psmux
psmux: A capable free Windows multiplexer for persistent, pane-based terminal workflows. Ranked #24 of 29 in Terminal Multiplexers by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free Windows-native multiplexing.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree Windows-native multiplexing
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Persistence scopeLocal
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Persistent sessions with detachable, reattachable workflows
- tmux-compatible commands and configuration files
- Panes, layouts, mouse controls, floating panes, and shell support
Where it doesn't
- Windows-only, with no macOS or Linux platform support
- Session persistence is local rather than hosted
- Multiple installation routes require a distribution choice
Our verdict on psmux
psmux is an open-source terminal multiplexer for Windows users who manage several command-line workflows at once. Built in Rust on Windows ConPTY, it supports PowerShell, cmd.exe, Bash, WSL, Nushell, and Windows Terminal without requiring WSL, Cygwin, or MSYS2. Its core audience is developers, administrators, and other terminal users who want detachable sessions, organized panes, and multiple terminal windows on Windows 10 or 11.
The feature set goes beyond basic pane splitting. psmux provides horizontal and vertical splits, clickable status-bar tabs, five built-in layouts, mouse controls for focus, resizing, scrolling, and text selection, plus floating panes and cross-session pane transfer. tmux-compatible commands and configuration files can help users familiar with tmux carry established workflows into a Windows-native environment. Claude Code agent-team pane spawning is also supported, adding a focused workflow for that use case.
There is no subscription layer to evaluate: psmux is free and open source. Installation is available through WinGet, Cargo, Scoop, Chocolatey, GitHub Releases, or source, giving Windows users several ways to obtain it. The main boundary is platform scope: persistence is local, and the product is designed for Windows rather than as a hosted or cross-platform workspace. Choose psmux if Windows-native terminal management, tmux compatibility, and flexible pane organization are priorities. Choose another option if macOS or Linux support, remote shared sessions, or a hosted service model is central to your workflow.
Your product? Our editors can test psmux in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
psmux pricing
psmux fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Persistence scope | Local |
| Session synchronization | Not verified |
| Collaboration features | Not verified |
| Custom pane layouts | Yes |
| Plugins or extensions | Yes |
| Access platforms | Windows 10/11; PowerShell 7+; cmd.exe; Bash; WSL; Nushell; Windows Terminal |
| Maximum sessions | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | psmux.pages.dev |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to psmux
- ZellijA free, open-source multiplexer with layouts, plugins, persistence, and collaboration.9.4
- tmuxA 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
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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