# Lantern vs Viktor

Help beside your own screen, compared with a shared coworker in Slack or Teams.

Checked 2026-11-02.

Lantern is a small assistant beside your current application, with screen questions, Show me guidance and an inbox for supported coding agents. Viktor is a managed AI coworker reached through Slack or Microsoft Teams. It connects business services, runs work in a managed cloud environment and returns reports, dashboards, code and other outputs to conversations. Workspace administrators can control permissions, models and usage; the product is not limited to one fixed model choice. Lantern sits beside the application an individual is using, with screen questions, Show me guidance and supported coding-session attention. Viktor works through the team’s chat and business integrations. Compare who needs help, the context they share and where they want to inspect the result.

## Choose Lantern if
- You want to ask about the app in front of you without organizing another workspace.
- You want visual next-step guidance through Show me.
- You want questions from supported existing coding sessions collected in one nearby helper.

## Choose Viktor if
- You want a shared business coworker in Slack or Microsoft Teams.
- You want managed execution and recurring connected-service workflows.
- You want administrators to govern team permissions, models and usage.

## Side by side

| What matters | Lantern | Viktor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main workflow | Get screen-context answers, visual guidance and attention to supported coding agents. | Delegate business work to a shared team coworker. ([source](https://viktor.com/product)) |
| Working surface | A small screen-side assistant beside the app you are using. | Slack or Microsoft Teams conversations and connected business tools. ([source](https://viktor.com/product)) |
| Where tasks run | The companion runs on your computer; requested AI work uses the relevant online service. | Managed cloud execution provided by the service. ([source](https://viktor.com/product)) |
| Agent coordination | Collect questions and route replies for documented supported coding sessions. | Team requests and recurring workflows handled by the managed coworker. ([source](https://viktor.com/product)) |
| Tools and accounts | Use the Lantern account and its supported agent integrations; provider usage remains separate where applicable. | Business integrations and workspace-controlled model settings. ([source](https://viktor.com/docs/settings-overview)) |
| Review and control | Follow the next step yourself or inspect a helper’s result and answer agent requests. | Team permissions, usage controls and outputs returned to conversations. ([source](https://viktor.com/docs/settings-overview)) |

## What kind of help do you need?

Lantern sits beside the application an individual is using, with screen questions, Show me guidance and supported coding-session attention. Viktor works through the team’s chat and business integrations. Compare who needs help, the context they share and where they want to inspect the result.

## Your current screen or the team’s business systems

Lantern is meant for the moment a person needs help using an application or responding to a supported agent. Viktor brings a managed coworker into the channels where a team already talks. These roles can overlap on a task without making either a universal replacement for the other. Use the place where the relevant context and the person making the decision are already available.

## Questions

### What does Lantern add if I already use Viktor?

Lantern puts help beside the individual using an application. It is useful for screen explanations, guided next steps and requests from supported coding agents during your own work.

### Do I need to move into a team chat to ask Lantern?

No. Use the nearby desktop companion to ask about the current application and request visual guidance. You can keep your existing team conversations and business tools where they are.

### How should I try Lantern with my current setup?

Try a question in an app you use every day. Check whether getting the explanation and next step nearby makes that task easier.

## Sources
- [Viktor: official product documentation](https://viktor.com/product)
- [Viktor: workflow and execution](https://viktor.com/docs/settings-overview)
- [Viktor: additional product guidance](https://viktor.com/)
- [Lantern: product overview](https://lantern.october.dev/)
- [Lantern: supported coding-agent companion](https://lantern.october.dev/agents)

[All comparisons](https://lantern.october.dev/comparisons)