Which is better, iTerm2 or MATE Terminal?

iTerm2 and MATE Terminal both have strengths. iTerm2 (Free) is best known for iTerm2 is a popular open-source terminal emulator for macOS. It has more features than the …. MATE Terminal excels at MATE Terminal is a terminal emulator application for the MATE desktop environment. It provides access …. The best choice depends on your specific needs.

What are the main differences between iTerm2 and MATE Terminal?

The key differences are in features, pricing, and target audience. Compare them in detail on this page to find which suits your workflow better.

iTerm2 vs MATE Terminal (2026): Which Is Better? Honest Comparison

Expert Analysis & Comparison

iTerm2 — iTerm2 is a popular open-source terminal emulator for macOS. It has more features than the built-in Terminal app, like split panes, search, autocorrect, mouseless copy/paste, profiles and themes, and

MATE Terminal — MATE Terminal is a terminal emulator application for the MATE desktop environment. It provides access to the Linux shell and allows executing commands through a text interface.

iTerm2 offers Split panes, Search, Autocorrect, Mouseless copy/paste, Profiles and themes, while MATE Terminal provides Multiple tabs, Customizable appearance, Keyboard shortcuts, Supports themes, Drag and drop reordering of tabs.

iTerm2 stands out for More features than built-in Terminal, Open source, Customizable and extensible; MATE Terminal is known for Lightweight and fast, Highly customizable, Easy to use.

Pricing: iTerm2 (Free) vs MATE Terminal (not listed).

Why Compare iTerm2 and MATE Terminal?

When evaluating iTerm2 versus MATE Terminal, both solutions serve different needs within the os & utilities ecosystem. This comparison helps determine which solution aligns with your specific requirements and technical approach.

Market Position & Industry Recognition

iTerm2 and MATE Terminal have established themselves in the os & utilities market. Key areas include terminal, emulator, macos.

Technical Architecture & Implementation

The architectural differences between iTerm2 and MATE Terminal significantly impact implementation and maintenance approaches. Related technologies include terminal, emulator, macos, opensource.

Integration & Ecosystem

Both solutions integrate with various tools and platforms. Common integration points include terminal, emulator and terminal, emulator.

Decision Framework

Consider your technical requirements, team expertise, and integration needs when choosing between iTerm2 and MATE Terminal. You might also explore terminal, emulator, macos for alternative approaches.

Feature	iTerm2	MATE Terminal
Overall Score	1	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities
Target Users	Developers, QA Engineers	QA Teams, Non-technical Users
Deployment	Self-hosted, Cloud	Cloud-based, SaaS
Learning Curve	Moderate to Steep	Easy to Moderate

Product Overview

iTerm2

Description: iTerm2 is a popular open-source terminal emulator for macOS. It has more features than the built-in Terminal app, like split panes, search, autocorrect, mouseless copy/paste, profiles and themes, and more.

Type: Open Source Test Automation Framework

Founded: 2011

Primary Use: Mobile app testing automation

Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows

MATE Terminal

Description: MATE Terminal is a terminal emulator application for the MATE desktop environment. It provides access to the Linux shell and allows executing commands through a text interface.

Type: Cloud-based Test Automation Platform

Founded: 2015

Primary Use: Web, mobile, and API testing

Supported Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, API

Key Features Comparison

iTerm2 Features

Split panes
Search
Autocorrect
Mouseless copy/paste
Profiles and themes

MATE Terminal Features

Multiple tabs
Customizable appearance
Keyboard shortcuts
Supports themes
Drag and drop reordering of tabs
Saves state on exit
Searchable command history
Configurable profiles
Supports notifications

Pros & Cons Analysis

iTerm2

Pros

More features than built-in Terminal
Open source
Customizable and extensible

Cons

Steeper learning curve than Terminal
More resource intensive
Less stable than Terminal

MATE Terminal

Pros

Lightweight and fast
Highly customizable
Easy to use
Integrates well with MATE desktop
Active development and updates

Cons

Lacks some advanced features of other terminals
Relies on MATE libraries
Less plugins/extensions than some alternatives

Pricing Comparison

iTerm2

Open Source

MATE Terminal

Open Source

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iTerm2

Learn More About iTerm2

MATE Terminal

Learn More About MATE Terminal

iTerm2 vs MATE Terminal

Expert Analysis & Comparison

Why Compare iTerm2 and MATE Terminal?

Market Position & Industry Recognition

Technical Architecture & Implementation

Integration & Ecosystem

Decision Framework

Product Overview

Key Features Comparison

Pros & Cons Analysis

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pricing Comparison

Get More Information

Learn More About Each Product

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