# Best Terminal Emulator Software *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 ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 44 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **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. ## Best Terminal Emulator Software At A Glance - **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:** [SecureCRT](https://www.g2.com/products/securecrt/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Jubilant Terminal Emulator](https://www.g2.com/products/jubilant-terminal-emulator/reviews) ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [PuTTY](https://www.g2.com/products/putty/reviews) PuTTY is a free, open-source client program for the SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, and SUPDUP network protocols, enabling users to run remote sessions on computers over a network. It is primarily developed and maintained by Simon Tatham. PuTTY is available for Windows and Unix platforms and includes an `xterm` terminal emulator. The latest version, 0.83, was released on February 8, 2025. Key Features and Functionality: - Protocol Support: PuTTY supports multiple network protocols, including SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, and SUPDUP, allowing secure and flexible remote connections. - Cross-Platform Availability: Compatible with both Windows and Unix systems, PuTTY provides a consistent user experience across different operating environments. - Terminal Emulation: It includes an `xterm` terminal emulator, facilitating the execution of terminal-based applications on remote systems. - Security Enhancements: The latest release, version 0.83, introduces support for ML-KEM, a NIST-standardized post-quantum key exchange mechanism, enhancing security against potential future quantum computing threats. - Unicode Support: Improved Unicode support allows for the use of characters outside the Windows system code page, accommodating a broader range of languages and symbols. Primary Value and User Solutions: PuTTY addresses the need for secure, reliable, and versatile remote access to computers over a network. By supporting multiple protocols and platforms, it enables users to manage and interact with remote systems efficiently. The inclusion of advanced security features, such as post-quantum key exchange mechanisms, ensures that users' connections remain protected against evolving cybersecurity threats. Additionally, its improved Unicode support enhances usability for a global user base, accommodating diverse linguistic requirements. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 340 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [PuTTY](https://www.g2.com/sellers/putty) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 46% Enterprise, 29% Mid-Market ### 2. [MobaXTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/mobaxterm/reviews) MobaXterm is an all-in-one remote computing toolbox designed for Windows, integrating a comprehensive suite of network tools and Unix commands into a single, portable application. It caters to IT professionals, developers, and system administrators who require efficient management of remote systems. By consolidating various functionalities, MobaXterm simplifies complex networking tasks and enhances productivity. Key Features and Functionality: - Tabbed Terminal with Unix Commands: Provides a terminal emulator supporting essential Unix commands like `ls`, `cd`, `grep`, and `awk`, offering a familiar environment for users accustomed to Unix/Linux systems. - Session Management: Supports multiple remote sessions, including SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, FTP, SFTP, and Serial connections, all managed within a unified interface. - Graphical SFTP Browser: Facilitates secure file transfers through an integrated SFTP browser, enabling drag-and-drop functionality between local and remote systems. - Embedded X11 Server: Allows the execution of remote graphical applications on the local Windows desktop without additional configuration, utilizing X11 forwarding. - Multi-Execution: Enables simultaneous execution of commands across multiple servers, streamlining repetitive tasks. - Embedded Tools: Includes a variety of network tools and utilities tailored for system administrators and developers, such as a text editor, packet capture, and network daemons. - Macros Support: Offers the ability to record and replay macros, automating complex command sequences to save time and reduce errors. - Customization Options: Provides extensive customization, including custom startup commands, scripts, and configuration settings, allowing users to tailor the application to their specific needs. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: MobaXterm addresses the challenges of remote system management by offering a unified platform that combines multiple network protocols and tools. Its integration of an X11 server, SSH client, and various network utilities into a single application reduces the need for multiple disparate tools, thereby enhancing workflow efficiency. The portable nature of MobaXterm allows users to operate it from a USB drive without installation, providing flexibility for professionals who work across different machines. By simplifying remote access, file transfers, and the execution of graphical applications, MobaXterm significantly improves productivity and streamlines the management of remote systems. