# Best Terminal Emulator Software - Page 2 *By [Tian Lin](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/tian-lin)* Terminal emulators replicate the functionality of a traditional computer terminal to provide users with access to a local or distant host. The emulator presents a terminal window to appear as though it is directly connected to the client. Most terminal emulators are designed for specific uses and function only with specific operating systems. Companies use these tools to access data and programs on remote devices, servers, or mainframes. The [best terminal emulator software](https://learn.g2.com/best-terminal-emulator) provides different graphical and text user interfaces to make the program’s use more intuitive. These tools can also add further functionality for navigating previous inputs. To qualify for inclusion in the Terminal Emulator category, a product must: - Emulate a traditional computer terminal - Create a functional terminal window - Provide a command-line or text user interface ## How Many Terminal Emulator Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 44 ### Category Stats (May 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.39/5 - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 2 - **Buyer Segments**: Small-Business 100% - **Top Trending Product**: iTerm2 (+0.005) *Last updated: May 18, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Terminal Emulator Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 700+ Authentic Reviews - 44+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which Terminal Emulator Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [PuTTY](https://www.g2.com/products/putty/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [Jubilant Terminal Emulator](https://www.g2.com/products/jubilant-terminal-emulator/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [SecureCRT](https://www.g2.com/products/securecrt/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [iTerm2](https://www.g2.com/products/iterm2/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Jubilant Terminal Emulator](https://www.g2.com/products/jubilant-terminal-emulator/reviews) ## What Are the Top-Rated Terminal Emulator Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [HostAccess](https://www.g2.com/products/hostaccess/reviews) HostAccess offers a suite of terminal emulation products that provide Windows users with secure access to legacy, host-based applications. HostAccess also has the ability to enhance the interface of existing applications with toolbars, mouse support, push buttons, combo boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, ActiveX controls, COM objects, and includes the powerful AutoGUI feature. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind HostAccess?** - **Seller:** [Perforce](https://www.g2.com/sellers/perforce) - **Year Founded:** 1995 - **HQ Location:** Minneapolis, MN - **Twitter:** @perforce (5,094 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/perforce/ (2,032 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise ### 2. [Jolly Giant](https://www.g2.com/products/jolly-giant/reviews) Jolly Giant is a software provides terminal emulation and file transfer products and securely connecting Windows PCs to IBM mainframes. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind Jolly Giant?** - **Seller:** [Jolly Giant Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/jolly-giant-software) - **HQ Location:** Kingston, CA - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/jolly-giant-software-inc-/ (2 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise ### 3. [minicom](https://www.g2.com/products/minicom/reviews) Minicom is a serial communication program **Average Rating:** 3.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **How Do G2 Users Rate minicom?** - **Resource Usage:** 0.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Who Is the Company Behind minicom?** - **Seller:** [Debian Project](https://www.g2.com/sellers/debian-project-ff8bf7d8-2aad-4d1d-adf7-4a9b2fc50c1e) - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** Indiana, United States - **Twitter:** @debian (277,745 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/debian/ (488 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 50% Small-Business ### 4. [Rocket Secure Host Access Anywhere (formerly MicroFocus Host Access for the Cloud)](https://www.g2.com/products/rocket-secure-host-access-anywhere-formerly-microfocus-host-access-for-the-cloud/reviews) Zero Footprint Web Access to Host Applications Micro Focus Host Access for the Cloud can extend the value of host applications to new users by providing web access with advanced security built in. It reduces the resource-intensive cycle of installing, configuring, patching, and managing traditional desktop emulators by delivering simplified zero-footprint access to those who need it. - Deliver Java-free emulation. Deliver HTML5-based emulation with a true zero-footprint client. - Broad application platform support. Provide browser-based access to 3270, 5250, VT, Unisys and Airlines host applications without touching the desktop. - Centrally monitor and meter. Track who’s connecting and when. - Encrypt data in motion. Protect data with the latest SSH and TLS technologies. Eliminate desktop touches: Easily deliver zero-footprint terminal emulation across the enterprise without the need to manage desktop software. Meter, report, optimize: Leverage centralized metering and reporting to optimize computing resource allocation and track user access. Interaction Integrate the host and IAM: Working with your Identity and Access Management (IAM) system, Host Access for the Cloud seamlessly propagates changes to user configurations and sessions settings – right here, right now, from a central server. Reinforce security as you remove passwords: You can replace weak, eight-character passwords with strong, complex ones. Implement strong authentication. Say goodbye to host passwords and automatically sign users on to their mainframe **Average Rating:** 3.