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Alternative to JetBrains Air

Air runs each agent task side by side. Podium tracks how the tasks fit together.

Both run several coding agents at once, each task on its own branch if you want. In Air, a task is a prompt for the agent you pick, run on your machine or in JetBrains' cloud. In Podium, you talk the idea through and ask your agent to coordinate; it records the tasks, and what each waits on, in issues you and your agents share. Air is in early access, and JetBrains is rolling out its cloud tasks gradually.

By Podium · Updated

Choose Podium if…

  • Your work splits into tasks that wait on each other, and you want agents to keep track of those links.
  • You'd rather talk a change through and have your agent file it as tasks you can edit.
  • You want one agent to hand work to another, say Claude Code to Codex, and message it while it runs.
  • You want open-source software on your Mac or a Linux VPS you maintain, running agents on your own Claude or ChatGPT login.

Choose JetBrains Air if…

  • You'd rather JetBrains run the cloud machines your agents work on than maintain a server yourself.
  • You want agent runs to start on a schedule or from GitHub, Jira and webhook events.
  • Your organisation wants AI policies, per-user credit limits and SOC 2 Type II coverage for its admin console.

One change, followed through both

Say you're building Folio, a form builder, and agents are already working on its editor, publishing and responses when you decide to add questions that only appear after a yes answer.

  1. Step 1: Add it to the plan

    Podium

    Ask the coordinator in chat. It files the task under the form builder, notes that it waits for the editor and publishing work, and makes the end-to-end check wait on it.

    Podium capture The coordinator files the task and links what it waits on. podium.do

    JetBrains Air

    In the Air app, start a new task from a prompt and switch it to Plan mode. The agent writes its plan to a Markdown file in .air/plans, and you choose Implement to start building.

    JetBrains Air capture The plan is ready as a Markdown file; Implement starts the build. jetbrains.com

  2. Step 2: Run it alongside the rest

    Podium

    The new task waits in the backlog, marked blocked, while agents finish what it depends on. Sessions run in parallel across worktrees and paired machines; open any agent in chat or its own CLI.

    Podium capture Conditional questions waits in Backlog, marked blocked and blocking. podium.do

    JetBrains Air

    Run it next to your other tasks in a Git worktree, a local Docker container or a cloud environment, each on its own branch. You pick the agent and model for each task.

    JetBrains Air capture Tasks across projects, running or waiting for review. jetbrains.com

  3. Step 3: See what's waiting on what

    Podium

    Open the conditional-question task to check its recorded blockers, parent and dependent work. Keep it waiting while the editor and publishing tasks are unfinished.

    Podium capture Every task in the plan with its state; the new task is blocked by two. podium.do

    JetBrains Air

    Group the task list by date, status or target. A task that needs you shows Input required, and the Air app notifies you with an Open Task button.

  4. Step 4: Review the result

    Podium

    Ask the agent to attach the prototype and check notes to the end-to-end check task, then post a review offer so you can accept the work or request changes. The files remain readable after the session ends.

    Podium capture The finished check, with its files on the task. podium.do

    JetBrains Air

    In the Air app, read the combined task diff in Task Changes and comment on lines, or have another agent review it in a separate session. Send the comments you pick to start the next round.

    JetBrains Air capture Your line comments, ready to send back to the agent. jetbrains.com

Where JetBrains Air is the better pick

  • Agents that run in JetBrains' cloud

    Air Teams starts a JetBrains-managed environment for each cloud task, so there is no server for you to look after, and the task keeps running after you close the browser tab.

  • Runs that start themselves

    Automations start cloud tasks on a schedule or when a GitHub, Jira or webhook event fires, and can push to a branch or open a pull request. Project members can see and run a project's automations.

  • Controls for an organisation

    On Console Business and Enterprise plans, admins set AI policies and per-user monthly credit limits, and see credits spent by person, tool and session. JetBrains states the console is covered by SOC 2 Type II.

