When I'm working on a Claude Code session and need to step away from my laptop, I have two main options for keeping control: Anthropic's Remote Control feature and Happier.

Both let you interact with Claude Code from your phone. They're designed for different workflows.

TL;DR

Claude Code Remote Control (built into Claude.ai):

• Works through claude.ai on mobile browsers
• Requires active internet connection and Claude Pro/Team subscription
• Sessions run on Anthropic's infrastructure
• Zero installation on your machine

Happier (open source companion):

• Multi-agent (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi, Gemini, Grok)
• Cross-device (desktop, web, iOS, Android)
• Sessions run on your machine or your infrastructure
• End-to-end encrypted relay
• Self-hostable
• Supports both cloud and local execution

Remote Control (what it is and what it does)

Claude Code Remote Control is Anthropic's official feature for controlling Claude Code sessions from a mobile browser.

From the Claude Code documentation:

• Start a Claude Code session from claude.ai desktop
• Continue that session from claude.ai mobile
• The session state lives on Anthropic's servers
• Works on iOS Safari and Android Chrome

Requirements

• Claude Pro or Claude Team subscription
• Active internet connection
• Sessions execute in Anthropic's sandboxed environment
• Browser-based interface (no native app)

When Remote Control is the better choice

Remote Control makes sense when:

• You want zero setup on your local machine
• Your work fits within Anthropic's sandboxed execution model
• You prefer browser-based access
• You're already paying for Claude Pro/Team
• You don't need to work with local repositories or sensitive codebases

Happier (what it is and what it differs)

Happier is an open-source companion app that lets you run and orchestrate AI coding agents from phone, desktop, and web while sessions execute on machines you control.

The key architectural difference: with Happier, Claude Code runs on your local machine (or your infrastructure) using your local files and tools, while Happier provides the cross-device interface.

Multi-agent support

Happier works with:

• Claude Code (via Anthropic's API)
• Codex (OpenAI)
• OpenCode
• Pi
• Gemini
• Grok

You can switch between agents in the same session or run multiple agents in parallel.

Cross-device and platforms

• iOS and Android native apps
• Desktop (macOS, Linux, Windows)
• Web interface
• All synchronized through the relay

Execution location

Sessions run on:

• Your local machine
• Your remote development server
• Your self-hosted infrastructure

This means full access to:

• Local git repositories
• Private network resources
• Local development tools
• Custom environments

End-to-end encryption

The relay uses E2E encryption for session data. Even the relay operator cannot read your session contents or approval requests.

Self-hosting

You can run your own relay server:

• Docker images available
• Managed install via CLI
• Full control over data residency

See Self-hosting documentation for setup details.

The trade-offs

Remote Control advantages

1. Zero local setup: No installation, no daemon, no relay configuration
2. Managed infrastructure: Anthropic handles execution environment
3. Browser-based: Works anywhere you can access claude.ai
4. Integrated billing: Part of your Claude subscription

Remote Control limitations

1. Single agent: Only works with Claude Code
2. Browser-only: No native mobile app
3. Cloud execution: Cannot access local files or private resources
4. Subscription required: Needs Claude Pro or Team
5. Internet-dependent: Requires stable connection to Anthropic's servers

Happier advantages

1. Multi-agent: Use Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, and others
2. Local execution: Full access to your local environment
3. Native apps: iOS, Android, desktop, and web
4. Self-hostable: Control your infrastructure
5. Open source: Inspect, modify, or fork
6. Works offline: Local sessions continue when relay is disconnected

Happier trade-offs

1. Setup required: Install CLI and configure relay connection
2. You manage execution: Your machine needs to be available
3. More moving parts: CLI + relay + app
4. Learning curve: More configuration options to understand

A practical comparison

Starting a session

Remote Control:

1. Open claude.ai on desktop
2. Start Claude Code session
3. Open claude.ai on phone
4. Continue the session

Happier:

1. Install Happier CLI on your machine
2. Run: happier claude
3. Open Happier app on phone
4. Session appears automatically

Approval workflow

Remote Control:

• Approve actions through claude.ai mobile interface
• Limited to browser UI patterns

Happier:

• Native approval notifications
• Context-aware permission requests
• Inbox for pending approvals
• Can approve from notification actions

See How to approve Claude permissions from your phone for the detailed workflow.

Multiple sessions

Remote Control:

• One session at a time per claude.ai tab
• Switch by navigating claude.ai

Happier:

• Multiple sessions in parallel
• Each session can use different agents
• Switch between sessions in the app
• Sessions continue in background

See How to run multiple Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode sessions in parallel for workflows.

When to use which

Use Remote Control when:

• You need quick mobile access with zero setup
• Your work fits in a sandboxed cloud environment
• You're already using Claude Pro/Team
• You don't need local file access
• Browser-based interface is sufficient

Use Happier when:

• You need local execution with full system access
• You want to use multiple AI agents
• You need native mobile apps
• You require self-hosted infrastructure
• You work with private repositories
• You want end-to-end encryption
• You need offline capability

Use both when:

• You want flexibility between cloud and local execution
• Different projects have different requirements
• You're evaluating options

If you're new to Happier

Happier is an open-source companion app for AI coding agents.

Get started:

• How to run Happier from your phone
• GitHub: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier
• Install guide: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier#how-it-works
• Discord: https://discord.gg/W6Pb8KuHfg

Common questions

Can I use both Remote Control and Happier?

Yes. They're independent systems. You might use Remote Control for quick tasks and Happier for local development work.

Does Happier require a Claude subscription?

Happier itself is free and open source. Using Claude Code through Happier requires Claude API access (separate from Claude Pro/Team).

Is Remote Control more secure than Happier?

Different security models:

• Remote Control: Your code runs on Anthropic's infrastructure
• Happier: Your code runs on your machine, session data is E2E encrypted

Choose based on where you want code execution and data to live.

Can Happier work offline?

Sessions running on your local machine continue working if the relay connection drops. You lose cross-device sync until reconnected, but the agent keeps executing.

Remote Control requires continuous internet access.

Related guides

• How to run Happier from your phone
• Run Claude Code or Codex in Herdr and continue from your phone
• How to approve Claude permissions from your phone
• How to monitor Claude Code from your phone