--- title: "Muse Code vs Grok Build: What Differs in 2026" url: https://helicon.sh/compare/grok-build description: "Muse Code vs Grok Build, xAI's terminal coding agent. Helicon is a free Muse Code client, so this page says what differs and which one fits your work." updated: 2026-10-20 site: Helicon --- # 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. ## 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](https://docs.x.ai/build/overview) | | 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](https://docs.x.ai/build/overview) | | Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, the web and a VS Code extension | macOS, Linux and WSL, and Windows through PowerShell | [20 October 2026](https://docs.x.ai/build/overview) | | 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](https://docs.x.ai/build/overview) | | 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](https://docs.x.ai/build/features/plan-mode) | | Terminal | Runs on the muse CLI from Meta | Runs as grok in your project folder, and as grok -p for scripts | [20 October 2026](https://docs.x.ai/build/overview) | _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](/muse-code-gui) of several, and that page lists the rest. [Helicon is free](/pricing) and MIT licensed, and you can [try Helicon in your browser](/try) on sample data before you install anything. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which Grok product does this page compare? Grok Build, the coding agent documented at docs.x.ai. This page does not compare the xAI API models. ### Is Grok Build free? The Grok Build overview page does not state a price. Check xAI's own pricing for current rates. ### Does Helicon replace the muse CLI? No. Helicon requires the muse CLI, signed in with your own muse login. It drives the CLI and does not replace it. ### Is Helicon official? No. It is an unofficial community project, MIT licensed, and not made, sponsored or endorsed by Meta. ## Related - [Muse Code GUI](https://helicon.sh/muse-code-gui): Yes, Muse Code has graphical interfaces. A standalone desktop and web app, VS Code extensions, ACP editor bridges and other open-source wrappers, compared honestly. - [Other Muse GUIs](https://helicon.sh/compare/other-muse-code-guis): An honest look at the small field of Muse Code GUI wrappers, what separates them, and the specific things to check before trusting any client with shell access. - [The muse terminal](https://helicon.sh/compare/muse-code-terminal): How a Muse Code GUI differs from the muse CLI terminal interface: session history, inline diffs, approvals and cost, side by side with what the TUI already does well. - [VS Code extensions](https://helicon.sh/compare/vs-code-extension): A standalone Muse Code desktop app compared with running the muse CLI inside VS Code: where an editor panel wins, where a separate session home wins, and how to run both. - [Zed with ACP](https://helicon.sh/compare/zed-acp): Running Muse Code inside Zed through an Agent Client Protocol bridge, compared with a standalone Muse Code desktop app. Editor native versus session native. - [JetBrains IDEs](https://helicon.sh/compare/jetbrains-acp): Muse Code inside IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand or WebStorm through an Agent Client Protocol plugin, compared with a standalone Muse Code desktop app. --- Helicon is a free, MIT licensed, unofficial community client for Meta's Muse Code CLI. Not made, sponsored or endorsed by Meta. Source: https://helicon.sh/. Machine readable index: https://helicon.sh/llms.txt