GNOME Terminal icon

GNOME Terminal

GNOME Terminal is a terminal emulator for the GNOME desktop environment. It provides a command line interface for typing commands and running programs in a text-based shell. GNOME Terminal comes pre-installed with most Linux distributions that use the GNOME desktop.

What is GNOME Terminal?

GNOME Terminal is a popular, free, and open source terminal emulator for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It comes pre-installed with most Linux distributions that use the GNOME desktop environment, such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora. As a terminal emulator, GNOME Terminal provides access to the command line shell and allows you to run command line programs and interact with the operating system through text-based commands.

Some key features of GNOME Terminal include multiple tabbed terminal windows, keyboard shortcuts, the ability to customize the color theme and fonts, support for transparency effects, command history, and session management. It also integrates well with the GNOME desktop and follows the GNOME Human Interface Guidelines to provide a consistent user experience.

As a graphical wrapper for the Linux/Unix shell, GNOME Terminal gives you access to powerful command line tools and shell scripting that GUI-based programs may not provide. Advanced Linux users often spend most of their time on the command line shell to perform tasks like software development, system administration, automation through shell scripts, accessing remote servers via SSH, and more. GNOME Terminal provides a stable terminal emulation environment to handle all these use cases.

Since it's open source software, GNOME Terminal sees constant development from contributors around the world. It focuses on performance, reliability, keyboard-driven workflows, ease of use for beginners, and customization options for power users. Overall, GNOME Terminal is arguably the most popular and full-featured terminal emulator available for Linux desktops.

The Best GNOME Terminal Alternatives

Top Apps like GNOME Terminal

iTerm2, MobaXterm, Termux, Terminator, Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Tabby Terminal, ConEmu, Fig Terminal, Konsole, ConnectBot, Alacritty, LXTerminal, Kitty terminal, Blink Shell, Cool Retro Term, Wave Terminal, Android Terminal Emulator, Extraterm, QTerminal, Cathode, Black Box, Sakura, MATE Terminal, Deepin Terminal, Pantheon Terminal, TTwin 4, z/Scope, rxvt-unicode, FbTerm, ROXTerm, FireCMD, evilvte, Final Term, svte, Terminology, LilyTerm, mrxvt are some alternatives to GNOME Terminal.

ITerm2

iTerm2 is an open-source terminal emulator for macOS that serves as a replacement for the default Terminal application. It comes packed with useful features for developers, coders, and other power users.Some key features of iTerm2 include: - Split panes allow you to open multiple terminal sessions in one window...

MobaXterm

MobaXterm is a free all-in-one terminal for Windows that bundles many useful remote network tools needed by IT administrators, webmasters, developers and power users into a single portable executable.Key features of MobaXterm include:Multi-tabbed SSH client with SFTP browser and remote editing capabilitiesAll the important network tools (SSH, X...

Termux

Termux is an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment app that transforms Android devices into powerful, command-line-based computing platforms. It offers a Linux-like terminal interface, enabling users to run Linux utilities, install packages, and perform a variety of tasks typically associated with a Linux environment. Key Features: Terminal Emulator: Termux...

Terminator

Terminator is an open source terminal emulator application for Linux/UNIX operating systems. It provides a way to access the UNIX shell and run command-line programs and shell scripts. Some key features of Terminator include:Ability to split the window horizontally or vertically into multiple terminal panels. You can customize...

Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is a modern, versatile, and user-friendly terminal emulator application designed specifically for the Windows command-line interface. Released in 2019 by Microsoft, it comes pre-installed in Windows 11 and is available to download separately for Windows 10.Windows Terminal provides numerous major improvements over the traditional Windows console host. Key highlights include...

PowerShell

PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and an associated scripting language. It provides comprehensive control and automation capabilities for Windows administrators and power users.Key features and capabilities of PowerShell include:Powerful scripting language integrated with the .NET Framework...

Tabby Terminal

Tabby Terminal is a feature-rich, open-source terminal emulator that aims to provide a modern and user-friendly alternative to the default terminal app on Windows, Mac and Linux. It is compatible with most common Unix shells like zsh, bash etc.Some key features and highlights of Tabby Terminal include:Support for...

ConEmu

ConEmu is a feature-rich terminal emulator and console enhancer for Windows. It provides multiple tabs and splits in a single window, allowing you to run and switch between multiple console applications. Some key features of ConEmu:Customizable themes and appearance with fonts, colors, background image, transparency etc.Tabbed interface to...

