Alternatives to iTerm2
macOS terminal replacement with split panes, search and session restore. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
iTerm2
macOS terminal replacement with split panes, search and session restore.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as iTerm2.
Ghostty
A GPU-accelerated terminal that uses the real native interface of the platform instead of drawing its own.
Ghostty is a GPU-accelerated macOS and Linux terminal with native window chrome and a single text config file, but has no built-in multiplexer, so panes need tmux or Zellij.
kitty
GPU-accelerated terminal with tabs, splits, graphics and a kitten scripting system.
kitty is a GPU-accelerated terminal for macOS and Linux with tabs, splits and inline images, configured through a text file with no graphical settings.
WezTerm
A GPU-accelerated terminal that is also a multiplexer, configured in Lua and the same on every platform.
WezTerm offers built-in multiplexing including remote hosts over SSH and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, but is configured in Lua instead of a settings interface.
Alacritty
A deliberately minimal OpenGL terminal that leaves multiplexing and tabs to other programs and just draws text fast.
Alacritty is a minimal cross-platform OpenGL terminal with Vi mode and scrollback search, but has no tabs or split panes, leaving those to tmux.
Warp
Rust terminal with block-based output, AI assistance and shared workflows.
Warp adds command blocks, editor-style input and AI assistance across Windows, macOS and Linux, though hosted AI and collaboration features require separate accounts and plans.
Hyper
A terminal built on web technologies, extended with JavaScript plugins and themed with CSS.
Hyper runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with CSS themes and npm plugins, but as an Electron app it is slower and heavier than a native terminal.
Tabby
A terminal, SSH client and serial console in one window, with a connection manager and an encrypted secret store.
Tabby combines local shells, SSH and serial connections with an encrypted secret store on all desktop platforms, but uses Electron and has occasional rendering glitches.
Wave Terminal
A terminal with file previews, a remote file editor, web browsing and AI assistance arranged as blocks in one window.
Wave Terminal arranges terminals, file previews, a remote file editor and AI assistance as blocks in one Electron window instead of tabs and panes.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
tmux
Keeps terminal sessions alive on a server after you disconnect, and splits one window into many.
Nerd Fonts
A collection of programming fonts patched with thousands of icons, plus a patcher for adding them to other fonts.
Gogh
A collection of hundreds of terminal color schemes, installed into your terminal with a single command.
Starship
A shell prompt that shows the git branch, language version and other context, configured once and working in every shell.
Oh My Zsh
Configuration framework for Zsh with hundreds of plugins and themes.
Zellij
A terminal multiplexer that tells you its own shortcuts on screen, so you can use it on day one.