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind Rocket Secure Host Access Anywhere (formerly MicroFocus Host Access for the Cloud)?** - **Seller:** [Rocket Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rocket-software) - **Year Founded:** 1990 - **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA - **Twitter:** @Rocket (3,526 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10127/ (4,314 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise ### 5. [SmartTE](https://www.g2.com/products/smartte/reviews) SmartTE provides a way to take advantage of today's modern touchscreen devices with terminal emulation by transforming "green screen" application screens into easy-to-use, graphical screens with no changes to the underlying enterprise applications. SmartTE is built upon the industry's most advanced terminal emulation architecture—StayLinked TE—which eliminates dropped sessions between the mobile device and the host application. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **How Do G2 Users Rate SmartTE?** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Who Is the Company Behind SmartTE?** - **Seller:** [StayLinked](https://www.g2.com/sellers/staylinked) - **Year Founded:** 1991 - **HQ Location:** Irvine, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/stay-linked (34 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ### 6. [Stromasys](https://www.g2.com/products/stromasys/reviews) Stromasys provides enterprise-class virtualization solutions for legacy systems, including PDP-11, Digital VAX, Alpha, SPARC and HP 3000. **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind Stromasys?** - **Seller:** [Stromasys](https://www.g2.com/sellers/stromasys) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Geneva, CH - **Twitter:** @Stromasys_HQ (269 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/stromasys/ (60 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ### 7. [Turbosoft](https://www.g2.com/products/turbosoft/reviews) TTerm Connect is Turbosoft's advanced web-based terminal emulation solution, designed to provide secure and efficient host connectivity directly through modern web browsers. This platform-independent software eliminates the need for client-side installations, offering seamless access to a wide array of host systems from any device. Key Features and Functionality: - Extensive Terminal Support: TTerm Connect supports over 80 different terminal emulations, including IBM 5250, IBM 3270, Wyse, HPE NonStop , and DEC VT series, ensuring compatibility with a broad range of host systems. - Zero-Install Emulation: As a browser-based solution, it requires no client-side installation, reducing compatibility issues and simplifying deployment across various devices. - Centralized Management: Administrators can configure and monitor host connections, manage license usage, and integrate existing user bases through Active Directory/LDAP support, all from a central interface. - Scalability: Built-in load-balancing and redundancy features allow TTerm Connect to efficiently handle thousands of concurrent users, making it suitable for both small-scale deployments and large enterprise environments. - Security: The platform ensures secure connections between clients and servers, supporting protocols such as SSH, SSL, TLS, and FIPS 1.2, without relying on insecure technologies like Java or ActiveX. - Customization: Users can utilize the TTerm Connect client web application or integrate terminal emulation directly into existing web pages, with advanced integration and data-stream control available through a JavaScript API. Primary Value and User Solutions: TTerm Connect addresses the challenges of modern enterprises by providing a flexible, secure, and scalable terminal emulation solution that operates entirely within web browsers. By eliminating the need for client-side installations, it simplifies deployment and maintenance, reducing IT overhead. Its extensive terminal support ensures compatibility with diverse host systems, while centralized management capabilities streamline administrative tasks. The platform's robust security features protect sensitive data during transmission, and its scalability ensures consistent performance, even with a large number of concurrent users. Overall, TTerm Connect enhances operational efficiency and security for organizations relying on legacy host systems. **Average Rating:** 3.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind Turbosoft?** - **Seller:** [Turbosoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/turbosoft) - **Year Founded:** 1986 - **HQ Location:** North Sydney, AU - **Twitter:** @TurbosoftTweets (18 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/turbosoft-pty-ltd/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise ### 8. [ZOC](https://www.g2.com/products/zoc/reviews) ZOC is professional terminal emulation software for Windows and macOS. