Short answer: both apps run several Claude Desktop windows side by side on Windows, each with its own account. Pick by what you need beyond that:
Who is writing this: we make Claude Desktop Manager. Everything said here about Multi Instance for Claude Desktop comes from its two Microsoft Store listings and from its author's own post on Anthropic's issue tracker (#70665), as read on 7 October 2026. Where a listing says nothing, the table says Not mentioned - not No. Check the listings for anything newer.
A Windows app by Carlos De La Torre, sold on the Microsoft Store as Multi Instance for Claude Desktop and Multi Instance Pro. On 7 October 2026 both listings carried the same description and the same price: $9.49, one-time, with a free trial. Like Claude Desktop Manager, it launches the Claude Desktop already installed on your PC, each window pointed at its own profile folder; it does not modify Claude.
Its listing highlights a dashboard to create, color-code and remove instances, templates with backup and restore, a per-instance AI engine for the Code tab with a live badge showing which engine answered, usage and estimated cost per instance, a search across every Claude Code chat on the PC (Find chat…), and recovery of profile folders it lost track of (Adopt profile…).
| Multi Instance for Claude Desktop | Claude Desktop Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.49 once, free trial | Free (one window at a time, several for 15 minutes) · $10 once for two at a time · $30 once for unlimited |
| Where you get it | Microsoft Store | claudeprofiles.com (Windows may show a SmartScreen warning the first time) |
| Several Claude windows, one account each | Yes | Yes |
| Other AI engines per window (Kimi, GLM, DeepSeek, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Ollama) | Yes, for the Code tab, with your own API key | No |
| Usage and cost per instance | Yes | No |
| Search every Claude Code chat across instances | Yes | No |
| Color per instance, templates, backup and restore | Yes | Window renamed per profile; no templates or backup |
| Second account with Google, Apple or company sign-in | Not mentioned - its author notes each instance needs a one-time manual sign-in | Yes, with Add an account (why it's needed) |
| Cowork on the extra accounts | Not mentioned | Yes, one at a time, with Repair Cowork… (details) |
| Starts Claude when Windows refuses its file path | Not mentioned | Yes |
| Claude updated or closed by Windows | Not mentioned | Finds the new version, says what happened, reopens your profiles |
| Switch accounts from the keyboard | Not mentioned | Global switcher (Ctrl+`), one shortcut per profile, tray menu |
| MCP servers per instance | Yes (own profile) | Yes, with a built-in editor and copy from another profile |
| Send a question to Claude from any app | Not mentioned | QuickAsk (Pro) |
| App languages | English | English, French, Spanish, German |
🖥️ Windows app - download it from a PC. This page reads fine on a phone, but the installer only runs on Windows 10 / 11.
Both apps automate the same trick: starting Claude Desktop with a separate data folder for each account. You can do it yourself for free with a shortcut, and live with the maintenance - or use separate browser profiles if the web app is enough. Both are explained, with their pitfalls, in How to use multiple Claude accounts at once on Windows.
A Windows app sold on the Microsoft Store for $9.49 (one-time, with a free trial) that runs several isolated Claude Desktop windows side by side, each with its own profile and sign-in. It can also route the Code tab of each window to another AI engine, such as Kimi, GLM, DeepSeek, OpenAI, OpenRouter or a local Ollama model.
On 7 October 2026 the two Microsoft Store listings carried the same description and the same price, $9.49. Check both listings for the current difference.
Yes. Claude Desktop Manager also runs several Claude Desktop accounts side by side on Windows, with a free tier. It focuses on Google, Apple and company sign-in for extra accounts, Cowork on every profile, and keyboard shortcuts to switch accounts. A manual launch shortcut and browser profiles are free alternatives.
Claude Desktop Manager has an Add an account flow for Google, Apple and company sign-in, validated end to end with Google. The Multi Instance listings do not mention it; its author notes that each instance needs a one-time manual sign-in.
Multi Instance for Claude Desktop can route the Code tab of each instance to another provider with your own API key. Claude Desktop Manager does not offer this: every profile runs on its Claude account.
No. It is downloaded from claudeprofiles.com, and Windows may show a SmartScreen warning the first time you run the installer.
Free to download, one window at a time with no time limit. Standard ($10, one-time purchase) runs two Claude windows at the same time. Pro ($30, one-time) removes all limits and adds QuickPrompt and QuickAsk.
🖥️ Windows app - download it from a PC. The installer only runs on Windows 10 / 11.