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Head-to-head · Terminal Emulators

Windows Terminal vs MobaXterm

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Windows Terminal #2 in Terminal Emulators 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Microsoft
MobaXterm #7 in Terminal Emulators 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit MobaXterm

Windows Terminal leads on 0 checks, MobaXterm on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreWindows Terminal · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresWindows Terminal · 4 of 5

Windows Terminal scores higher on our rubric for terminal emulators: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

Windows Terminal is the better fit for windows users with multiple shell environments. MobaXterm is the better fit for windows administrators managing many protocols.

  • Windows Terminal fits best

    Windows users with multiple shell environments

  • MobaXterm fits best

    Windows administrators managing many protocols

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Side by side

Feature Windows Terminal 9.3/10 Visit ↗ MobaXterm 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.6
Ranking #2 in Terminal Emulators #7 in Terminal Emulators
Best for Windows users with multiple shell environments Windows administrators managing many protocols
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Community, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Windows Terminal 4/5 · MobaXterm 0/5
Split panes ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Session sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
GPU acceleration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Scripting API ✓ (best) Not checked yet
SSH support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Windows Windows
Our review
Pros
  • Hosts PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, Git Bash, and Azure Cloud Shell
  • Tabs, split panes, profiles, themes, shortcuts, and customizable backgrounds
  • GPU-accelerated rendering, SSH profiles, and wt.exe command-line automation
  • Broad protocol coverage, including SSH, RDP, VNC, SFTP and Serial
  • Embedded X server, graphical SFTP and SSH tunnel management
  • Saved sessions, multi-execution and portable or installer versions
Cons
  • Runs on Windows rather than across multiple operating systems
  • Its value depends on working primarily with command-line tools
  • Profile and layout customization may require workflow configuration
  • Windows is the only supported platform
  • Home Edition is limited to personal use
  • Team sharing and shared session files require Professional Edition
Our verdict

Windows Terminal is Microsoft’s open-source terminal application for running command-line shells and applications on Windows. It is aimed at users who move between PowerShell, Command Prompt, Windows Subsystem for Linux distributions,…

Read the review →

MobaXterm is a Windows desktop application for programmers, system administrators, developers and webmasters managing remote Unix/Linux and Windows systems. It brings a tabbed terminal, embedded Unix commands, an X server, remote desktop…

Read the review →
  1. Windows TerminalTerminal Emulators 9.3Free plan
  2. MobaXtermTerminal Emulators 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Windows Terminal — where it wins

    • Hosts PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, Git Bash, and Azure Cloud Shell
    • Tabs, split panes, profiles, themes, shortcuts, and customizable backgrounds
    • GPU-accelerated rendering, SSH profiles, and wt.exe command-line automation

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs on Windows rather than across multiple operating systems
    • Its value depends on working primarily with command-line tools
    • Profile and layout customization may require workflow configuration

  • MobaXterm — where it wins

    • Broad protocol coverage, including SSH, RDP, VNC, SFTP and Serial
    • Embedded X server, graphical SFTP and SSH tunnel management
    • Saved sessions, multi-execution and portable or installer versions

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows is the only supported platform
    • Home Edition is limited to personal use
    • Team sharing and shared session files require Professional Edition

More comparisons

All terminal emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update