The Best Terminal Emulators for Windows
Terminal emulators provide a way for users to access remote computers using either a command line or graphical interface. These programs simulate the functionality of traditional computer terminals, allowing users to access remote systems without needing hardware.
Terminal Emulator enables secure communication between two computers, allowing users to access files on remote machines, run applications on the host computer and transfer files between the two. This is made possible through the use of Secure Shell (SSH), a cryptographic network protocol. The terminal window in a graphical user interface provides access to this communication.
Developers use Terminal Emulator clients to gain shell access to computers, providing a text-mode interface that gives them more control over tasks and speeds up processes. We explore the best terminal emulators for Windows, outlining their advantages and disadvantages.
Windows terminal
Windows Terminal, a powerful upgrade from traditional Windows terminal applications, has been released. It combines Command Line, PowerShell, Azure Cloud Shell, Git Bash and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) into one interface and eliminates the hassle of copying and pasting with command-line tools.
Windows Terminal is free and an essential part of the upcoming Windows 11 experience, offering a streamlined terminal experience with no delays or interruptions. It’s optimized for Windows 10 and 11, making it the ideal choice for users of these operating systems.
FireCMD
FireCMD is an advanced command interpreter that makes it easy to create a UNIX-like environment on Windows. Its user interface looks like a typical Windows office application, making it accessible even for non-technical users. It also offers helpful features such as autocomplete commands, aliases, snapshots, multiple copy and paste, and find/replace.
FireCMD offers users the ability to customize their terminal program with font family, size, color and style, as well as resize windows and zoom in and out. It also allows for copy and paste text like a typical Microsoft rich text editor. The app supports tabbed windows like Windows Terminal and can run a variety of screens such as PowerShell, Command Line, Cygwin, Git Bash and more - all for a one-time fee of $39.
MobaXterm
MobaXterm is an intuitive interface that allows users to work as if they were on Linux, with multiple SSH taps, split terminals and Unix commands. It comes in both a regular installer and a portable version, but requires the CygUtility plugin to be copied into the same folder for it to run properly. The downside is that MobaXterm isn’t free and only allows up to 12 sessions; however, the paid version offers lifetime usage rights for $69.
ZOC Terminal
The ZOC Terminal, a powerful tool for accessing Windows Unix accounts, is worth the price tag of $79.99. It offers a range of connection types, including SSH, Telnet, Telnet/SSL and Serial/Modem/Direct, as well as Rlogin, ISDN and Named Channel support. Plus, users can access an extensive help guide with all the commands they need.
ZOC is a powerful terminal emulator that allows users to open multiple sessions on different terminals simultaneously. It offers a wide range of commands and customization options, as well as robust emulations with support for mouse and keyboard, line graphics, and printing. Additionally, it provides an easy way to search for text snippets and highlight them.
Commander
Cmder, a popular portable terminal emulator for Windows 10, was created out of necessity due to the lack of good alternatives. Built on top of ConEmu and enhanced with Clink, it provides Unix capabilities to Windows users and is compatible with msysgit, PowerShell, cygwin and Mintty.
Cmder is the perfect tool for support specialists, as it can be used on multiple machines without needing to install files on each one. Plus, it comes with the popular Monokai color scheme, making it a great companion to Sublime Text.
ConEmu
ConEmu is a Windows console emulator with a long history, dating back to 1996. It offers users the ability to run multiple tools such as PowerShell, Command Line, Chocolatey and Git Bash in parallel, with tabs and customizable options. Despite its age, ConEmu continues to evolve and provide users with an efficient way of managing their Windows consoles.
ConEmu is a popular console emulator among keyboard warriors, offering a range of settings and hotkeys to customize. However, it lacks the features of a shell, such as remote connections and tab completion. As such, it may not be the best choice for those new to console emulators.
terminus
Terminus is a powerful Windows emulator that offers a great user experience and team collaboration features. It’s free to use, and compatible with Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Even tech legend Steve Wozniak is said to be a fan.
Terminus is the most advanced terminal emulator available, offering users a range of features not found in other programs. It provides suggestions as you type, supports multiple screens including Git Bash, WSL, command line and PowerShell, and is ahead of the curve in many ways.
Final note
Check out this list of the best terminal emulators for Windows. Share it with your friends and let us know if you have any questions.
