Comparison

Muse Code vs Grok Build

Helicon does not run its own agent. It is a free, MIT licensed client for Meta's Muse Code CLI, so the real choice is Muse Code, in Helicon or a terminal, against xAI's Grok Build. Choose Grok Build if you want an xAI agent for a custom model or for scripts in a terminal. Choose Muse Code if you already pay for it and want its sessions in a window.

Last updated 20 October 2026 · Markdown version

At a glance

	Helicon	Grok Build	Checked
Who ships it	Community, unofficial, not affiliated with Meta	SpaceXSI (xAI), per its own docs	20 October 2026
License	MIT	Not stated on the pages checked
Sign-in and billing	Free. Uses your own muse login: a Muse Code plan, or pay-as-you-go billing on Meta's Model API	Browser sign-in on first launch, or an XAI_API_KEY	20 October 2026
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, the web and a VS Code extension	macOS, Linux and WSL, and Windows through PowerShell	20 October 2026
Editor	Session window with inline diffs and a file viewer	Interactive terminal UI. Other apps connect over the Agent Client Protocol (ACP)	20 October 2026
Review of agent work	Inline diffs and approvals	Plan Mode drafts a plan for your approval before the agent uses its edit tools. Shell commands are not gated	20 October 2026
Terminal	Runs on the muse CLI from Meta	Runs as grok in your project folder, and as grok -p for scripts	20 October 2026

Helicon compared with the xAI Grok Build coding agent. The Checked column links the docs or changelog page behind each sourced row.

What each one is

This page compares Grok Build, the coding agent that xAI documents at docs.x.ai. Grok Build runs in an interactive terminal, headlessly in scripts, or through the Agent Client Protocol in other apps. This page does not compare the xAI API models.

Muse Code is Meta's coding CLI. Helicon is a free, MIT licensed desktop and web client for it. It is community built and not affiliated with Meta. Helicon uses your own muse login and your own Muse Code subscription, and it is not a separate agent.

Where they actually differ

Editor or session window

Grok Build is a terminal interface. It also runs headlessly and over ACP in other apps. Helicon is a window for Muse Code sessions. It shows the files an agent touched in a viewer beside the conversation.

Models

Grok Build accepts any custom model you list in ~/.grok/config.toml. Helicon works with Muse Code through the muse CLI and does not set up a model of its own.

Cost

Helicon costs nothing. You pay Meta for Muse Code, through your own plan or pay-as-you-go billing on Meta's Model API. The Grok Build overview page does not state a price.

Openness

Helicon is MIT licensed and its source is public. The Grok Build pages checked do not state a license.

Choose the xAI Grok Build coding agent if

You want a coding agent from xAI, signed in through a browser or an XAI_API_KEY.
You want to point the agent at a custom model in ~/.grok/config.toml.
You want headless runs in scripts that stream JSON output.
You want Plan Mode before edits, plus subagents and worktrees, in one terminal tool.

Choose Helicon if

You already pay for Muse Code and want its sessions in a window.
You want approvals and inline diffs shown in each thread.
You want a free, MIT licensed client with no account.
You want one UI that also runs in a browser against a remote daemon.

Can you use both?

You can open both on the same project folder. Use Grok Build in a terminal for one task and Helicon for Muse Code threads, with their history and approvals.

Helicon is one Muse Code GUI of several, and that page lists the rest. Helicon is free and MIT licensed, and you can try Helicon in your browser on sample data before you install anything.