List of the Top 25 Terminal Emulators for Mac in 2025

ZOC is a sophisticated terminal emulator designed for both Windows and macOS platforms. It boasts an extensive array of emulations and powerful features, all while maintaining a reliable and sleek interface. Users can connect to various hosts and mainframes through secure shell, telnet, and serial connections, among other communication options. The modern user interface makes ZOC user-friendly and accessible. This terminal is known for its versatility, robustness, and dependability. It includes features such as tabbed sessions with thumbnail previews, an organized address book with folders, and color-coded hosts and host names, allowing for extensive customization to suit individual preferences. Furthermore, ZOC offers a scripting language that supports over 200 commands, enhancing its functionality. It is compatible with Windows 10/11 and macOS 12 Monterey, making it suitable for various users, including administrators, thanks to its straightforward deployment and configuration. Additional features include logging capabilities, scrollback functionality, keyboard remapping options, and comprehensive logging. Users can define buttons, automate tasks, and develop macros to streamline their workflows. Moreover, the emulations supported by ZOC encompass xterm and VT220, making it a versatile tool for developers and system administrators alike.

Commander One serves as a comprehensive file management solution tailored for Mac users, featuring a dual-panel layout for efficient file organization. It is optimized for the latest Mac M1 and M2 chips, ensuring seamless performance. The application boasts an intuitive interface designed to enhance user productivity and simplify file handling. With a multitude of features, it caters to individuals who frequently manage large amounts of content, facilitating faster workflow. Users can personalize hotkeys, reveal hidden files, select items, and access both their favorite files and a complete history of their actions. Additionally, Commander One incorporates an operation queue that displays all files currently being processed, streamlining tasks. It also offers archive support and includes a versatile built-in viewer capable of opening various text file formats. Users benefit from a straightforward encryption feature that enables secure file protection, while the included terminal emulator empowers them to execute specific commands and maintain complete control over their workflow. Overall, Commander One is a powerful ally for anyone seeking to enhance their file management experience on Mac.

iTerm2 stands out as a contemporary replacement for the default Terminal app, marking the next stage in the evolution of the original iTerm, tailored for Macs with macOS 10.14 or newer. This innovative application revolutionizes terminal interaction by introducing features that users may not have previously recognized as essential. Packed with a plethora of functionalities, iTerm2 is designed to meet nearly every conceivable need of terminal aficionados. Moreover, there is a wealth of capabilities to explore beyond the fundamental features! Users have the ability to divide a single tab into several panes, facilitating the simultaneous display of various sessions, which can be arranged in multiple orientations, either vertically or horizontally. Furthermore, you can create a hotkey that brings iTerm2 to the forefront instantly, even when you are focused on other applications, making your terminal always just a keystroke away. This hotkey can be set up to launch a dedicated window, giving you swift access to a terminal whenever required. Additionally, iTerm2 boasts a sophisticated find-on-page feature for efficient searches without disrupting the user interface, as real-time highlighting of all occurrences occurs, and it supports regular expressions to enhance search precision. Users will discover that iTerm2 not only boosts productivity but also transforms their overall experience with the terminal, making it an indispensable tool in their workflow. As a result, it encourages a more efficient and enjoyable terminal experience for both novice and experienced users alike.

Rio is a terminal application engineered with Rust, WebGPU, and the Tokio runtime, focused on delivering outstanding frames per second while allowing for reduced GPU consumption. Its rendering engine is built on a Redux state machine, which ensures that lines that remain unchanged are not redrawn, thus optimizing the rendering process most of the time. Additionally, Rio is designed to be compatible with a WebAssembly runtime, which opens avenues for future features like customizable tab systems through WASM plugins created in various programming languages. Furthermore, Rio incorporates WGPU, a WebGPU implementation tailored for non-browser contexts, and serves as a backend for Firefox's own WebGPU implementation, enabling more efficient use of contemporary GPUs in comparison to WebGL alternatives. This commitment to performance and flexibility positions Rio as an adaptable terminal choice, catering to users who value both speed and customization options. Users can expect a seamless experience that balances resource efficiency with powerful functionality.

