xterm vs Alacritty: catalog facts
 xterm |  Alacritty |
|---|
|
Free Free to download as source or from distribution packages. |
Free Free and open source, with no paid edition. |
|
Linux |
Windows, macOS, Linux |
- Very thorough DEC VT and Tektronix emulation
- Maintained continuously for decades
|
- Vi mode for moving around and making selections with Vi bindings
- Search across the scrollback buffer, and regex hints for marking text
|
- Configured through X resources, which is dated and awkward
- No tabs or split panes
|
- The project describes itself as beta, with features still missing and bugs to fix
- No tabs or built-in multiplexer by design; you need tmux or your window manager
|
|
Downloadable app |
Downloadable app |
|
Open source |
Open source |
|
License not stated |
License: Apache-2.0 |
|
No account needed |
No account needed |
|
Works offline |
Works offline |
Checked September 23, 2026 | Checked September 20, 2026 |
Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.
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