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
★
★
★
★
★
54 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.4
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.6
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
4.9
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
2.7
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.9
Recent Reviews
Emma Smith
May 28, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful Features, Frustrating Experience
While Terminator's multi-panel layout and keyboard shortcuts are impressive, I found the overall experience incredibly frustrating. The configuration is unintuitive and poorly documented, making simple tasks like setting up custom layouts a headache. Basic features like reliable scrolling and consistent …
Reese Martin
May 28, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
My new favorite terminal for multitasking
Terminator has completely changed how I manage my workflow. I can now have multiple SSH sessions, a log tail, and a build process all visible in one window without any fuss. The ability to drag and drop panels to resize …
Marcus Wright
May 25, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Game-Changer for Terminal Productivity
Terminator has completely transformed how I manage my command-line workflow. I love being able to split my terminal window into multiple panes, each running different sessions, which saves me from cluttering my desktop with dozens of individual windows. The ability …
Skyler Wilson
May 24, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Lifesaver for Managing Multiple Terminal Sessions
Terminator has become an indispensable tool for my daily workflow on Linux. Being able to split a single window into multiple resizable terminals makes managing servers and running parallel tasks incredibly efficient. The custom keyboard shortcuts are a huge time-saver, …
Olivia Chen
May 22, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Great Concept, Unreliable Execution
Terminator's promise of multiple terminals in one window is fantastic in theory, but the reality has been frustrating. The software frequently crashes when rearranging panels, and half the advertised keyboard shortcuts just don't work on my Ubuntu setup. While it's …
Rating Distribution
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