MacTerm presents itself as a powerful alternative to the macOS Terminal, boasting features such as 24-bit color support, standard graphics protocols, and compatibility with iTerm2 image sequences and color schemes. Unlike many terminal emulators worldwide, it allows terminal-based applications to leverage up to 8 bits for each RGB component, culminating in a rich palette of 24 bits and enabling a vast spectrum of colors for display purposes. The terminal is particularly adept at maintaining the integrity of incoming text, ensuring that any copied material—whether it be sent to the Clipboard, stored in a file, printed, or dragged and dropped—retains all special characters without issue. Users can take advantage of a floating command line window that facilitates the input of any character type, significantly enhancing user flexibility. While the 4.1.0 version imposed certain restrictions on the display of Unicode characters, the anticipated 5.0 release is set to address these limitations, expanding the terminal's capabilities. Furthermore, MacTerm's support for Unicode encompasses various elements such as file names, preference collection names, and macros, promoting seamless compatibility and usability across a range of applications. This makes MacTerm not only an indispensable tool for developers but also an adaptable platform for casual users who desire enhanced terminal functionality and usability. With its continuous updates and feature enhancements, MacTerm is poised to further solidify its position as a leading terminal emulator.

When connecting to multiple servers, using different background colors and window titles from profiles can greatly help in quickly distinguishing the correct terminal window. You can choose from the available profiles in Terminal or create your own customized profiles to suit your style. As you work through various tasks, making use of markup and bookmarks can enhance your ability to navigate through the large outputs seen in the terminal window efficiently. Additionally, the inspector tool is available for monitoring and managing your ongoing processes while offering the ability to change window titles and background colors as needed. Customizing profiles allows you to modify various features such as colors, font styles, cursor looks, backgrounds, and many other aspects of the Terminal windows. Each profile acts as a thorough compilation of style and behavior preferences tailored for a terminal window. While Terminal includes a diverse range of predefined profiles, it also allows for the creation of unique profiles that reflect your individual preferences. Moreover, you can adjust settings concerning terminal types, input methods, prompt behavior, and international encodings, in addition to configuring function keys, the option key, and alternate display settings. This comprehensive level of customization ensures that your terminal experience is not only streamlined but also perfectly aligned with your specific workflow requirements, making your computing tasks more effective and pleasant. In essence, embracing the various customization options available empowers users to create a terminal environment that enhances productivity and meets their unique needs.

Efficient connection management is essential for handling various connection types without any hassle. Royal TS excels in this area, supporting protocols such as RDP, VNC, SSH terminals, S/FTP, and web interfaces, ensuring comprehensive control over your connections. It boasts an integrated credential management system along with options for secure team sharing, which allows you to share connection lists while keeping personal credentials secure. You can easily automate repetitive tasks through command tasks and key sequence tasks, streamlining your workflow. The inclusion of SSH-based tunneling serves as a secure gateway that is flawlessly integrated into the Royal TS framework. In addition, Dynamic Folders facilitate the real-time importation of data from external sources, enhancing functionality. By simply labeling individual connections, you can assign specific credentials to them, thereby safeguarding sensitive information within a secured document that only you can access. Moreover, Royal TS supports document management that allows multiple users to access documents at the same time, enabling seamless synchronization of changes without needing a SQL database backend, which significantly boosts collaboration and productivity. Ultimately, Royal TS stands out as a comprehensive solution for all your connection management needs, making it an invaluable tool for teams and individuals alike.

Warp is a high-speed terminal crafted in Rust, reimagined to operate like a modern application. This terminal is fully native, steering clear of Electron or any web-based technologies. Users have the option to integrate cloud functionalities, ensuring their data is stored with robust encryption. From the outset, Warp supports zsh, fish, and bash, making it versatile for various users. The input experience is designed to reflect the features of a contemporary code editor, ensuring that working in the terminal feels modern rather than reminiscent of outdated systems. Warp empowers users to modify their commands through selections, accurate cursor placement, and completion menus, significantly enhancing productivity. Additionally, the terminal boasts an advanced AI search feature powered by GPT-3, which transforms natural language queries into executable shell commands, akin to GitHub Copilot but specifically designed for terminal environments. Users can effortlessly navigate through commands, with the convenience of copying outputs with a single click, eliminating the hassle of excessive scrolling. Moreover, Warp provides a user-friendly GUI for easy access to commonly used workflows and enables users to design and share custom workflows with colleagues, promoting teamwork and streamlining processes. This innovative approach not only enhances individual productivity but also fosters collaboration among team members.

