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Best Command-Line Shells in 2026

Command-line shells provide a text interface for entering commands and working with scripts. This list is for people choosing a shell on a budget.

• 27 apps
• Research read 9 Oct 2026
• How the order is worked out

1. 1 A

   Avidemux

   Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1
   9.3 Free plan Visit site
2. 2 E

   Elvish

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows
   6.3 Free plan Visit site
3. 3 4

   4DOS

   Free plan Windows
   6.2 Free plan Visit site
4. 4 F

   Fish

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows
   6.2 Free plan Visit site
5. 5 B

   Bash

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows
   6.1 Free plan Visit site
6. 6 B

   BusyBox ash

   Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
   6.1 Free plan Visit site
7. 7 H

   Hilbish

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows
   6.1 Free plan Visit site
8. 8 K

   KornShell (ksh93u+m)

   Free plan AndroidLinuxMac
   6.1 Free plan Visit site
9. 9 N

   Nushell

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows
   6.1 Free plan Visit site
10. 10 D

    Dash

    Free plan Linux
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
11. 11 M

    MirBSD Korn Shell (mksh)

    Free plan AndroidLinuxMac
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
12. 12 M

    Murex

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
13. 13 P

    PowerShell

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.9 Free plan Visit site
14. 14 E

    Es shell

    Free plan Linux
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
15. 15 F

    FreeCOM

    Free plan Self-hosted
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
16. 16 I

    Ion Shell

    Free plan Linux
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
17. 17 L

    loksh

    Free plan Linux
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
18. 18 S

    scsh (Scheme Shell)

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
19. 19 S

    Smoosh

    Free plan LinuxMacWeb
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
20. 20 Y

    Yash

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Free plan Visit site
21. 21 Z

    Zsh

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Free plan Visit site
22. 22 O

    Oil Shell

    Free plan Linux
    5.6 Free plan Visit site
23. 23 O

    OpenBSD KornShell (ksh)

    Free plan
    5.4 Free plan Visit site
24. 24 R

    rc shell

    Free plan
    5.4 Free plan Visit site
25. 25 T

    tcsh

    Free plan Linux
    5.4 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Compare free-plan terms, paid starting prices, supported platforms, scripting language, package manager, config-file support, and command completion. If a free trial is offered, check its limits and end date. If you need to read or change code, check the open-source licence.

Questions

Do command-line shells have free plans?

The list includes shells marked with a free plan, plus a paid option. Check the plan details before relying on free use.

Which platforms do these shells support?

Supported platforms represented here include Linux, macOS, Windows, the web, and Android. Check the platform field for the shell you want.

Can I read or change the shell code?

Open-source code is offered by items on this list. Check the licence before reading, changing, or redistributing code.

What should I compare besides price?

Compare supported platforms, scripting language, package manager, config-file support, and command completion, along with free-plan terms.

Is a free trial the same as a free plan?

No. Check a trial's limits and end date separately from the terms of a free plan.

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