Best Tabby Alternatives in 2026
The top Tabby alternatives are Windows Terminal, iTerm2 and kitty: 15 terminal emulators our editors would look at instead of Tabby, in our ranking order.
Tabby: A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems. Where it falls short: session sync depends on a plugin using gist or gitee.
Switching from Tabby? For most terminal emulators buyers the best Tabby alternative is Windows Terminal, built for windows users with multiple shell environments. On a budget, Warp starts at $18/mo.
Why People Look for a Tabby Alternative
- 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
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallWindows Terminal9.3
Windows users with multiple shell environments
Visit Windows Terminal - Lowest priceWarp8.7
Paid plans from $18/mo
Visit Warp - Best free optionWindows Terminal9.3
Has a free plan
Visit Windows Terminal
All 15 Tabby 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 forWindows users with multiple shell environments
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A focused, configurable Linux terminal with tabs, search, and unlimited scrollback.
- Scripting API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Xfce Terminal -
Best forDevelopers wanting a programmable cross-platform terminal
A deep, programmable terminal for developers who need panes, remote sessions, and graphics support.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit WezTerm
Tabby Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Tabby?
Windows Terminal: #2 in our Terminal Emulators ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A free, open-source Windows terminal with tabs, panes, profiles, and automation.
Is there a free alternative to Tabby?
Yes. Windows Terminal, iTerm2, kitty, PuTTY and Warp have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Tabby alternatives?
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.
How do I switch from Tabby?
Export your data from Tabby (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 Tabby.
How to Switch from Tabby
- Export your data from Tabby (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 Tabby.
Tabby vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Split panes | GPU acceleration | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tabby | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 1 | Windows Terminal | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | iTerm2 | Yes | Free | macos | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | kitty | Free | Linux, macOS | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | PuTTY | Yes | Free | Windows and Unix | 8.8 | ||
| 5 | Warp | Yes | $18/mo | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | MobaXterm | Yes | Windows | 8.6 | |||
| 7 | Alacritty | Yes | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD | No | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | Konsole | Yes | Free | Linux, Windows, macOS | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Ghostty | Yes | Free | macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 10 | ConEmu | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | GNOME Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 8.1 | ||
| 12 | GNOME Console | Yes | Free | linux | 8.0 | ||
| 13 | Yakuake | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Xfce Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 7.9 | ||
| 15 | WezTerm | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
- Tabby vs Windows Terminal
- Tabby vs iTerm2
- Tabby vs kitty
- Tabby vs Warp
- Tabby vs MobaXterm
- Tabby vs Alacritty
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update