Best Cmder Alternatives in 2026
The top Cmder alternatives are Tabby, Windows Terminal and iTerm2: 15 terminal emulators our editors would look at instead of Cmder, in our ranking order.
Cmder: A free, portable Windows terminal suite with tabs, shells, Git, aliases, and automation. Where it falls short: supports windows rather than multiple desktop platforms.
Switching from Cmder? For most terminal emulators buyers the best Cmder alternative is Tabby, built for power users needing SSH and extensive automation. On a budget, Warp starts at $18/mo.
Why People Look for a Cmder Alternative
- Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
- Git for Windows is bundled with the Full edition
- ConEmu-based interface may be more than users need for basic shells
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallTabby9.4
Power users needing SSH and extensive automation
Visit Tabby - Lowest priceWarp8.7
Paid plans from $18/mo
Visit Warp - Best free optionTabby9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Tabby
All 15 Cmder Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forPower users needing SSH and extensive automation
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.8
A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems.
- Session sync
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Tabby -
Best forWindows users with multiple shell environments
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.8
A free, open-source Windows terminal with tabs, panes, profiles, and automation.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft -
Best forMac users wanting automation and rich session management
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.8
A capable Mac terminal with advanced panes, profiles, session restoration, and automation.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
9.2/10★★★★★Visit iTerm2 -
Best forLinux and macOS power users needing SSH tooling
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.8
A programmable terminal with strong SSH workflows, graphics, layouts, and session control.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit kitty -
Best forFree SSH and network-session management
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.8
A free, open-source terminal client with broad SSH and network-session coverage.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit PuTTY -
Best forTeams wanting collaboration and AI terminal workflows
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.8
A broad terminal workspace for developers who want AI, collaboration, and session sync.
- Session sync
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Warp -
Best forWindows administrators managing many protocols
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.8
A broad Windows terminal suite with free personal use and paid team features.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit MobaXterm -
Best forMinimalist cross-platform users prioritizing fast rendering
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.8
A focused, open-source terminal with GPU rendering and strong configuration options.
- GPU acceleration
- Scripting API
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Alacritty -
Best forUsers wanting structured panes and terminal monitoring
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.8
A free, open-source terminal with panes, saved layouts, monitoring, and scripting.
- Split panes
- SSH support
- Scripting API
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best formacOS and Linux users wanting a modern GPU terminal
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.8
A free, open-source GPU terminal with strong macOS and Linux workflows.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Ghostty -
Best forWindows users needing configurable panes and automation
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.8
A free, open-source Windows terminal for configurable layouts and command automation.
- Split panes
- SSH support
- Scripting API
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit ConEmu -
Best forLinux users wanting a mature standard desktop terminal
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.8
A free, configurable Linux terminal with tabs, profiles, SSH, and GNU Screen support.
- SSH support
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit GNOME Terminal -
Best forLinux users wanting a straightforward tabbed terminal
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.8
A focused, free Linux terminal with tabs and practical session visibility.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit GNOME Console -
Best forLinux users who prefer a lightweight drop-down terminal
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.8
A focused, free Linux terminal with drop-down access, tabs, panes, and automation.
- Split panes
- Scripting API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forLinux users wanting a simple configurable terminal
- Better than Cmder:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.8
A focused, configurable Linux terminal with tabs, search, and unlimited scrollback.
- Scripting API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Xfce Terminal
Cmder Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Cmder?
Tabby: #1 in our Terminal Emulators ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems.
Is there a free alternative to Cmder?
Yes. Tabby, Windows Terminal, iTerm2, kitty and PuTTY have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Cmder alternatives?
Supports Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms; Git for Windows is bundled with the Full edition; ConEmu-based interface may be more than users need for basic shells.
How do I switch from Cmder?
Export your data from Cmder (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cmder.
How to Switch from Cmder
- Export your data from Cmder (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cmder.
Cmder vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Split panes | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Cmder | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | 7.8 |
| 1 | Tabby | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Windows Terminal | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | iTerm2 | Yes | Free | macos | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | kitty | Free | Linux, macOS | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 5 | PuTTY | Yes | Free | Windows and Unix | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Warp | Yes | $18/mo | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | 8.7 |
| 7 | MobaXterm | Yes | Windows | 8.6 | ||
| 8 | Alacritty | Yes | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD | No | 8.5 |
| 9 | Konsole | Yes | Free | Linux, Windows, macOS | Yes | 8.4 |
| 10 | Ghostty | Yes | Free | macOS, Linux | Yes | 8.3 |
| 11 | ConEmu | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | 8.2 |
| 12 | GNOME Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 8.1 | |
| 13 | GNOME Console | Yes | Free | linux | 8.0 | |
| 14 | Yakuake | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Xfce Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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