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Who Is the Company Behind ZOC?** - **Seller:** [EmTec, Innovative Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/emtec-innovative-software) - **Year Founded:** 1992 - **HQ Location:** Nürnberg, DE - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/emtec-innovative-software (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ### 9. [DomTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/domterm/reviews) The goal of DomTerm is to be both a great terminal emulator as well as great environment for REPLs. **Who Is the Company Behind DomTerm?** - **Seller:** [DomTerm](https://www.g2.com/sellers/domterm) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 10. [Ericom PowerTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/ericom-powerterm/reviews) Ericom's terminal emulators enable reliable, secure and easy access to accounting, inventory, management, and other mission critical applications. Taking advantage of Ericom PowerTerm terminal emulators, organizations around the world are able to standardize on a single host access solution that supports over 35 terminal emulator types, while facilitating compliance with key industry and regulatory standards, including GLBA, PCI, FIPS, HIPAA, FISMA, SOX and JSOX. **Who Is the Company Behind Ericom PowerTerm?** - **Seller:** [Ericom Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ericom-software) - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** Boise, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ericom-software/ (70 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 11. [ExtraTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/extraterm/reviews) Extraterm. The swiss army chainsaw of terminal emulators **Who Is the Company Behind ExtraTerm?** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,646,201 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,106 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 12. [Ivanti Velocity](https://www.g2.com/products/ivanti-velocity/reviews) Ivanti Velocity optimizes telnet and web applications for mobile deployments, but also helps operations teams with workflow optimization, integrating emerging technologies and deploying automation – without changing existing enterprise systems. It’s the mobile app platform for the modern supply chain, where emerging technologies and proven tools merge, creating an operational tech stack for maximum productivity. **Who Is the Company Behind Ivanti Velocity?** - **Seller:** [Ivanti](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ivanti) - **Year Founded:** 1985 - **HQ Location:** South Jordan, UT - **Twitter:** @GoIvanti (6,774 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/15224185/ (2,968 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 13. [MacWise Terminal Emulation](https://www.g2.com/products/macwise-terminal-emulation/reviews) MacWise is a comprehensive terminal emulation software designed for macOS, enabling users to connect their Mac computers to various host systems. It emulates multiple terminal types, including ADDS Viewpoint, Wyse 50/60/370, Televideo TV 925, DEC VT100/VT220, and Prism terminals. This versatility allows seamless integration with diverse computing environments, facilitating efficient remote system management and data access. Key Features and Functionality: - Terminal Emulation: Supports a wide range of terminal types, ensuring compatibility with various host systems. - Connectivity Options: Offers multiple connection methods, including built-in modem, Telnet/TCP/IP, SSH Secure Shell, Kermit, and serial ports via USB-to-serial adapters. - User Interface Enhancements: Features adjustable transparent windows, on-screen programmable function keys, and a large font option for improved readability. - Session Management: Supports multiple simultaneous sessions, allowing users to connect to different hosts or run multiple sessions with a single host concurrently. - Scroll Back Functionality: Enables users to scroll back through the last 50 pages of data, preserving video attributes such as inverse and underline, including colors. - File Transfers: Facilitates file transfers using protocols like Kermit, Accuterm, FTP, and text. - AppleScript Support: Provides AppleScript commands for automating tasks such as data transfer and sending commands to the host. - Additional Features: Includes connection scripts to automate login processes, page forward/back capability, ANSI and SCO ANSI color support, and secure settings to prevent unauthorized changes. Primary Value and User Solutions: MacWise addresses the need for reliable and versatile terminal emulation on macOS, enabling users to connect their Macs to a variety of host systems seamlessly. By supporting multiple terminal types and connection methods, it ensures compatibility with diverse computing environments. Its user-friendly interface, session management capabilities, and automation features enhance productivity and streamline remote system management tasks. Whether for personal or professional use, MacWise provides a robust solution for accessing and managing remote systems efficiently. **Who Is the Company Behind MacWise Terminal Emulation?