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iTerm2

iTerm2

A free, open source replacement for macOS Terminal built for power users.

softwareOS & Utilitiesterminalmacosdeveloper tools
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Our Verdict

Best for

Developers who want a free, deeply customizable terminal replacement for macOS

Skip if

You need a terminal app for Windows or Linux

What is iTerm2?

iTerm2 is a free, open source terminal emulator for macOS, built as a replacement for Apple's Terminal app and the successor to the original iTerm. It runs on Macs with macOS 12.4 or newer and is released under the GPL v2 license with its source code available on GitHub. The app is aimed at people who spend a lot of time at the command line, offering split panes, a hotkey window, search with regular expressions, autocomplete, Instant Replay to scroll back through cleared terminal output, tagged profiles, triggers, shell integration, inline image display, and a built-in password manager, among many other configuration options.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App
open source✅ Yes
api available❌ No
support optionsBug tracker, discussion forum, and email contact

Key Features of iTerm2

Divides a single tab into multiple split panes, each running its own session
Registers a global hotkey that brings iTerm2 to the foreground from any application
Includes Instant Replay to travel back and recover text that has scrolled away or been cleared
Provides shell integration that recognizes prompts, commands, hosts, and working directories
Displays inline images and animated GIFs directly in the terminal window
Stores passwords securely in the macOS keychain with a built-in password manager
Supports triggers that run automated actions when terminal output matches a regex pattern
Offers global search across multiple open tabs at once

Use Cases for iTerm2

1

Run multiple sessions in one tab

Use split panes to divide a single tab into multiple sessions, each showing a different shell or SSH connection at once.

2

Recover accidentally cleared output

Instant Replay lets you travel back in time to view and recover terminal text that has scrolled away or been cleared.

3

Jump to the terminal from any app

Register a global hotkey that brings iTerm2 to the foreground instantly, even while working in another application.

4

Automate responses to terminal output

Set up triggers that watch for regex patterns in terminal output and automatically run an action, such as flagging a build warning.

Pros & Cons of iTerm2

Pros

  • Completely free and open source
  • Extremely deep customization and power-user features
  • Actively maintained with GPL-licensed source on GitHub
  • Long track record as the standard macOS Terminal replacement

Cons

  • macOS only, no Windows or Linux version
  • No paid support tier since it is a volunteer-run open source project
  • Requires macOS 12.4 or newer, so older Macs cannot run the latest version

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iTerm2 free?

Yes, iTerm2 is free, open source software licensed under GPL v2, with its source code available on GitHub.

What macOS version does iTerm2 require?

iTerm2 works on Macs with macOS 12.4 or newer.

Who maintains iTerm2?

iTerm2 was created by George Nachman and is maintained as an open source project with a public bug tracker and discussion forum.

Can iTerm2 store passwords?

Yes, iTerm2 includes a built-in password manager that securely stores passwords in the macOS keychain.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Free

$0

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About the Product

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Platforms
Mac
Target AudienceDevelopers and power users who spend a lot of time in the terminal

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