Wave is an innovative terminal designed for developers, offering a free, AI-driven environment that enhances productivity. With capabilities like inline rendering, a contemporary user interface, and the ability to maintain persistent sessions, it streamlines the development process. Key Features Include: - Support for various plugins that allow rendering of audio/video, Markdown, images, and much more. - A fast coding experience using the same editor as VSCode, accessible both locally and remotely. - Persistent sessions with a searchable Universal History and the ability to manage workspaces seamlessly between local and remote environments. - Direct integration of AI features with ChatGPT, and plans to enable users to incorporate their own AI systems in the future (BYOLLM). - Available as packages for both macOS and Linux, under the Apache 2.0 License, ensuring a broad reach for developers across platforms. Wave is poised to revolutionize how developers interact with their tools, making coding more efficient and enjoyable.

Alacritty is a sophisticated terminal emulator designed for multiple operating systems, leveraging OpenGL to achieve superior GPU performance while providing practical defaults alongside extensive customization options. Rather than replicating existing functionalities, it seamlessly integrates with various applications to deliver a highly personalized user experience without sacrificing speed. It is compatible with BSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows, and although currently in beta, it has already become a preferred option for numerous users as their main terminal application. Among its standout features are Vi Mode, which allows navigation and selection creation through vi commands; a Search capability for locating text within the scrollback history; Regex Hints that highlight specific patterns for interaction using either mouse or keyboard; and Multi-Window support that enhances resource efficiency by functioning within a single process. The ongoing development of Alacritty indicates a commitment to expanding its feature set and enhancing overall performance, which will help maintain its appeal among terminal users. As it matures, the community eagerly anticipates even more innovative functionalities that will further solidify its position in the terminal emulator landscape.

Ghostty stands out as a rapid and feature-rich terminal emulator that operates across various platforms, harnessing native user interfaces and GPU acceleration to deliver an exceptional blend of speed and versatility. This terminal emulator complies fully with standards by integrating ECMA-48 and xterm conventions, thus facilitating smooth compatibility with existing shells and software applications. Its cutting-edge multi-renderer architecture utilizes OpenGL and supports ligatures, allowing for fluid rendering at rates of up to 60 frames per second, even under heavy workloads, while a dedicated I/O thread effectively reduces jitter. Ghostty also boasts sophisticated windowing capabilities, including support for multiple windows, tab management, and split views, all while seamlessly fitting into native platform experiences via SwiftUI and GTK4. At its foundation lies a shared library crafted in Zig, known as "libghostty," which can be utilized through a C API for embedding purposes. Users benefit from various customization options such as fonts, backgrounds, and color schemes, paired with a selection of features designed specifically for interactive command-line tools, positioning its performance alongside the leading terminal emulators available today. Additionally, Ghostty's design prioritizes user-friendliness, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned users to effectively explore its wide range of functionalities. This commitment to usability ensures that everyone can take full advantage of its robust feature set without feeling overwhelmed.

Tmux is a powerful terminal multiplexer that enables users to create, access, and manage several terminal sessions all from a single interface. A standout feature is its capability to detach sessions, which allows them to continue running in the background and be reattached later exactly as they were left. Each window in tmux functions as an independent client process, and it supports color through ANSI/ISO standards using VT220 control sequences. Users appreciate the ease of configuration offered by the example tmux.conf file and the detailed man page. With minimal dependencies, tmux operates on libevent 2.x and ncurses, needing only a C compiler, make, pkg-config, and Yacc for its compilation. Its design is lightweight and single-screen, contributing to its efficiency and standards compliance, while also being well-documented and compatible across platforms. This makes tmux an excellent choice for managing terminal workflows, particularly for those who frequently engage with command-line interfaces. Moreover, the multipurpose capabilities of tmux significantly boost productivity by allowing users to juggle multiple tasks without hassle.