** - **Seller:** [MacWise](https://www.g2.com/sellers/macwise) - **Year Founded:** 1989 - **HQ Location:** United States - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/carnation-software/ (11 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 14. [MKS Toolkit](https://www.g2.com/products/mks-toolkit/reviews) MKS Toolkit delivers a rich collection of UNIX and Linux utilities, shells, APIs, and development tools within a Windows environment. With support for POSIX, UNIX, and X11 standards, teams can execute scripts, automate workflows, and migrate applications without modifying source code. This includes familiar tools such as vi, sed, awk, grep, make, KornShell, and Bash, alongside graphical and command-line interfaces. Organizations rely on MKS Toolkit to modernize infrastructure while protecting decades of engineering investment. Typical use cases include porting UNIX applications to Windows, enabling cross-platform build automation, supporting mixed OS development teams, and maintaining business-critical scripts that would otherwise require costly rewrites. **Who Is the Company Behind MKS Toolkit?** - **Seller:** [PTC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ptc) - **Year Founded:** 1985 - **HQ Location:** Boston, Massachusetts - **Twitter:** @PTC (37,582 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1935/ (8,226 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ: PTC ### 15. [Poderosa](https://www.g2.com/products/poderosa/reviews) Poderosa is a versatile terminal emulator designed for Windows, offering robust support for various communication protocols. It enables users to establish secure and efficient connections to remote systems, facilitating tasks such as system administration, development, and network management. Key Features and Functionality: - Protocol Support: Poderosa supports multiple protocols, including SSH (with agent forwarding, X11 forwarding, and port forwarding, SFTP, SCP, Telnet, XModem, ZModem, serial port connections, and named pipes. - User Interface: The application provides a user-friendly interface with tabbed windows, allowing users to manage multiple sessions simultaneously. - Customization: Users can customize the terminal's appearance and behavior to suit their preferences, enhancing the overall user experience. - Extensibility: Poderosa's architecture supports plugins, enabling users to extend its functionality according to their specific needs. Primary Value and User Solutions: Poderosa addresses the need for a reliable and feature-rich terminal emulator on the Windows platform. By supporting a wide range of protocols and offering a customizable interface, it streamlines remote system management tasks. Its extensibility through plugins allows users to tailor the application to their unique requirements, making it a valuable tool for IT professionals and developers seeking efficient and secure remote access solutions. **Who Is the Company Behind Poderosa?** - **Seller:** [Lagarto Technology](https://www.g2.com/sellers/lagarto-technology) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 16. [Rocket AccuTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/rocket-accuterm/reviews) Rocket AccuTerm is an established terminal emulator for MultiValue applications. Rocket AccuTerm has recognized the importance of simplifying user access and security. The implementation of single sign-on (SSO) eliminates the need for multiple login credentials, providing a seamless experience between Windows desktops and MultiValue systems. **Who Is the Company Behind Rocket AccuTerm?** - **Seller:** [Rocket Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rocket-software) - **Year Founded:** 1990 - **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA - **Twitter:** @Rocket (3,526 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10127/ (4,314 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 17. [Rocket Secure Host Access Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/rocket-secure-host-access-enterprise/reviews) Rocket® Secure Host Access Enterprise is a centralized desktop terminal emulator designed to integrate seamlessly with your organization's identity and access management (IAM) solutions. This integration ensures that access to critical host applications is managed securely and efficiently, extending IAM best practices to the green screen interface. By centralizing control, it simplifies the management of host access across all desktops, enhancing both security and operational efficiency. Key Features and Functionality: - Centralized Management: Administer host access for all desktops from a single point, allowing for quick adjustments to access permissions based on business needs. - Advanced Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to authorize access to valuable host systems, enhancing security measures. - Automated Mainframe Sign-On: Enable automated sign-on to IBM® 3270 applications using existing IAM solutions, streamlining user access. - Compliance Support: Maintain compliance with evolving regulations, including HIPAA, DORA, and PCI-DSS, by integrating modern security protocols. Primary Value and User Solutions: Rocket® Secure Host Access Enterprise addresses the critical need for secure and efficient management of host application access. By integrating with existing IAM systems, it ensures that green screen interfaces are as protected as the rest of the organization's infrastructure. This centralized approach not only strengthens security but also simplifies administrative tasks, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Organizations benefit from improved security posture, streamlined access management, and enhanced productivity for both end-users and IT administrators. **Who Is the Company Behind Rocket Secure Host Access Enterprise?