Windows Terminal

Name: Windows Terminal
Brand: Windows Terminal

Modern, open-source terminal application for Windows

softwareOS & Utilities Terminal Command LineWindows

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Our Verdict

Best for

Windows developers

Skip if

Non-Windows users

What is Windows Terminal?

Windows Terminal is Microsoft's modern, open-source terminal application for command-line users. It provides multiple tabs and panes, a GPU-accelerated text rendering engine, and support for shells such as Command Prompt, PowerShell and WSL. Highly customizable through JSON settings, it supports themes, custom key bindings, background images and per-shell profiles, with full Unicode and UTF-8 character support.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source✅ Yes

github stars104,335

api available❌ No

support optionsOnline Documentation, Community Forums

key integrationsGit, Python, Bash

primary languageC++

Key Features of Windows Terminal

Multiple tabs and split panes in a single window.

GPU-accelerated text rendering for smooth performance.

Supports Command Prompt, PowerShell, WSL and other shells via profiles.

Full Unicode and UTF-8 support, including CJK characters and emoji.

Extensive customization through JSON settings, themes and key bindings.

Custom background images and acrylic transparency effects.

Use Cases for Windows Terminal

Daily development shell

Run PowerShell, CMD and WSL side-by-side in tabs and panes.

Customized terminal

Theme and configure the terminal to match your workflow.

Pros & Cons of Windows Terminal

Pros

Free and open-source from Microsoft
Modern tabs, panes and GPU rendering
Deep customization via settings
First-class WSL and PowerShell support

Cons

Windows-only
Configuration is JSON-based rather than GUI
Can be resource-heavy with many tabs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows Terminal free?

Yes, it is free and open-source, maintained by Microsoft.

Does it support WSL?

Yes, it has first-class support for WSL, PowerShell and Command Prompt.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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