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Tabby

Free#1 of 40 in Terminal EmulatorsSSH Clients

Tabby: A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems. Ranked #1 of 40 in Terminal Emulators by our editors (9.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for power users needing SSH and extensive automation.

9.4/10Editor score
Visit Tabby
Tabby9.4 Visit Tabby

At a glance

  • Editor score
    9.4 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Power users needing SSH and extensive automation
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Split panes
    Yes
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
Tabby screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Integrated SSH includes jump hosts, forwarding, and connection management
    • Nested split panes, GPU rendering, and extensive customization
    • Documented TypeScript plugin API supports automation-focused extensions

  • Where it doesn't

    • Session sync depends on a plugin using Gist or Gitee
    • Its broad feature set may exceed simple local-shell needs
    • The web application is available through self-hosting

Our verdict on Tabby

Tabby is an open-source terminal emulator for developers and system administrators who work across local shells, remote servers, serial connections, and Telnet. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and also offers a self-hosted web application. Local shell support includes PowerShell, WSL, Git Bash, Cygwin, MSYS2, Cmder, and CMD, giving users one interface for several command-line environments. Split panes, tabs, profiles, configurable shortcuts, themes, and font ligatures support both daily terminal work and more tailored workflows.

Its strongest area is the combination of terminal access and remote-session tooling. The integrated SSH client includes a connection manager, jump hosts, agent forwarding, X11 forwarding, and port forwarding. SSH sessions can also use SFTP and Zmodem for file transfers, while the serial terminal provides saved connections and configurable input/output modes. The plugin system adds a documented TypeScript API, including automation-oriented plugins, so Tabby can be extended beyond its built-in workflows. An encrypted container stores SSH secrets and configuration, adding focused protection for connection data.

Tabby suits users who want one customizable application for local development, infrastructure access, and terminal automation rather than a minimal shell window. Its platform coverage, GPU acceleration, nested panes, shell integrations, and extension model make it a capable fit for complex terminal routines. Session synchronization is provided through the listed sync-config plugin, which syncs configuration to Gist or Gitee rather than through a built-in hosted account service. Users who prefer a simple local terminal or do not want to manage plugin-based synchronization may prefer a narrower tool; users who need SSH, multiple shell environments, file transfer, and automation in one application should consider Tabby.

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

Tabby pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on tabby.sh

Tabby fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromFree
Supported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux
Split panesYes
Session syncYes
GPU accelerationYes
Scripting APIYes
SSH supportYes
DeploymentDesktop, Self-hosted
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
Integrations10 integrations: PowerShell, WSL, Git Bash, Cygwin, MSYS2, Cmder …
PricingFree plan
Websitetabby.sh
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Tabby integrations

Tabby lists 10 integrations on its own site.

  • PowerShell
  • WSL
  • Git Bash
  • Cygwin
  • MSYS2
  • Cmder
  • CMD
  • SFTP
  • Zmodem
  • Telnet

Alternatives to Tabby

See all Tabby alternatives →

Tabby vs the competition

Compare Tabby with any tool side by side →

Also Ranked In

Tabby is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — Tabby 9.4/10

Tabby is listed in our Terminal Emulators directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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