** - **Seller:** [Rocket Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rocket-software) - **Company Website:** https://www.rocketsoftware.com/ - **Year Founded:** 1990 - **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA - **Twitter:** @Rocket (3,526 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10127/ (4,314 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 18. [TermOnMac](https://www.g2.com/products/termonmac/reviews) TermOnMac lets you access your Mac's terminal from your iPhone or iPad. Pair by scanning a QR code — no SSH keys, no port forwarding, no firewall configuration. Every keystroke and output is end-to-end encrypted (Curve25519 + AES-256-GCM). The relay server never sees your data. Built for mobile developers and AI-assisted coding workflows: - Run Claude Code, Codex, or any terminal-based AI agent on your Mac and monitor from your phone - Trigger Xcode builds, archive, and upload to App Store Connect — all from your iPhone - Manage multiple terminal sessions across multiple Macs - Seamlessly detach a session on your Mac and reattach on your iPhone (or vice versa) - Auto-reconnect with output replay — never miss a line, even after network switches or device sleep The touch-optimized keyboard includes a Ctrl/Esc/Tab toolbar, and iPad users get 16 configurable hardware keyboard shortcuts synced across devices. Free tier includes 4 Mac connections. Pro ($0.99/mo) and Premium ($2.99/mo) plans add more relay bandwidth and shortcut sync. **Who Is the Company Behind TermOnMac?** - **Seller:** [Chun-Pai Yang](https://www.g2.com/sellers/chun-pai-yang) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (2 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 19. [X/Server](https://www.g2.com/products/x-server/reviews) PTC X/Server enables secure access to UNIX and Linux graphical applications from Windows desktops, allowing organizations to centralize compute resources while preserving familiar X Window System interfaces. It is widely used in engineering, scientific, and technical environments where graphical UNIX applications remain essential. **Who Is the Company Behind X/Server?** - **Seller:** [PTC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ptc) - **Year Founded:** 1985 - **HQ Location:** Boston, Massachusetts - **Twitter:** @PTC (37,582 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1935/ (8,226 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ: PTC ## What Is Terminal Emulator Software? [IT Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/it-management) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Terminal Emulator Software? ### What You Should Know About Terminal Emulator Software ### What is Terminal Emulator Software? A terminal emulator or terminal application software emulates the functionalities of hardware terminals. The term terminal refers to all remote terminals, including graphical interfaces. A terminal is a text input and output environment. A terminal emulator inside a graphical user interface is often called a terminal window. It allows the user access to a text terminal and its applications, such as command-line interfaces (CLI) and text user interfaces (TUI).  Hardware terminals consist of a keyboard and a monitor. Their role is to provide access to the data stored on a minicomputer or centralized computers, commonly known as mainframes. Terminal emulators employ software to access the resources stored in a mainframe operating system.  #### What Types of Terminal Emulator Software Exist? Based on the functionalities and security features offered, a terminal emulator can broadly be categorized into one of the following two categories:  **Desktop-based terminal emulators** Desktop-based terminal emulators are software applications that are run locally on computer devices. These terminal emulators aren't accessible from a web browser and require deployment on devices such as laptops or personal computers.  **Web-based terminal emulators** Users can access a web-based terminal emulator via any device with a web browser. This emulator allows the user to reap the benefits of an application running on the internet. Web browsers and web servers ensure optimum security enabling organizations to perform tasks efficiently and without running the risk of losing out on vital information. ### What are the Common Features of **Terminal Emulator Software**? The following are some core features within a terminal emulator that can help users save time and increase productivity. **Command-line interface (CLI):** A command-line interface is used for entering textual commands. It processes commands in the form of text. CLI helps the user to interact with the shell. A shell or command-line interpreter is a program that processes commands and displays the output. **Text shortcuts:** Terminal emulators often come with features that allow users to enter a part or an abbreviation of a word, which is then saved as a text shortcut. This feature helps in automatically converting the short form of the text into a full word, saving valuable time spent by the user to enter long strings of