Side by side
Conmux vs WMUX
Both stand on terminal multiplexers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
Conmux combines supervised Windows terminal panes with a reconnectable daemon and local control interface. Its early development status and the loss of all panes when the daemon stops are important operational limits.
Visit Conmux Free plan LinuxMacWindows
WMUX offers persistent terminal sessions and configurable pane layouts across three desktop platforms. Users should account for missing Windows ARM64 builds and the trust prompts that may appear because its v1 binaries are unsigned and not notarized.
Visit WMUXThe facts
| Conmux | WMUX | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | github.com |
| On terminal multiplexers | #16 of 29 | #20 of 29 |
Conmux: what it does well
- Clients can detach and reconnect to persistent panes.
- Supports native programs, PowerShell, and WSL tools.
- Local-only design states no accounts or telemetry.
- Dual-licensed under MIT or Apache 2.0.
- Offers a Rust library, CLI, and Tauri GUI shell.
What to know first
- Early development at v0.1.x.
- APIs outside the wire protocol are unstable.
- Daemon failure or shutdown terminates every pane.
- Unsigned GUI installer triggers a SmartScreen warning.
WMUX: what it does well
- Keeps terminal workspaces active after client disconnection.
- Supports horizontal and vertical pane splits and zoom.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Windows builds do not require POSIX emulation.
- MIT-licensed and free, with no usage limits stated.
What to know first
- Windows ARM64 builds are not provided.
- Package-manager repositories are not currently available.
- v1 binaries are not Authenticode-signed or Apple-notarized.