control on. Claude tasks that open in a Terminal window start with Remote Control, and the result email says Remote Control is on for this session.

Does Remote Control work with an API key?

No. The Claude Code docs say Remote Control is available on Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise plans and that API keys are not supported.

Does @gent need a Claude plan?

You do not need a separate plan for @gent. @gent runs the Claude Code or Codex you already have, with that sign-in and its limits. @gent is free.

Other comparisons

The comparison table shows every tool in one place. You can also compare @gent with Codex on mobile or Happy. To set up @gent, start with Getting started.

The comparison was checked on 2026-10-31 against the Claude Code Remote Control docs (code.claude.com/docs/en/remote-control) and @gent 0.5.5 on PyPI.