Terminator
Terminator is an open source terminal emulator for Linux/UNIX operating systems. It supports multiple terminal sessions in one window and features such as custom keyboard shortcuts, rearrangeable panels, and saving layouts.
Terminator: Open Source Terminal Emulator
Terminator is an open source terminal emulator for Linux/UNIX operating systems. It supports multiple terminal sessions in one window and features such as custom keyboard shortcuts, rearrangeable panels, and saving layouts.
What is 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 the arrangement of panels.
- Supports custom keyboard shortcuts for navigating between panels or opening new ones.
- Saves different window layouts and terminal sessions for easy access later.
- Searchable command history and auto-completion support.
- Integration with outside applications via DBus interface.
- Extensive configuration options for tweaking appearance, shortcuts, etc.
- Written in Python and licensed under GNU GPL v2, so completely free and open source.
Terminator aims to produce a usable and practical terminal for the Linux desktop. Its focus on multiple terminals in one window makes it efficient for multitasking and monitoring applications across several shell prompts or for keeping servers/services separate from an interactive shell. The large collection of shortcuts and configuration options allow heavy terminal users to customize it to their workflows.
Terminator Features
Features
- Supports multiple terminal sessions in one window
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Rearrangeable panels
- Saves layouts
- Open source
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
Lightweight and fast
Highly customizable
Supports many languages and encodings
Active development community
Cons
Less features than some commercial emulators
Steeper learning curve than simple terminals
Configuration can be complex for new users
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review3.9
★
★
★
★
★
47 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.3
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.6
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
4.9
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
2.7
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.9
Recent Reviews
Jordan Young
May 20, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Indispensable for Power Users and Sysadmins
As someone who lives in the terminal, Terminator has completely transformed my workflow. The ability to split my terminal window into multiple panes and arrange them however I want is a game-changer for monitoring logs, running builds, and managing servers …
David Martin
May 12, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Indispensable for my daily workflow
As a system administrator, Terminator has become my primary terminal. The ability to split my window into multiple panes and arrange them exactly how I need is a game-changer, allowing me to monitor logs, run commands, and edit configs all …
David Anderson
May 08, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful but quirky terminal emulator
Terminator is fantastic for organizing multiple terminal sessions in a single window, and the ability to save layouts is a huge productivity boost. However, it sometimes feels clunky, with occasional lag when resizing panes, and the configuration can be confusing …
Quinn Johnson
May 08, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Great Features, Frustratingly Unstable
The idea behind Terminator is fantastic, and when it works, the multi-panel layout is a game-changer for my workflow. However, I've experienced persistent crashes and random freezes, especially when using the 'broadcast' feature, which forces me to restart my sessions …
David Johnson
May 07, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Perfect for multi-tasking developers
As a developer who constantly juggles multiple servers and local processes, Terminator has been a game-changer. I love being able to split my terminal window into multiple panes and arrange them exactly how I need. The keyboard shortcuts are intuitive …
Rating Distribution
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