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Best Terminal Emulators in 2026
A terminal emulator provides an interface for command-line work, and the details can affect how you organize sessions or connect to other systems. Compared on split panes, session sync, SSH support, and supported platforms, these entries make it easier to assess practical fit for your setup. GPU acceleration and a scripting API are additional capabilities to weigh, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing give cost context. Termalin, Contour, and Warp are among the listed options. Consider which features matter to your workflow and which supported platforms align with the devices you use.
- 40 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Cool Retro Term
Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hostedCool Retro Term pairs a terminal emulator with configurable CRT-inspired appearance options. Check its system-specific installation guidance if you plan to build it yourself.
- 2
Alacritty
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsAlacritty offers terminal navigation, search, and multiple windows, with configuration kept in a TOML file. Its beta status and lack of tabs, splits, and a graphical editor are important to weigh.
- 3
gitsome
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1gitsome adds GitHub commands and shell assistance to command-line workflows, with support for several operating systems.
- 4
Contour
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsContour offers a broad set of terminal workflow features, including persistent sessions and GPU rendering. Note that daemon mode is experimental and the project website is still in draft mode.
- 5
Ghostty
Free plan LinuxMacGhostty brings GPU rendering, native interface components, and a broad set of terminal features to macOS and Linux.
- 6
Hyper
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsHyper combines configurable terminal settings with an extension system and support for three desktop platforms. It is free, with listed downloads for several operating systems and package formats.
- 7
Cmder
Free plan WindowsCmder combines a portable Windows console with multiple shells and customization options. The choice between Mini and Full mainly affects whether Git for Windows binaries are included.
- 8
ConEmu
Free plan WindowsConEmu provides a configurable Windows window for running console programs, with tabs, splits and Far Manager integration.
- 9
- 10
foot
Free plan Linuxfoot offers a focused Wayland terminal with configurable display and navigation features. Its Wayland-only scope and build requirements are worth considering before installation.
- 11
GNOME Console
Free plan LinuxGNOME Console is a free terminal emulator focused on the GNOME desktop, with contribution and translation paths available.
- 12
GNOME Terminal
by GNOME TerminalFree plan LinuxGNOME Terminal provides a configurable graphical terminal for Linux, with tabs, profiles, SSH, text tools, and shell startup settings.
- 13
kitty
Free plan LinuxMacChoose kitty if you use Linux or macOS and want a keyboard-oriented terminal that combines configurable layouts with session files and shell control.
- 14
Termalin
Free plan APIiPhoneLinux+3Termalin combines terminal, file, database, and agent tools, with a free plan and a web cabinet. Windows users should note that the .exe is unsigned, though the Microsoft Store build is signed.
- 15
- 16
iTerm2
Free plan MaciTerm2 combines terminal search, split panes, shell integration, and scripting features in a free macOS app. Check the macOS version requirement before choosing it.
- 17
PuTTY
Free plan LinuxWindows - 18
Tabby
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsTabby brings several connection types, SSH tools, and flexible pane layouts into a free FOSS terminal. Readers who need dedicated support terms should note that none are stated.
- 19
- 20
LXTerminal
Free plan LinuxLXTerminal offers tabbed terminal access and command-line configuration on Linux at no charge. Its listed feature set has no split panes, so that limitation matters if you need them.
- 21
mintty
Free plan WindowsChoose mintty if you need a Windows terminal for Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, related projects, or WSL, with broad text, graphics, and window options.
- 22
- 23
QTerminal
Free plan LinuxMacQTerminal combines tabbed and split sessions with interface customization and clipboard support. Its documented source-build requirements matter if distribution packages are not the preferred route.
- 24
WezTerm
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsWezTerm combines terminal multiplexing, SSH, configuration hot reloading, and graphics features across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- 25
Macterm
Free plan MacSelf-hostedMacterm combines persistent sessions, configurable panes, SSH workspaces, and a scriptable CLI in a focused macOS terminal.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
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