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Tilix alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Tilix: slow development in recent years, and still on GTK 3. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Tilix, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Terminator currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Terminator logoTerminatorOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 366.5
2Ptyxis logoPtyxisOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 362.6
3kitty logokittyOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS4 of 459.6
4Zellij logoZellijOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 457.2
5Guake logoGuakeOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 355.3
  1. Terminator logo

    1. TerminatorTop pick

    Best for: Sysadmins who want many terminals in a grid and broadcast typing

    Open sourceLinux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Tilix

    Long-running grid terminal with broadcast input and plugins.

    Pros

    • Grid layouts saved for reuse
    • Broadcast input to groups of terminals
    • Plugins for custom commands and logging

    Cons

    • Dated look
    • Python and GTK 3 make startup slower
    • Linux and Unix only
    Visit Terminator Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Terminator a good Tilix alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Concept
    Multiple terminals in one window
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gnome-terminator.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Started by Chris Jones in 2007
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gnome-terminator.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Ptyxis logo

    2. Ptyxis

    Best for: Linux users who work in Toolbox, Distrobox or Podman containers

    Open sourceLinux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Tilix

    Modern GTK 4 terminal for GNOME with container support.

    Pros

    • Opens tabs directly inside containers
    • Profiles and fuller preferences than GNOME Console
    • Clean GNOME design with good accessibility

    Cons

    • Linux only
    • No split panes
    • Fewer power-user features than kitty or WezTerm
    Visit Ptyxis Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ptyxis a good Tilix alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026devsuite.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Container support
    Toolbox, Distrobox, Podman, JHBuild
    Checked Oct 25, 2026devsuite.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Accessibility
    GTK 4 accessibility in VTE
    Checked Oct 25, 2026devsuite.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. kitty logo

    3. kitty

    Best for: Linux and Mac users who want a fast, scriptable terminal with built-in tiling

    Open sourceLinux, macOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Tilix

    Built-in tiling layouts with GPU rendering.

    Pros

    • Very fast GPU rendering with low latency
    • Built-in tabs, splits and layouts reduce the need for tmux
    • Kittens and remote control make it highly scriptable

    Cons

    • No Windows support
    • Config file only, no settings UI
    • Opinionated defaults and design decisions
    Visit kitty Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is kitty a good Tilix alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Rendering
    GPU with SIMD instructions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, BSDs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensions
    Kittens written in Python
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Zellij logo

    4. Zellij

    Best for: People who want tmux-style sessions with less configuration and visible shortcuts

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Tilix

    Terminal workspace with panes and layouts that works in any terminal.

    Pros

    • On-screen hints make shortcuts discoverable
    • Floating and stacked panes, layouts and session resurrection
    • Plugins in any language that compiles to WebAssembly

    Cons

    • Heavier than tmux
    • Default keybindings can clash with other programs
    • Smaller ecosystem than tmux
    Visit Zellij Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zellij a good Tilix alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Description
    Terminal workspace with batteries included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zellij.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Any language compiling to WebAssembly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zellij.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Pane types
    Floating and stacked panes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zellij.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Guake logo

    5. Guake

    Best for: GNOME users who want a terminal that drops down on a hotkey

    Open sourceLinux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Tilix

    Dedicated drop-down terminal for GNOME.

    Pros

    • Always one keystroke away
    • Tabs, splits and multi-monitor support
    • Graphical preferences

    Cons

    • Hotkeys can be awkward on Wayland
    • Linux only
    • Many terminals now include a similar quick mode
    Visit Guake Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Guake a good Tilix alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Concept
    Top-down terminal inspired by Quake
    Checked Oct 25, 2026guake.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Multi-monitor
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026guake.github.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Tilix alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Terminator logo

Best Tilix alternative for most people

Terminator

Long-running grid terminal with broadcast input and plugins.

Ptyxis logo

Best Tilix alternative for a free option

Ptyxis

Modern GTK 4 terminal for GNOME with container support.

kitty logo

Best Tilix alternative for open source

kitty

Built-in tiling layouts with GPU rendering.

Zellij logo

Best Tilix alternative for Mac

Zellij

Terminal workspace with panes and layouts that works in any terminal.

Zellij logo

Best Tilix alternative for Windows

Zellij

Terminal workspace with panes and layouts that works in any terminal.

Guake logo

Best Tilix alternative for Linux

Guake

Dedicated drop-down terminal for GNOME.

Tilix alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Tilix?

Terminator ranks first right now. Long-running grid terminal with broadcast input and plugins. Ptyxis and kitty follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Tilix?

Yes. Terminator (open source), Ptyxis (open source), kitty (open source) and Zellij (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Tilix?

Yes: Terminator, Ptyxis, kitty and Zellij, plus 1 more in the list above.

Which Tilix alternatives work on Linux?

Terminator, Ptyxis, kitty, Zellij and Guake run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Tilix?

The complaints we hear most: slow development in recent years; still on GTK 3; linux only.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Tilix, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.