WezTerm is a powerful terminal emulator and multiplexer that operates across multiple platforms, built using Rust and distinguished by its GPU-accelerated rendering features, which include support for ligatures, color emojis, true color, dynamic color schemes, and hyperlinks, as well as sophisticated window management capabilities like panes and tabs that facilitate the handling of numerous windows on both local and remote machines. The application utilizes a single-process multiplexer that enhances the user experience with features such as scrollback, a searchable history, mouse support, and a Quick Select mode for efficient item selection. Additionally, users benefit from functionalities such as Copy mode, shell integration, compatibility with the iTerm image protocol, SSH access, and support for serial devices and Arduino, all while managing sessions and workspaces through customizable Lua scripts. The configuration process is user-friendly due to the wezterm.lua file which supports hot-reloading, and a full-featured command-line interface (wezterm cli) empowers users to launch applications, manage tabs and panes, and set up domains with ease. Furthermore, WezTerm adheres to ECMA-48 and xterm specifications, ensuring compliance with ANSI/ISO standards, and it seamlessly integrates into the user interface by leveraging platform-specific APIs, thereby providing a smooth and versatile experience for terminal users. With its extensive feature set and user-friendly design, WezTerm is an exceptional choice for both novice users and developers in search of a comprehensive terminal solution that enhances productivity and workflow.

Zellij serves as a multifunctional workspace designed specifically for developers, operations specialists, and terminal enthusiasts, founded on the belief that achieving simplicity alongside robust functionality is possible without compromise, thereby delivering an impressive out-of-the-box experience enriched with advanced features. It appeals to a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced experts, by offering extensive customization and automation options through adjustable layouts, true multiplayer collaboration, and unique user interface elements like floating and stacked panes, all enhanced by a sophisticated resizing algorithm that optimally arranges new panes for maximum productivity. Furthermore, the introduction of a plugin system empowers users to develop their own pane types in any language that compiles to WebAssembly, while a comprehensive command-line interface includes Command Panes for executing and re-executing commands in dedicated environments, along with functionalities such as running, editing, and renaming panes. Zellij's single-process architecture ensures swift and responsive performance, and its holistic design provides users with a complete terminal workspace that aligns with the requirements of modern development methodologies. Consequently, Zellij not only boosts individual productivity but also cultivates a collaborative atmosphere, making it an essential resource for both solo developers and teams working together. This versatility and focus on user experience make Zellij a standout choice in the realm of terminal workspaces.

The PowerTerm InterConnect Series offers a range of robust terminal emulation tools tailored to satisfy the host access requirements of both large organizations and smaller businesses. This collection empowers companies to implement a cohesive host access solution throughout their operations. The applications in the PowerTerm InterConnect suite guarantee fast and reliable access to data stored on various host systems, such as IBM Mainframe zSeries, IBM AS/400 iSeries, UNIX, OpenVMS, Tandem, and HP. Each tool in the series supports terminal emulation via several communication methods, ensuring flexibility for users. Moreover, PowerTerm InterConnect is packed with a versatile and extensive feature set designed to maximize user productivity while providing numerous customization options. With the inclusion of Power Script Language, users can streamline their workflows and improve overall operational efficiency. The compact nature of PowerTerm InterConnect makes it an ideal, quick, and effective solution for running legacy applications, and its installation process is straightforward and swift on any PC. Ultimately, this series is distinguished by its adaptability to meet various user requirements while consistently delivering high performance. Its comprehensive capabilities ensure that businesses can effectively manage their host access needs with ease and reliability.

Kitty is designed for users who favor keyboard navigation, ensuring that every control can be accessed through the keyboard while still supporting mouse interactions. Its setup is consolidated into a straightforward, human-readable file, making it easy to manage and share configurations, a practice I frequently employ alongside version control systems. The kitty architecture prioritizes simplicity, modularity, and easy customization, employing C for components that require high performance and Python for enhancements to the user interface. Rather than depending on heavy and complex UI frameworks, kitty opts for OpenGL for all rendering functions, which helps maintain a lightweight application. Tailored with contemporary terminal features in mind, kitty boasts support for Unicode, true color, and a variety of text styles such as bold and italic fonts, as well as sophisticated text formatting options. It also improves upon traditional text formatting escape codes by adding distinctive features like colored and styled curly underlines, distinguishing it from other terminal emulators. A critical component of kitty’s design is its extensibility, which permits the addition of new features as user requirements change and grow. This intentional framework not only aims to keep kitty relevant but also ensures it remains flexible and adaptable amidst the rapid advancements in technology. Furthermore, kitty's user-centric approach fosters a community around customization, encouraging users to share their configurations and enhancements.