JetBrains Air capture A shared project's automations and what triggers each one. jetbrains.com

The details

Alternative to JetBrains Air, grouped by area
QuestionPodiumJetBrains Air
Issues and planning
BacklogNative issues with priority, labels and search; start a task now or later.Tasks start from a prompt; GitHub, Jira and webhook events can start automation runs.
Shared recordsYou and your agents edit the brief and notes on a durable issue.Not documented for Air app or Air Teams.
Sub-tasks and dependenciesSub-tasks and blocking links keep dependent work together.Not documented.
PlansIssue briefs, notes and todos hold the plan across sessions.In the Air app, Plan mode writes Markdown to .air/plans; you approve it before implementation.
Orchestration and visibility
DelegatingYour agent coordinates on request, starting agents in other harnesses and messaging their sessions.In the Air app, a review runs in a separate session with your chosen agent and model.
Seeing it allParallel sessions across worktrees and paired machines; task stages and session states appear on the board.Task list grouped by date, status or target, with states such as Input required and Done.
Knowing it's doneChild agents report results to the coordinator; a task that needs your decision is flagged.Open Task notifications when input is needed; failed tasks show Problem and the error.
Remote execution
Where agents runYour machine, or a VPS you set up and maintain.Your machine, or JetBrains-managed cloud environments with a configurable VM size.
SetupHeadless installer, then configuration in the browser.Startup script, snapshots and shared environment configurations; an agent can ask for missing secrets.
Long-running jobsClosing the browser leaves agents running while their host stays on. Idle sessions may hibernate under policies you set.Cloud tasks suspend after 75 idle minutes and archive after 24 hours; resuming keeps uncommitted changes.
Human collaboration
Working with peopleSmall teams can share an instance; the interface centers on one operator.Projects share environments, connectors and automation results; organisation roles and AI policies set access.
Specifications, review and shipping
Results and reviewAttach screenshots, HTML and documents; issue actions rebase, open PRs through GitHub CLI or merge branches.Air app: combined diff, comments, agent review. Cloud: commits each turn, then pull requests from the task branch.
Access, pricing and security
AppsmacOS app and browser access, including phones.Air app for local tasks; Air Teams in the browser.
Agent billing and costsYour Claude or local ChatGPT/Codex login, or supported Anthropic and OpenAI API keys.Own provider account for local tasks; cloud runs spend JetBrains AI credits.
Price, checked 9 October 2026Apache 2.0 source. Agent usage runs on your own provider account.Air app free during early access; Console Business $20 per seat a month; one credit is $1.
SecuritySelf-hosted, so the host and its security setup are yours.JetBrains states SOC 2 Type II covers Central Console and its governance layer.

Trying both

Both work on Git branches, so you can try a change in each against the same GitHub repository.

Podium launches your installed Claude Code or Codex CLI with its native login. Air reads CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md and skills folders.

Air supports provider accounts and API billing for local work; check the account route for your chosen agent. Cloud tasks spend JetBrains AI credits.

Questions you might have

Does Podium start coordinating agents on its own?
No. Ask your agent to coordinate when the work calls for it. You can create tasks without starting agents and open individual sessions directly.
Do I need a JetBrains subscription to use Air?
Not for local work. The Air app is free during early access, and local tasks can run on your own provider account. Cloud tasks need a JetBrains AI subscription or AI seat and an organisation set up in Central Console.
Who looks after the server if I run Podium remotely?
You do. The headless installer puts Podium on a Linux server you own, and keeping that machine running is up to you.
Sources and method

Evidence, by section

Product captures

  1. Podium: chat.png
    From podium.do · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-marketing · SHA-256 b980a3ea0b7da86b…

  2. JetBrains Air: air-plan-mode-implement.png
    From jetbrains.com · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-documentation · SHA-256 5d4bf16cec7cbd52…

  3. Podium: board.png
    From podium.do · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-marketing · SHA-256 66517c7ae87390ae…

  4. JetBrains Air: aird_multitasking_tasks.png
    From jetbrains.com · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-documentation · SHA-256 0ee4b7d896e5bf78…

  5. Podium: flightdeck.png
    From podium.do · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-marketing · SHA-256 7b1e647b0aee35ba…

  6. Podium: evidence.png
    From podium.do · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-marketing · SHA-256 9505a033af7f5705…

  7. JetBrains Air: air-comments-send.png
    From jetbrains.com · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-documentation · SHA-256 a5e30802e95c2441…

  8. JetBrains Air: shared-projects-DbAMfUSf.png
    From jetbrains.com · Retrieved 2026-10-08 · first-party-marketing · SHA-256 e5c5b6f6a31ac3dc…

Written by Podium from each product's public documentation and pricing pages and from Podium's public source code. This is a documented comparison, not a hands-on benchmark. Folio is fictional demo data from podium.do; JetBrains Air captures come from jetbrains.com. Podium sources were checked on 9 October 2026; JetBrains Air sources on 8 and 9 October. A separate agent reviewed the evidence.

Product capture