# Switching to NeuroSquad

> Coming from another multi-agent tool? What maps to what — workspaces, agents, worktrees, models, notifications, phone, voice — and how to rebuild your setup and save it as a template.

Source: https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/getting-started/switching

Used another app to run several coding agents at once? Most of what you know carries over — only
the names change. This page maps the usual pieces to where they live in NeuroSquad, then rebuilds a
setup step by step.

NeuroSquad is **free**: no trial, no credits, no limit on agents or workspaces. You pay only for the
models — your own CLI subscriptions, or OpenRouter credits if you use them. Agents, a model per
agent, the cost of each agent, your phone and on-device dictation are all in the same app.

## What maps to what

| You had | In NeuroSquad |
| --- | --- |
| A project | A **workspace** — one project folder. It can be on this computer, in WSL or on an SSH host. See [Your first workspace](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/getting-started/first-workspace). |
| Agent panes or terminals | **Agent cards**, each with a live terminal, on an infinite [canvas](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/canvas) or in [grid mode](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/canvas/grid-mode) — `Ctrl Shift G` (`Cmd Shift G` on a Mac) switches between them without restarting anything. |
| A list of supported CLIs | 22 agent CLIs — Claude Code, Codex CLI, OpenCode and the [rest](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/agents). The CLI you already use runs as it is, on your own sign-in. |
| A dashboard of running agents | The **Squad** board and the statuses on every card: working, needs your input, finished. See [Finished / needs your input](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/agents/notifications). |
| A git worktree per agent | **Isolate in git worktree** before adding an agent, plus a setup command and files to copy into each new worktree. See [Isolated worktrees](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/agents/worktrees). |
| Picking a model | The CLI's own model, or **any OpenRouter model** per agent with one key ([OpenRouter](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/providers/openrouter)), or models on [your own servers](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/providers/your-servers). |
| Several accounts of one CLI | [CLI accounts](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/providers/accounts): separate Claude Code and Codex sign-ins, plan meters, and **Continue on another account** when a limit is near. |
| Scheduled or recurring prompts | **Schedule** in a card's menu sends a prompt every day at a set time; the **queue** lines up the next prompts for a busy agent. See [Prompt queue & daily prompts](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/agents/queue). |
| A lead agent that hands out work | Arrows between cards: a lead can message, wait for and change other agents. See [Squads](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/squads). |
| Approvals from the phone | [Remote access](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/remote): the whole app in your phone's browser — statuses, terminals, prompts, a chime when an agent needs you. Nothing to install. |
| Voice input | [Dictation](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/dictation) that runs entirely on your computer, with a global hotkey. |
| Cost tracking | [Usage & costs](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/usage): tokens and cost per agent, per model and per account; a Budget card pauses a workspace's agents at a token limit. |
| Project instructions | [One instructions file](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/agents/instructions): keep `AGENTS.md`, NeuroSquad mirrors it to `CLAUDE.md`, `GEMINI.md` and `QWEN.md`. |

## Rebuild your setup

**1. Install and sign in**

[Install NeuroSquad](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/getting-started/installation) and create a free account. The setup wizard
checks for an agent CLI and Git and can install them for you.

**2. Keep your CLIs as they are**

NeuroSquad never writes your CLI configs. Your sign-ins, settings, MCP servers and skills keep
working; each card adds its own layer on top. Conversations stay in each CLI's own history, so a
session started in a card can be continued from a plain terminal and back.

**3. One workspace per project**

Press **+** next to **Workspaces** and pick the project folder. For a remote machine, choose WSL or
an SSH host in the same dialog.

**4. Add the agents you had**

Open the add menu (the arrow next to **Add Claude Code**). Pick a CLI for a quick start, or
**New agent… (provider, model, role)** to set its model and role up front. Turn on **Isolate in git
worktree** first if agents should not share files.

**5. Draw the arrows**

Drag from one card to another. An arrow from a lead to a helper lets the lead give it tasks; an
arrow to a terminal, browser or note gives the agent tools for it. See [Arrows give abilities](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/canvas/arrows).

**6. Save it as a template**

In the canvas tools menu, **Save as template…** keeps the cards, layout, arrows and frames. Next
time, **New workspace from template…** gives you the same setup in another folder.

## Start from a ready-made template

You don't have to start from an empty canvas. The [template marketplace](https://neurosquad.ai/en/templates/)
has ready squads; **Use template** imports one. Templates also import from a file or a link, either
as a new workspace or added to the one that is open — see [Workspace templates](https://docs.neurosquad.ai/en/canvas/tools#workspace-templates).

> A template brings cards, arrows and setup, never conversations, keys or sign-ins. Agents in it that
> ask for their own worktree get one only if the folder is a git repository.

## What to expect on day one

- **Statuses come from the CLIs themselves.** For most agents NeuroSquad reads the CLI's own hooks, so
"needs your input" shows what the agent is asking — the command or the question.
- **Notifications are one per agent.** A finished turn chimes once; a question stays until you answer.
Your phone gets the same chime when it is connected.
- **Nothing runs in the background without the app.** Agents live while NeuroSquad is open; close it
and their sessions resume next time.

Prefer the terminal? NeuroSquad also has an open-source terminal version, **nsq**, [on
GitHub](https://github.com/glmn-ai/neurosquad-cli).