M

mtm

Free#26 of 29 in Terminal MultiplexersTouch Bar Apps

mtm: A focused terminal splitter for users who want essential panes without workspace extras. Ranked #26 of 29 in Terminal Multiplexers by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for minimal Unix pane splitting.

6.5/10★★★☆☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  6.5 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Minimal Unix pane splitting
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Free and open source for Unix-like command-line environments
  • Provides pane splitting, directional navigation, scrolling, and resizing
  • Supports compile-time keybinding customization and ANSI terminal emulation

• Where it doesn't

  • Requires building locally from source with ncurses or compatible curses
  • Does not provide verified persistence or collaboration features
  • Its scope does not extend to broader integrations or feature-heavy workspaces

Our verdict on mtm

mtm, the Micro Terminal Multiplexer, is a small open-source tool for Unix-like command-line environments. It divides one terminal into multiple virtual terminals, allowing users to move directionally between them, return to the previously focused terminal, close focused terminals, redraw the screen, and scroll output. It is aimed at developers, system administrators, and command-line users who want straightforward pane splitting on Linux or macOS without a larger workspace model.

The feature set stays focused on core terminal control. mtm provides classic ANSI terminal emulation, optional mtm, mtm-256color, and mtm-noutf terminfo entries, and terminal resizing when supported by the ncursesw configuration. Users can customize the command prefix and keybindings at compile time. This makes it suitable for a deliberately minimal workflow, while users who need persistent sessions, collaboration, or broader integrations should choose a more feature-heavy multiplexer.

There is no paid tier to compare: mtm is free and open source. The published description says it is built locally from source with ncurses or compatible curses implementations, so setup is oriented toward users comfortable with Unix-like build environments rather than point-and-click installation. Linux and macOS are the listed platforms, with macOS requiring build configuration. Choose mtm when essential virtual-terminal splitting and a small scope are the priority; choose an alternative when session persistence, shared workflows, or an expanded ecosystem matter more.

Your product? Our editors can test mtm in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

mtm pricing

mtm fact sheet

Alternatives to mtm

• ZellijA free, open-source multiplexer with layouts, plugins, persistence, and collaboration.9.4
• TtmuxA free, scriptable way to manage persistent local terminal sessions across Unix platforms.9.2
• muxelA free, open-source workspace for managing multiple local and remote coding sessions.9.0

See all mtm alternatives →

Also Ranked In

mtm is ranked in 2 of our directories.

• #8Touch Bar Apps8 tools ranked→

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Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update