WezTerm is a free, Rust-based terminal emulator and multiplexer for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It arranges terminal sessions as panes, tabs, and windows across local or remote hosts, with mouse support and scrollback. Display features include ligatures, color emoji, font fallback, true color, and dynamic color schemes. Configuration is stored in a file that supports hot reloading. An embedded SSH client provides native tabs, and remote multiplexer instances can be reached over SSH or TLS over TCP/IP. Ad-hoc SSH sessions are non-persistent, so their tabs end if the network connection is interrupted. WezTerm can also connect to serial ports for embedded and Arduino work. Its shell integration supports escape sequences for working directories, prompt zones, and user variables; user variables can work through tmux when passthrough is enabled. Graphics support includes the iTerm2-compatible image protocol and Kitty graphics, plus experimental Sixel graphics. Pre-built downloads are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and NetBSD, and the code can be built from source. Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10.0.17763 or later. The MIT license permits free use and distribution, with no warranty.
Who it is for
WezTerm suits people who want a terminal emulator with local and remote panes, tabs, and windows. Its serial connections and shell integration may also suit embedded and command-line workflows.
What is good
- Free under the MIT license.
- Multiplexes panes, tabs, and windows across hosts.
- Includes an embedded SSH client with native tabs.
- Supports serial ports and several image protocols.
What to know first
- Ad-hoc SSH tabs end if the network is interrupted.
- Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10.0.17763 or later.
- Sixel graphics support is experimental.
- The MIT license provides no warranty.
Verdict
WezTerm combines terminal multiplexing, SSH, configuration hot reloading, and graphics features across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Note that ad-hoc SSH sessions do not persist through a network interruption.
WezTerm plans and pricing
All plansCompared on terminal emulators
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Split panes
- Yes
- GPU acceleration
- Yes
- Scripting API
- Yes
- SSH support
- Yes