text. **Option to customize:** The tool allows users to choose window frame behavior, color schemes, hotkeys, tab location, shortcuts, cursor style, and more based on their preferences. Certain solutions support customization of width and height and provide a full-screen mode option. Users may have the option of adding multiple shells as well. **Print:** Traditionally, all terminal emulator tools offer a basic print functionality. Modern-day terminal emulation solutions come with a multi-screen printing feature that helps users capture the contents of multiple screens as they browse through an application. Once the user is done browsing, the multi-screen attribute will arrange the captured screens in a batch and send it to the printer as a single job. **Events automation:** This useful feature allows IT administrators to have certain actions triggered by certain events. For instance, the terminal emulator can be directed to perform certain functions or configured to run a macro when a particular word appears on the screen. **Drag and drop:** Some terminal emulator tools offer the drag-and-drop feature that saves time and simplifies the job for developers and other users. Modular emulators come with multiple drop-down tabs and a user-friendly interface, allowing users to manage tasks efficiently.  **Multi-session management:** The tool may offer multiple-session management capability, making it easy for users to manage various sessions in real time. **Built-in tools:** Terminal emulators may have built-in tools such as a text editor and chat server integrated into the software. A few tools also come with an in-built screenshot feature. **Tiling:** Some terminal emulator software lets users operate multiple terminal windows in tiling mode. This feature provides a method by which a larger job, say the emulation process, can be segmented into a series of smaller tiles or parts. ### What are the Benefits of Terminal Emulator Software? There are several benefits that a business can reap from terminal emulator software. Below is a list of advantages that the tool offers: **Enhances productivity:** The tool helps save employees' time spent repeatedly accessing central computer terminals to surf for information. It helps improve productivity by ensuring the easy availability of real-time data required by employees. Present-day terminal emulator tools come with an intuitive interface that allows users to customize their terminal environments and ensures ease of use and comfort. Across industries, terminal emulator software also allows greater visibility into jobs that need to be completed and assists in streamlining routine tasks for increased efficiency. **Reduces costs:** Deployment of software aids in the reduction of the organization's hardware costs since it replaces traditional computer terminals that consist of a monitor and a keyboard. Based on business requirements and the number of users accessing the software, organizations can choose from different licensing options vendors offer to lower their total cost of ownership. Web-based terminal emulators also allow access to centralized computers from smaller devices such as tablets which are more cost-effective than laptops and PCs. **Ensures security and compliance:** Contemporary terminal emulator tools offer state-of-the-art security features. This can allow the user to perform important tasks, automate jobs, and safely transfer files. Terminal emulator software provides access to critical IBM i, IBM Z, and VT-based systems while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Modern solutions also support multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure the highest level of security. **Provides access to remote devices:** The software allows the host computer to access a remote computer and run applications on it using a command-line or graphical interface. Additionally, the tool enables file transfer between the host and the remote device. Such communication between the two machines is facilitated using a secure shell (SSH) which is a network protocol that gives users secure access to a computer over an unsecured network. **Automatic SSH file transfer protocol (SFTP):** SSH file transfer protocol, also known as secure shell (SSH), is a network protocol that provides secured file access, file transfer, and file management. Terminal emulators with the automatic SFTP feature allow users to access multiple apps as it is an all-in-one network application. The built-in remote file editor in the software assists users in easily editing remote files through SSH and SFTP. ### Who Uses Terminal Emulator Software? **IT teams:** IT and network administrators use a terminal emulator to connect and communicate with another machine from their local device. It enables them to control operations and automate tasks on a remote device. This software assists in accessing data and using the resources stored in a mainframe or centralized computer. **Developers:** The tool helps developers with shell access to the remote computer. Terminal emulators with a text-based user interface allow developers more control over functions and speed up the process of developing apps. It allows developers to configure themes and fonts and provides many more formatting options to match their requirements. Software that comes with several plugins offers developers extended functionality to customize applications.  **Retailers:** Retailers utilize terminal emulators to provide employees on the shopfloor access to the mainframe from a mobile device or a tablet and empower them to improve customer service by resolving queries, scheduling home deliveries, checking stock availability, and more. The workers can keep an eye on sales volume using the tablet or mobile and determine if there is a need to restock without visiting a terminal. **Healthcare personnel:** Employees working in the healthcare sector use this solution for accessing the test results of patients stored in the central computer of the test laboratory. Terminal emulators allow hospital staff the flexibility to track medical information, such as patient records, in real time on mobile devices from the central database. While multiple staff members may access the information on the central computer simultaneously, an efficient solution ensures low network latency. ### Challenges with Terminal Emulator Software Terminal emulators can come with their own set of challenges, as mentioned below: **Security:** Based on the kind of license purchased, a terminal emulator software may allow multiple users access to the resources on the central computer. This can pose a serious threat to security since not all users require access to all the information and may lead to non-compliance with the privacy and security regulations of the organization. Multiple users trying to access information may lead to network congestion and slow down the flow of information to users who require it. **Tabbed-mode limitation:** While using certain solutions, if the user splits the screen, they need to navigate to a single screen before switching tabs which is indeed a limitation. Some terminal emulator applications in the market also come without any tab support, which causes inconvenience to the user. **Lack of centralized configuration:** Each connection must be configured individually for certain open-source software. For some tools that offer the functionality to run multiple sessions simultaneously, the settings of each session are stored separately. So if a user wants to alter the settings for all sessions, then they need to execute it independently for each session. **Cost:** Robust software packages with great features come at a high price. Users may face certain limitations if they only have access to the free version of the tool. **Poor scrolling support:** Mouse scrolling while using certain terminal apps navigates to blank space instead of scrolling to the text content. However, this is not the case for every terminal emulator software. ### How to Buy Terminal Emulator Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Terminal Emulator Software In case a company is just starting and looking to purchase its first terminal emulator software, or if the organization needs to migrate to a new tool--wherever a business is in its buying process, [g2.com](https://www.g2.com/categories/terminal-emulator) can help select the best terminal emulator for the business. Finding the right terminal emulator for a business can be daunting, with vendors improving the support quality and enhancing users' experience with added functionalities. Without digging deeper to uncover the details, enterprises risk selecting a tool that can result in unexpected costs, vendor lock-in, difficult-to-agree service level agreements (SLAs), or simply a lack of fit to requirements.  Depending on the scope of the deployment, it might be helpful to produce an RFI, a one-page list with a few bullet points. This allows the user to confirm that the chosen tool will reduce the organization's total cost of ownership, ensure a hassle-free migration to a new terminal emulator and ensure compliance with their administrative and security requirements. #### Compare Terminal Emulator Software Products **Create a long list** A long list can be created by choosing solutions based on criteria specific to the buyer. The organization should evaluate a terminal emulator software based on the following parameters: **Vendor** : Vendor evaluations are essential to the software buying process, from meeting the business functionality needs to implementation. It is crucial to select a vendor willing to work with the organization as a partner while also delivering top-notch technical support. The buyer should also prepare a consistent list of questions regarding specific requirements and concerns to ask each vendor for a smooth buying experience. It is important to evaluate whether the vendor has the required knowledge, experience, and competence to successfully help them migrate if they upgrade to a new tool. It is also imperative to ask questions about how the vendor accommodates requests for bug fixes and feature enhancements and if such requests are considered while making future upgrades to the product. **Hassle-free migration:** The organization should consider the impact of migrating to a new tool, which may interfere with routine work. The right software provider must have the required knowledge and tools to ensure a seamless migration. The vendor should be prepared to provide quality assistance throughout the process. Buyers must also consider the timeline within which the migration is expected to be completed and ensure that they have all the necessary details about the process. **Compliance:** The terminal emulator software vendor should quickly implement the latest security protocols