WezTerm

GPU-accelerated cross-platform terminal and multiplexer, configured and scripted in Lua.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About WezTerm

WezTerm is a terminal emulator and multiplexer written in Rust by Wez Furlong. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows and the BSDs and is configured with a Lua file, which means settings can include logic, custom key bindings, event handlers and even status bar widgets. It includes tabs and split panes, and its built-in multiplexer can keep sessions running in a background server, connect to remote hosts over SSH and reattach later, similar to tmux. Other features include ligatures and font fallback, colour emoji, hundreds of bundled colour schemes, image protocols, quick select mode for grabbing text, serial port connections and hyperlinks. It is free and MIT licensed. The project is mostly a one-person effort, stable releases have been infrequent and many users run nightly builds, and the Lua-only configuration has a learning curve for people who prefer a settings window.

Best for: Developers who want one scriptable terminal and multiplexer across every OS.

What works

Same terminal and config on Linux, macOS and Windows
Built-in multiplexer with SSH domains
Lua configuration allows real scripting

Why people leave

Stable releases are infrequent
Lua config can be daunting
Largely maintained by one person

Top WezTerm alternatives

See all 5

1
kitty
Similar power with Python extensions, on Linux and macOS.
66.5
2
Alacritty
Simpler and lighter if you already use tmux.
62.6
3
Ghostty
Native-feeling UI and simpler config on macOS and Linux.
59.6
4
Windows Terminal
Default Windows option with a settings UI and WSL profiles.
57.2
5
Zellij
Dedicated multiplexer that works in any terminal.
55.3

Why people left WezTerm

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WezTerm: common questions

Is WezTerm free?

Yes. WezTerm is free, open-source software.

Is WezTerm open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at wezterm/wezterm.

What platforms does WezTerm run on?

WezTerm is available for Linux, macOS and Windows.

What are the best alternatives to WezTerm?

The highest-ranked WezTerm alternatives right now are kitty, Alacritty and Ghostty. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 WezTerm alternatives

WezTerm facts

4 of 4 verified

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows 10, FreeBSD, NetBSD; Checked Oct 25, 2026wezterm.org(opens source in a new tab); “Runs on Linux, macOS, Windows 10, FreeBSD and NetBSD”
Multiplexing: Local and remote panes, tabs and windows; Checked Oct 25, 2026wezterm.org(opens source in a new tab); “Multiplex terminal panes, tabs and windows on local and remote hosts”
Language: Rust; Checked Oct 25, 2026wezterm.org(opens source in a new tab); “multiplexer written by @wez and implemented in Rust”
Fonts: Ligatures, colour emoji, font fallback; Checked Oct 25, 2026wezterm.org(opens source in a new tab); “Ligatures , Color Emoji and font fallback, with true color and dynamic color schemes .”