Fig Terminal

Fig is a popular open source terminal emulator for Linux and Windows that emphasizes aesthetics without compromising on functionality. Some key features of Fig include:GPU-accelerated text rendering using DirectX or OpenGL results in sharp, clear text at all font sizes.Highly customizable themes allow adjusting colors, background transparency, cursor...

Konsole

Konsole is a powerful and customizable terminal emulator for the KDE desktop environment on Linux operating systems. It provides access to the UNIX shell and enables running command-line programs, tools, and scripts.Some key features of Konsole include:Multiple tabbed terminalsSplit screen viewCustomizable appearance including fonts, color schemes, transparencyConfigurable keyboard...

ConnectBot

ConnectBot is a popular open-source SSH and telnet client for the Android operating system. It enables users to securely connect to Linux or Unix servers, routers, switches, and other devices from their Android smartphones or tablets in order to manage them remotely.Some of the key features of ConnectBot include...

Alacritty

Alacritty is an open-source, cross-platform terminal emulator written in Rust. It uses OpenGL for hardware-accelerated rendering, allowing it to achieve high performance and low latency. Some key features of Alacritty include:Fast terminal rendering thanks to the use of GPU accelerationExcellent performance for workflows involving a large amount of textCompatible...

LXTerminal

LXTerminal is a fast, lightweight, and user-friendly terminal emulator for Linux systems. It is designed to use minimal system resources while still providing a functional and intuitive terminal environment.Some key features of LXTerminal include:Low memory and CPU usage - ideal for older hardware or resource-constrained systemsTabbed interface for...

Kitty terminal

Kitty is a terminal emulator that prioritizes speed, efficiency, and modern features. Some key aspects of Kitty:It utilizes GPU rendering to draw text, making everything from scrolling to opening new tabs much faster than traditional terminals.Supports Unicode and emoji out of the box with font ligatures for readability...

Blink Shell

Blink Shell is an SSH client application designed specifically for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. It provides secure command line interface access to remote servers over SSH (Secure Shell).Some of the key features of Blink Shell include:Intuitive terminal interface optimized for touchscreensSupport for public/private key authenticationFully...

Cool Retro Term

Cool Retro Term is a free, open source terminal emulator with a retro graphical user interface. It mimics the aesthetics of old cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals commonly associated with early personal computers of the 70s, 80s and 90s.Despite the old-school visual style, Cool Retro Term has support for...

Wave Terminal

Wave Terminal is a feature-rich terminal emulator and command-line interface (CLI) tool for Windows, Mac and Linux. It aims to provide a fast, lightweight and intuitive terminal experience with advanced capabilities for power users.Some of the key features of Wave Terminal include:Multiple tabs and split panes for running...

Android Terminal Emulator

Android Terminal Emulator is a powerful terminal emulator and Linux command line shell for Android. It allows Android users to access a Linux terminal environment directly on their Android device.Some key features of Android Terminal Emulator include:Full Linux terminal emulation with support for running shell commands and scriptsSSH...

Extraterm

Extraterm is a terminal emulator application designed for programmers, developers, and power users who work in the command line frequently. It aims to improve workflow efficiency with a clean and minimal interface that gets out of the user's way.Some of the key features of Extraterm include:Spatial arrangement of...

QTerminal

QTerminal is a popular open-source terminal emulator for Linux desktop environments. It aims to provide a lightweight and customizable terminal experience with some key features:Multiple tab support for managing multiple terminal sessionsExtensive customization options including fonts, colors, keyboard shortcuts, layouts, etc.Integration with system desktop notifications for long running...

Cathode

Cathode is an open-source, modern terminal emulator for macOS that focuses on aesthetics, performance, and seamless integration with the macOS ecosystem. Developed by the creators of ITerm2, Cathode builds on years of terminal emulation experience to provide Mac users with a beautifully designed yet powerful terminal application.Some key features...

Black Box

Black Box is an open-source flight data analysis and animation tool for Linux. It enables detailed analysis of recorded flight data by transforming raw flight recorder files into animated replays showing the flight in a 3D environment.Key features of Black Box include:Decoding and analysis of flight data from...

Sakura

Sakura is a free, open source raster graphics editor for Microsoft Windows. It is designed to provide basic drawing and painting functionality similar to Microsoft Paint, but with some additional features.Some key features of Sakura include:Support for layers and layer managementAnti-aliased drawingCustomizable brushes with options for opacity, size...