to ensure optimum security. It should ensure compliance with industry or regulatory standards. **Create a short list** Organizations must narrow down the list from the long list of vendors to keep two or three finalists. Since the products on the long list usually provide similar functionality, the criteria to create a short list need to be more specific. For instance, vendors can be eliminated if they don't have extensive experience and expertise in the terminal emulation industry or in case they do not have the necessary security infrastructure to shield the organization from potential cyberattacks. **Conduct demos** Demos should be used to further differentiate between products. While pre-recorded demonstrations and slide decks are available on vendor websites, it is lucrative to request the vendor for a live demo of the terminal emulator to dive deep into their technical capabilities. #### Selection of Terminal Emulator Software **Choose a selection team** Before getting started, creating a winning team that will work together throughout the entire process, from identifying pain points to implementation, is crucial. The software selection team should consist of employees with the right interest, skills, and time to participate in this process. A good starting point is to aim for three to five people who fill the required roles. This may include the primary decision maker, project manager, process owner, system owner or staffing subject matter expert, technical lead, and an IT or security administrator. In smaller companies, the vendor selection team may not be that big, with fewer participants multitasking and taking on more responsibilities. The selection team should compare notes, facts, and figures they noted during the process, such as the availability of advanced capabilities, quality of support, and security features. **Negotiation** It is imperative to open up a conversation regarding pricing and licensing. The vendor may be willing to give a discount for multi-year contracts or for recommending the product to others. The buyer must account for factors such as the number of users and the number and types of licenses required by the organization while negotiating the price of the terminal emulator software. **Final decision** It is recommended to roll out a test run or pilot program to test adoption with a small sample size of users before settling for a tool. The buyer can be confident that the selection was correct if the tool is well used and received. If not, it might be time to return to the drawing board. ### What Does Terminal Emulator Software Cost? Various factors influence the total cost of ownership of terminal emulator software. Depending on the number of employees using the software and the number of hosts, the organization can decide what kind of license will help them reduce costs without compromising on the quality. The buying organization can choose between a perpetual license and a subscription-based license. The former allows the buyer to use the software for an indefinite period and is charged as a single expense in the first year of purchase. After the first year, the buyer must pay the maintenance cost for continued access.  The subscription model requires the organization to pay for the software for a predefined period, say a month or a year, and covers support services and access to all software updates released during that period. Organizations favor subscription licensing since it involves lower acquisition costs and provides the freedom to transfer the license to new users based on requirements.  The organization can also choose between a named user license and a concurrent license. The former only provides one license to a particular user and cannot be shared with other employees. It is best suited for companies where users need continuous and frequent access to the central computer. Under the concurrent licensing model, companies can buy a fixed number of licenses that a given number of employees can share. However, no two users can use the same license simultaneously. This model can be cost-effective for organizations with multiple users requiring access to the terminal emulator, but not all need access simultaneously. **Return on Investment (ROI)** In order to ensure a shorter ROI period, it is important to compare the pricing structure offered by different vendors. The buyer must analyze if the vendor has separate charges for granting host access from more than one device. It is lucrative to understand the pricing model before buying the tool and selecting a vendor who offers uniform pricing irrespective of the number of devices the users log in from. ### Terminal Emulator Software Trends **Automation of terminals and mainframes through robotic process automation (RPA): ** Robotic process automation is a method that involves the automation of processes in an organization through the usage of software robots to perform tasks and increase productivity while safeguarding applications and IT environments. In this process, robots communicate with systems and applications like humans but in a more agile and secure manner and with higher accuracy. RPA can aid businesses by providing access to vital business data, which are stored in mainframes and not easily retrievable. Through the use of RPA, companies can reduce costs and free up time for employees so that they can work on other projects which need their attention.