SecureCRT is a versatile terminal emulation software compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, designed specifically for IT professionals to improve productivity through advanced session management and automation of repetitive tasks. This powerful application guarantees secure remote access, efficient file transfers, and reliable data tunneling for all team members, making it an invaluable asset. Whether you are upgrading from Telnet or Terminal or simply looking for a more effective secure remote access tool, SecureCRT can seamlessly integrate into your daily operations. With its robust SSH security features, comprehensive session oversight, and sophisticated scripting options, it significantly enhances user efficiency. The ability to highlight specific words, phrases, or substrings in the session window greatly assists in pinpointing errors in log files or streaming outputs, while also stressing prompts for clarity. Furthermore, the inclusion of regular expressions makes it easier to emphasize elements like IP addresses, and users can customize keyword display attributes, such as bold, reverse video, and color, to improve visibility. All in all, this dynamic tool is an essential component for professionals aiming to refine their workflow and streamline their tasks. Ultimately, the capabilities offered by SecureCRT position it as a leading choice for those who prioritize effective and secure remote management solutions.

Terminator Terminal Emulator is an advanced terminal management application that enables users to operate multiple GNOME terminals inside a single consolidated window. Developed initially in 2007 by Chris Jones as a concise Python script, Terminator has since matured into a full-featured terminal multiplexer inspired by utilities such as Iterm2, Tilix, and earlier projects like quadkonsole. The platform allows users to split their terminal into multiple panes, which can be resized, rearranged, and customized to match individual workflow needs. This capability is particularly valuable for professionals who juggle numerous remote machines or command-line interfaces simultaneously. Terminator supports a variety of themes, including dark and light modes, enhancing readability and user comfort across different environments. It integrates well with the GNOME desktop, supporting a range of shells like Bash, Zsh, and others. With its efficient layout management, users can reduce desktop clutter and streamline their multitasking process. Terminator is ideal for developers, system administrators, and power users looking for a flexible yet powerful terminal emulator. Its open-source nature and ongoing community contributions keep it evolving to meet modern needs. Overall, Terminator boosts productivity by providing a versatile and customizable terminal experience.

StayLinked provides a seamless transition to cutting-edge devices while enhancing productivity through advanced business intelligence and facilitating interaction with innovative technologies like automation, robotics, and augmented reality. Maintaining employee engagement on the job is vital, yet traditional terminal emulator solutions often lead to inconsistent performance and connectivity issues. As a result, end users frequently find themselves spending more time troubleshooting with help desk support than executing essential application tasks. By eradicating lost sessions, enabling centralized configuration and management of applications, and offering efficient help desk tools, StayLinked guarantees optimal performance for both applications and users. Notably, StayLinked Terminal Emulation stands out as the quickest terminal emulation solution for mobile devices, in contrast to conventional terminal emulators that route all telnet/SSH traffic directly to the mobile device. This efficiency not only boosts productivity but also empowers users to focus on their core responsibilities without interruption.

MacWise offers emulation capabilities for a wide range of terminals, such as ADDS Viewpoint, Wyse 50, Wyse 60, Wyse 370, Televideo TV 925, DEC VT100, VT220, and Prism, while also accommodating ANSI and SCO ANSI color, along with Esprit III color compatibility in Wyse 370 mode. This application allows Macintosh computers to serve as terminals that connect to host systems through various methods, including direct links, modems, local area networks, or the Internet using telnet or ssh protocols. The emulators support several video attributes like dimming, reverse display, underlining, 132-column modes, protected fields, and the ability to transmit graphic characters from the host, in addition to featuring an upgraded Viewpoint mode. Users benefit from practical tools such as a phone directory and dialer for modem connections, programmable function keys accessible on-screen, and customizable connection scripts, all aimed at improving user experience. MacWise is compatible with desktop Macs, MacBooks, and PowerBooks, and it enables users to scroll back through the last 50 pages of data. Importantly, this software retains the last 50 pages shown, ensuring that whether the information has scrolled off the screen or the display has been reset, users can conveniently revisit previous data. This capability is particularly advantageous for those who often need to reference earlier information, providing a reliable way to keep track of critical details. As such, MacWise enhances productivity and accessibility for users who rely on terminal emulation.