MATE Terminal

MATE Terminal is a terminal emulator application designed for use with the MATE desktop environment on Linux systems. It provides users with access to a text-based command-line interface (shell) such as Bash, Zsh, Fish etc. that allows executing commands and automating tasks on Linux.As a terminal emulator, MATE Terminal...

Deepin Terminal

Deepin Terminal is a terminal emulator application developed by Deepin Technology and included with the Deepin Linux distribution. It provides a graphical user interface to access the Linux shell and run commands.Some key features of Deepin Terminal include:Tabbed interface to open multiple terminal sessionsCustomizable themes and background image...

Pantheon Terminal

Pantheon Terminal is a fast and lightweight terminal emulator designed for the Pantheon desktop environment on elementary OS. It focuses on providing a simple, easy-to-use interface while still allowing powerful terminal capabilities.Some key features of Pantheon Terminal include:Minimal and stylish UI that integrates well into the Pantheon desktopSupport...

TTwin 4

TTwin 4 is a file transfer utility software designed for Windows operating systems. It provides a simple and easy way for Windows users to transfer large files and folders over the internet.Some key features of TTwin 4 include:Uses peer-to-peer connections for transferring files which allows for fast transfer speedsNo file...

Z/Scope

z/Scope is an enterprise-grade mainframe integration and automation platform used by organizations to enable better integration, automation, and modernization of IBM Z environments. It provides a comprehensive set of capabilities to access mainframe applications, data, jobs, transactions, and systems from a single, centralized interface.Key capabilities and benefits of...

Rxvt-unicode

rxvt-unicode (also known as urxvt) is a highly customizable terminal emulator for the X Window System. It is a fork of the popular rxvt terminal emulator, with added support for Unicode and other features.Some of the key features of rxvt-unicode include:Unicode support, allowing you to display and input...

FbTerm

FbTerm is a free and open source terminal emulator for Linux systems. It is designed to be lightweight, fast, and highly customizable compared to other popular terminal emulators.Some key features of FbTerm include:Tabbed interface - Supports multiple tabs to run different terminal sessions.Theming - Comes with several...

ROXTerm

ROXTerm is a powerful and customizable terminal emulator for Linux. It includes the following key features:Tabbed interface allowing multiple terminal sessions in one windowSplit tabs horizontally or vertically for flexible terminal layoutsCustomizable keyboard shortcuts for opening new tabs, switching tabs, etc.Support for Unicode and UTF-8 character encodingLight and...

FireCMD

FireCMD is a free and open-source terminal emulator and command-line interface for Windows. It is designed to be lightweight, customizable, and portable so you can take it with you on a USB drive.Some key features of FireCMD include:Multiple tabbed interfaces so you can have multiple command prompts openText...

Evilvte

evilvte is an open-source virtual terminal emulator for Linux and other UNIX-like operating systems. It is designed to be lightweight, fast, and customizable.Some key features of evilvte include:Written in C and uses GTK+ for the graphical interfaceSupports common terminal emulation standards like VT520/VT100Permits customizing colors, fonts...

Final Term

Final Term is a powerful terminal emulator and SSH client application for Android. It provides full Linux terminal emulation with support for the bash shell and most common Linux commands and utilities out of the box.Key features of Final Term include:Full Linux terminal emulation and SSH clientES File...

Svte

SVTE (Short for Security Vulnerability Testing Environment) is an open-source penetration testing and vulnerability scanning automation tool. It provides a framework to quickly build security testing environments that integrate various open-source security tools and scripts.Some key features and capabilities of SVTE include:Automated scanning and identification of vulnerabilities across...

Terminology

Terminology is a free and open-source terminology management tool developed by the Translation Project at Free Software Foundation. It allows users to store, organize, search, and translate terms efficiently.Some of the key features of Terminology include:Lightweight and fast interfaceSupport for storing terms in multiple languagesPowerful search and filtering...

LilyTerm

LilyTerm is a terminal emulator for Linux that focuses on simplicity, speed and low resource usage. Some key features of LilyTerm include:Minimalist and lightweight design using GTK+3Multiple tabbed windows for managing multiple terminal sessionsKeyboard shortcuts for common actions like new tab, close tab, copy/paste etc.Automatic profile...

Mrxvt

mrxvt is a fork of the rxvt terminal emulator for X11 environments. It is intended to be a lightweight and high-performance alternative to rxvt and other terminal emulators.Some of the key features of mrxvt include:Tabbed interface - allows multiple terminal sessions to be accessed through tabsTransparency and background...