By Francesco Frapporti · Updated 2026-07-12 · Markdown version

Waynode vs OpenHands

Waynode and OpenHands are both open-source, self-hostable coding-agent tools, but they are built around different centers of gravity. OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin, by All Hands AI) is an agent platform: a Python agent SDK, a browser workspace called Agent Canvas for managing agents, and a managed cloud. Waynode is a persistent team workspace: each space is a real cloned Git repository on disk where an agent works, and the conversation, branches, diffs, and terminal state survive between visits and devices.

TL;DR

• OpenHands = agent framework and control plane. A composable Python SDK that contains the agentic core, a browser-based Agent Canvas UI, a CLI, and OpenHands Cloud with GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket, Slack, Jira, and Linear integrations (docs.openhands.dev).
• Waynode = durable place where the agent works. Persistent Git worktrees per workspace, an agent-native Git review surface (files, hunks, commits, branches, push) beside the chat, and mobile-first access to the same session.
• Both are open source and self-host with Docker. OpenHands' core is MIT with a separately licensed enterprise/ directory; Waynode is MIT end to end (github.com/fornace/waynode).
• Engines differ: OpenHands runs its own agent out of the box (and Agent Canvas can drive third-party agents such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini); Waynode runs the open-source pi engine with pi-codex-goal for autonomous runs.
• Pick OpenHands to build or orchestrate agents programmatically; pick Waynode when you want a long-lived repo workspace your team returns to from any device.

What is OpenHands?

OpenHands is an open-source AI software-development agent that began as OpenDevin, an open-source homage to Cognition's Devin; the project was renamed OpenHands and its maintainers founded All Hands AI in 2024 (openhands.dev/blog). As of July 2026 the GitHub repository has around 80.5k stars and describes itself as "the self-hosted developer control center for coding agents and automations" (github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands).

The product today has several layers (docs.openhands.dev):

• Agent SDK: a composable Python library containing the agentic core; agents are defined in code and run locally or at scale.
• Agent Canvas: a browser workspace started with a single agent-canvas command (npm or Docker). It runs the OpenHands agent out of the box and can also drive third-party agents such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini via the Agent-Client Protocol (github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands).
• CLI and legacy GUI: a terminal interface and an older Docker-based GUI.
• OpenHands Cloud: managed hosting with deeper GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket integrations plus Slack, Jira, and Linear, multi-user support, and collaboration tools.

Sandboxed execution uses Docker; the Docker sandbox is the default and recommended isolation model for most users (docs.openhands.dev/openhands/usage/sandboxes/docker).

What is Waynode?

Waynode is an open-source (MIT), self-hosted coding-agent workspace (github.com/fornace/waynode). Each workspace ("space") is a real cloned Git repository on disk, a persistent worktree rather than a disposable task container. The agent engine is pi, with pi-codex-goal for autonomous goal-driven runs; you can chat with the agent, send it an autonomous goal, or open a full terminal in the workspace.

Its defining features:

• An agent-native Git surface: changed files, hunks, diffs, commits, branches, and push live beside the conversation. "Done" means ready for review, not merely finished running.
• Persistent sessions: conversation, files, branches, and terminal state survive between visits; start at your desk, resume from any device.
• Mobile-first: the same workspace, session, and diff on a phone; macOS and iOS native clients are planned (a native app exists in the repo).
• GitHub and GitLab repo providers via OAuth.

See /learn for the full product overview.

How do they compare?

Which agent engine do you get?

OpenHands ships its own agent as a Python SDK (the same agentic core powers the CLI, Canvas, and Cloud), and Agent Canvas can additionally orchestrate third-party agents such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini via the Agent-Client Protocol (github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands). If you want to define custom agents in code, evaluate them, or build automations on top of an agent framework, this is OpenHands' strongest territory.

Waynode does not ask you to build agents. It runs pi (open source) as the engine and pi-codex-goal for autonomous runs, and puts its effort into the surface around the agent: the persistent repo, the review-grade Git panel, the terminal, and session continuity. You configure model keys (self-host) or pick from hosted fast/reasoning/max tiers (Waynode Cloud) rather than programming agent behavior.

How does self-hosting differ?

Both self-host for free with Docker.

