Developer Tools
iTerm2
Terminal replacement for macOS.
What it is
iTerm2 replaces the macOS terminal with split panes, search, profiles and extensive configuration. It is the pragmatic upgrade path on macOS: everything the built-in terminal does, plus panes, search across scrollback and per-project profiles. It is macOS only, so it cannot be the team-wide standard in a mixed fleet.
iTerm2 pricing
iTerm2 does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Free.
Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-09-08. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.
Key features
Split panes
Divides a window into independent terminal sessions.
Searchable scrollback
Searches and annotates previous output within a session.
Profiles
Stores per-project shells, colours and startup commands.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Free and mature
- Split panes and session restore
- Deeply configurable
Where it falls short
- macOS only
- Configuration surface is large
- Interface is functional rather than modern
Who it is for
Mac users who spend real time in a terminal.
Pick it or skip it
Pick iTerm2 if
- Mac users who live in the terminal and want split panes, a hotkey window and shell integration for free
- Developers on macOS 12.4 or newer who want inline images and automatic profile switching per host
- Anyone who prefers GPL-licensed, community-maintained software over a paid terminal
Skip it if
- You are not on a Mac: iTerm2 is macOS only
- You run macOS older than 12.4
- You want a cross-platform terminal config you can carry to Linux or Windows
Our verdict
The long-standing default on macOS, and still free. Newer terminals win on polish, not capability.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does iTerm2 cost?
- iTerm2 is free to use. We verified this against the vendor's own page; see "What we checked" below for the date.
- Does iTerm2 have a free plan?
- Yes. iTerm2 is free to use at its base level.
- Who is iTerm2 best for?
- Mac users who spend real time in a terminal.
- What are the main drawbacks of iTerm2?
- The trade-offs we noted: macOS only; Configuration surface is large; Interface is functional rather than modern.
- When should you not use iTerm2?
- Skip iTerm2 if: You are not on a Mac: iTerm2 is macOS only; You run macOS older than 12.4; You want a cross-platform terminal config you can carry to Linux or Windows.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.No
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Open source, free — vendor page verifiedReviewed: 2026-09-08
- iTerm2 — Home ↗
Checked 2026-09-08 · Supports: GPL v2, free software, macOS 12.4 or newer
- iTerm2 — Features ↗
Checked 2026-09-08 · Supports: split panes, hotkey window, shell integration, inline images, captured output, automatic profile switching, password manager
Limit: Vendor pricing page was reviewed by an editor on this date; this record is not a ToolCompare benchmark. Prices and limits change.
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