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st vs xterm: catalog facts
st	xterm
Free Free to download and build from source.	Free Free to download as source or from distribution packages.
Linux	Linux
Very small, readable codebase True color and UTF-8 support	Very thorough DEC VT and Tektronix emulation Maintained continuously for decades
Configuration requires editing C source and recompiling Scrollback and many features need third-party patches	Configured through X resources, which is dated and awkward No tabs or split panes
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.