• Waynode: clone the repo and run ./scripts/self-host.sh setup. The guided installer requires Docker Compose v2, an OAuth app, and a supported model-provider key; it generates the server secrets and starts on loopback by default. Your repos, database, credentials, LLM keys, and billing stay with you; hosted billing is disabled on self-host. The default Compose deployment does not isolate trusted users from one another; KVM/microsandbox deployment is a separate advanced operator path.
• OpenHands: npm install -g @openhands/agent-canvas or a single docker run of the agent-canvas image, serving a web UI on localhost:8000 (github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands). Sandboxed execution runs in Docker, the default and recommended isolation model (docs.openhands.dev/openhands/usage/sandboxes/docker).

One licensing nuance: OpenHands' work is MIT-licensed except for the repository's enterprise/ directory, which carries a separate license requiring purchase for use beyond one month (docs.openhands.dev). Waynode's entire repository is MIT.

What do the hosted offerings cost?

OpenHands Cloud has a free Individual plan (one user, up to 10 daily conversations, bring your own LLM key or use OpenHands' provider at cost with no markup) and a custom-priced Enterprise plan with SAML/SSO, SaaS or self-hosted-in-your-VPC deployment, and unlimited concurrent conversations (openhands.dev/pricing). There is no published mid-tier price between free and Enterprise as of July 2026.

Waynode Cloud is managed hosting of the same open-source stack: Starter $39/mo (3 seats, 3M agent tokens/mo, 10 GB), Pro $99/mo (10 seats, 8M tokens, 50 GB), Team $249/mo (25 seats, 20M tokens, 200 GB), with a 15-day free trial for new organizations (5M trial tokens, 2 GB storage, 1 seat).

The models differ: OpenHands passes LLM cost through (or you bring keys); Waynode bundles token allowances into flat seat-based plans.

When should you pick each?

Pick OpenHands if:

• You want to build, customize, or evaluate agents programmatically with a Python SDK.
• You need Bitbucket, Jira, Slack, or Linear integrations, or you want one canvas to manage multiple third-party agents (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini).
• A free hosted tier with pass-through LLM pricing fits how you work.

Pick Waynode if:

• You want the agent working in a real, persistent clone of your repository rather than disposable sandboxes, with branches and terminal state intact when you come back.
• Review is the bottleneck: you want diffs, hunks, commits, and push next to the conversation, on desktop or phone.
• You want a small-team hosted plan with predictable flat pricing, or a fully MIT stack with no separately licensed directories.

The honest summary: OpenHands is the more mature agent platform with a larger ecosystem; Waynode is the more opinionated workspace around one agent and one repo. Teams that mostly need "a durable place where the agent works on our code, reviewable from anywhere" get that from Waynode with less surface area. Teams building agentic automations get more from OpenHands. For adjacent comparisons, see /compare/waynode-vs-devin and the self-hosting walkthrough in /guides/self-host-coding-agent-docker.

FAQ

Is OpenHands the same as OpenDevin?

Yes. The project started as OpenDevin, an open-source homage to Cognition's Devin, and was renamed OpenHands; its maintainers founded All Hands AI in 2024 (source). The codebase and community carried over.

Are both Waynode and OpenHands free to self-host?

Yes. Waynode is MIT-licensed end to end and includes a guided Docker Compose installer. OpenHands' core (including the openhands and agent-server Docker images) is MIT and runs via npm or Docker, though its enterprise/ directory is separately licensed (docs.openhands.dev).

Can I use OpenHands or Waynode from my phone?

OpenHands Cloud is reachable from a mobile browser, but no mobile-specific product is listed (pricing page). Waynode is mobile-first by design: the same workspace, session, and diff render on a phone, and native macOS/iOS clients are planned.

Which supports more Git providers?

OpenHands Cloud integrates GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, plus Slack, Jira, and Linear (docs.openhands.dev). Waynode supports GitHub and GitLab via OAuth, with a deeper in-workspace Git surface (hunks, commits, branches, push beside the chat).

Does Waynode use the OpenHands agent?

No. Waynode runs the open-source pi engine, with pi-codex-goal for autonomous goal-driven runs. OpenHands ships its own agent via its Python SDK.