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 Review3.8
★
★
★
★
★
8 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.3
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.5
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
5.0
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
2.6
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.8
Recent Reviews
Morgan Thomas
Apr 09, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Decent features let down by bugs and neglect
The core concept of Terminator is exactly what I need: tabbed and tiled terminals in a single window. The layout management and keyboard shortcuts are great for workflow, and the customization is deep. However, it's frequently buggy; tabs and windows …
Riley Moore
Apr 09, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Lifesaver for Terminal Juggling
Terminator has completely changed how I work by allowing me to split my terminal window into multiple panes and tabs effortlessly. The ability to save and load custom layouts means I can quickly set up my development environment exactly how …
Anna King
Apr 07, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Must-Have for Terminal Power Users
As a developer constantly juggling multiple SSH sessions and local terminals, Terminator has become indispensable. The ability to split my window into rearrangeable panels and set up custom keyboard shortcuts saves me hours each week. It's stable, highly configurable, and …
Michael White
Apr 05, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Too much tinkering for basic terminal work
The idea of multiple terminals in one window is great, but Terminator is clunky and unreliable. I've had sessions crash for no reason, losing work, and the configuration feels unintuitive. For a tool that's supposed to streamline workflow, it ends …
M
Michael Miller
Apr 02, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Must-Have for Any Serious Linux User
Terminator has completely transformed how I manage terminal sessions. The ability to split windows and arrange panels effortlessly saves me so much time when multitasking between servers and local tasks. Its highly customizable keyboard shortcuts and layout saving make it …
Rating Distribution
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