Originally designed to enhance the basic functionality of GNU Screen for the Ubuntu server edition, Byobu has undergone significant development. It now incorporates an improved profile, intuitive keybindings, and various configuration tools, along with optional notifications for system status that work with both the GNU Screen window manager and the modern Tmux terminal multiplexer, all while remaining compatible with a wide range of Linux, BSD, and Mac distributions. Furthermore, Byobu offers specialized configuration tools and system status alerts specifically for users of GNU Screen and Tmux. Provided as free software under the GPLv3 license, Byobu allows users to freely access, modify, and contribute to its development. This dedication to open-source values not only fosters a supportive community but also drives ongoing enhancements to the software. The continuous feedback from its users plays a crucial role in shaping future updates and features.

Flynet Viewer™, a terminal emulation solution, is a web-based tool designed to access essential business systems seamlessly. This innovative terminal emulator enables users to connect to Mainframe, iSeries, and Unix systems from any device without the need for client software installation. It operates from a server environment, which can be hosted either on-premises or in the cloud, and is centrally managed through the Flynet Viewer administration center. The software is universally compatible with all web browsers and devices, eliminating the need for ActiveX or Java plugins. Flynet Viewer is equipped with an array of features typical of enterprise-level terminal emulators, such as file transfer capabilities, client and server-side macros, as well as single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA). In addition to these features, it also supports keyboard remapping for enhanced user experience. While it provides the same extensive functionality as traditional desktop terminal emulation clients, Flynet Viewer delivers its services over the internet through a browser interface. This flexibility ensures that Flynet Viewer Terminal Emulation can be utilized on any device, regardless of the operating system or the browser being used, making it a versatile solution for modern business needs. Its browser-based nature allows for easy access and management, streamlining workflows and improving overall productivity.

Sessions can be customized through the use of hotspots and keyboard mapping, while web frameworks are specifically designed for mainframe applications. Applications can be centrally installed and deployed, ensuring they are readily available to users. When users connect to your server, they automatically receive the latest updates without any manual intervention. You can connect with any major GDS for seamless integration. The Airlines Printer component enables the generation of tickets, baggage tags, and boarding passes, enhancing operational efficiency. Host systems can be accessed to provide IBM, UNIX, and Unisys data directly to browsers from any location, eliminating the necessity for Java. The new Reflection for the Web Launcher facilitates user access to mainframe and other applications, effectively removing dependency on Oracle Java. Additionally, users are empowered to work according to their preferences by accessing terminal sessions, performing file transfers, and utilizing printing capabilities. This flexibility greatly enhances productivity and user satisfaction across various platforms.

You can efficiently enable browser-based access from a single, centralized point without the hassle of overseeing Java runtime environments. It's crucial to identify who is allowed access to your mainframe and ensure that only those with the right permissions can reach the login page. Transitioning from a potentially vulnerable eight-character password to a more secure one-time pass ticket can be achieved by utilizing enterprise credentials. Why go through the process of reinventing solutions? By utilizing the corporate user directory, you can implement terminal emulation just like any other corporate resource. Ensure the secure deployment of browser-based sessions that are tailored with quick keys, macros, and compatible keyboards. Access a variety of applications, including HTML5 to 3270, 5250, VT, Unisys, and Airline host applications, all from a single location—eliminating the need to manage workstation dependencies or Java runtime environments. This not only streamlines access but also enhances overall security and efficiency.

This powerful open-source security terminal simulation software is engineered to function seamlessly across multiple platforms and is compatible with well-known protocols like SSH, SFTP, TELNET, RDP, and VNC. It incorporates a range of key authentication methods and facilitates data backup alongside the synchronization of SFTP sessions. The software boasts an array of customizable interface skins, effective tunnel management options, and the ability to create scripts. Users enjoy the flexibility of managing numerous tabs and floating windows, in addition to having access to an administrator mode. Furthermore, it accommodates 4K remote desktop capabilities and integrates with various VNC remote desktop applications, offering session group management for improved organization. This extensive array of features renders it an indispensable resource for professionals seeking dependable remote access solutions, enhancing their overall productivity and connectivity.