# Zerg Client

> Zerg Terminal Client (ZTC): a CLI and macOS desktop AI coding agent that plans changes, edits code and runs tests in your project. Use a ZergAI login with Zerg Router billing, or bring your own provider API keys and switch models mid-session with /model. Headless on macOS, Linux and Windows; native terminal and desktop app currently Apple Silicon macOS.

- Page: https://vibetoolrank.com/tools/zerg-client/
- Markdown: https://vibetoolrank.com/tools/zerg-client.md
- Official: https://zergai.com/ztc
- Category: Coding Agents (CLI & Cloud) (https://vibetoolrank.com/best/terminal-agents/ · https://vibetoolrank.com/best/terminal-agents.md)
- Pricing: Free to evaluate under the Zerg Source Available License; commercial use needs a paid license. Model usage is billed separately (Zerg Router or your own provider keys). No Zerg account required if you use local API keys
- Free tier: Yes: free evaluation of the CLI/desktop under the source-available license; bring your own model keys or use Zerg Router billing. Commercial use requires a license (official product page, verified 2026-11-06)
- Last checked: 2026-11-11

## Agent test

- Overall: **9.1/10** (outcome 10, speed 9, cost 9, DX 6, reliability 10)
- Tested: 2026-11-11 · Runs: 3 runs · Edition: ZTC 0.18.0-beta.1 headless CLI with OpenRouter free model cohere/north-mini-code:free (BYOK via openai_compatible, no Zerg account, $0)
- Summary: Zerg Client fixed our seeded cart discount bug in 3 of 3 headless runs (17–33s each) with a free OpenRouter model, ran the tests itself, and never touched the test file. Cost $0. Overall 9.1 (outcome 10, speed 9, cost 9, DX 6, reliability 10). DX lost points because the Linux npm install needed --ignore-scripts, the built-in Gemini provider failed with a free key, and headless output is noisy. Cost is 9 because the licence is free for evaluation only; commercial use needs a paid licence. We tested the headless CLI only, not the macOS desktop app or Zerg Router models.
- Evidence: docs/tests/zerg-client/RESULTS.md

## Pros / cons

- Pro: Fixed the seeded bug in 3/3 headless runs with a free model
- Pro: Ran node --test itself and exited cleanly (exit 0) every run
- Pro: BYOK with no Zerg account: three environment variables and --auth-mode direct
- Pro: Did not modify the test file in any run
- Con: Linux npm install failed until we used --ignore-scripts (node-pty build needs make)
- Con: Native Gemini provider returned 400 schema errors with a free key in our test
- Con: Headless output repeats long checkpoint blocks; interactive TUI and desktop app are Apple Silicon only
- Con: Free for evaluation only; commercial use needs a signed licence

## Sources

- https://zergai.com/ztc
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/@zergai/ztc
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50383799

Methodology: https://vibetoolrank.com/methodology/