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 101 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Mobatek](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mobatek) - **HQ Location:** Toulouse, France - **Twitter:** @mobatek (3,187 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/25263109/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 51% Mid-Market, 29% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (2 reviews) - File Transfer (2 reviews) - Simplicity (2 reviews) - Easy Setup (1 reviews) - Easy to Access (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Information Deficiency (1 reviews) - Limited Customization (1 reviews) - Not User-Friendly (1 reviews) - Pricing Issues (1 reviews) - Update Issues (1 reviews) ### 3. [SecureCRT](https://www.g2.com/products/securecrt/reviews) SecureCRT is a robust terminal emulation client designed for computing professionals who require secure remote access, file transfer, and data tunneling capabilities. Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, SecureCRT offers advanced session management and a suite of features aimed at enhancing productivity and streamlining repetitive tasks. Whether replacing traditional Telnet or seeking a more capable secure remote access tool, SecureCRT provides a reliable solution for daily operations. Key Features and Functionality: - Comprehensive Protocol Support: SecureCRT supports a wide range of protocols, including SSH1, SSH2, Telnet, Telnet/TLS, Rlogin, Serial, and TAPI, ensuring versatile connectivity options. - Advanced Terminal Emulation: It offers extensive terminal emulation capabilities, supporting VT100, VT102, VT220, ANSI, SCO ANSI, Wyse 50/60, Xterm, and Linux console, with full Unicode support. - Tabbed Sessions and Tab Groups: Users can organize multiple sessions using tabs and tab groups, facilitating efficient management and comparison of different sessions. - Keyword Highlighting: This feature allows users to highlight specific words, phrases, or substrings in the session window, aiding in the identification of prompts and errors. - Command Manager: A dockable Command Manager enables the organization of commands into named folders, streamlining the execution of repetitive tasks. - Scripting and Automation: SecureCRT supports scripting with Python and ActiveX, allowing automation of tasks and integration with other tools. - Credentials Management: The software simplifies password management by allowing sessions to reference global sets of credentials, facilitating easier updates and compliance with password change policies. - File Transfer Integration: SecureCRT integrates with SecureFX, enabling secure file transfers using SFTP, Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem, or Kermit protocols. Primary Value and User Solutions: SecureCRT addresses the critical need for secure and efficient remote access to business applications on UNIX, Linux, or VMS systems from various platforms. By providing a rich set of emulation options, comprehensive protocol support, and advanced session management features, it enhances productivity and simplifies the management of multiple sessions. The integration of scripting capabilities and automation tools reduces manual effort, while robust security protocols ensure data integrity and compliance with standards such as FIPS 140-2. SecureCRT is an essential tool for IT professionals seeking a reliable and feature-rich terminal emulation solution. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 53 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [VanDyke](https://www.g2.com/sellers/vandyke) - **HQ Location:** ALBUQUERQUE, US - **Twitter:** @VanDykeSoftware (464 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/15884170/ (18 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Networking, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 61% Enterprise, 28% Mid-Market ### 4. [iTerm2](https://www.g2.com/products/iterm2/reviews) iTerm2 is a free and open-source terminal emulator for macOS, designed to enhance the command-line experience with a suite of advanced features. It serves as a robust alternative to the default Terminal application, offering functionalities that cater to developers, system administrators, and power users seeking greater efficiency and customization in their workflows. Key Features and Functionality: - Split Panes: Allows users to divide a single tab into multiple panes, facilitating simultaneous monitoring and execution of different sessions within one window. - Hotkey Window: Enables the terminal to be brought to the foreground instantly from any application using a global hotkey, ensuring quick access when needed. - Advanced Search and Autocomplete: Provides robust search capabilities with regular expression support and highlights all matches. Autocomplete functionality suggests previously used commands, enhancing efficiency. - Instant Replay: Allows users to travel back in time within the terminal to recover text that was erased, preventing loss of important information. - Paste History: Maintains a history of copied or pasted text, enabling users to revisit and reuse previous entries without redundancy. - Shell Integration: Integrates seamlessly with the shell to recognize prompts, commands, and directories, enabling features like navigating to previous prompts and auto-completing commands. - 24-bit Color Support: Offers full 24-bit color support, enhancing the visual experience and readability of code and terminal output. - Configurable Profiles and Customization: Provides extensive customization options, including adjustable color schemes, fonts, transparency settings, and keyboard shortcuts, allowing users to tailor the terminal environment to their preferences. Primary Value and User Solutions: iTerm2 addresses the limitations of the default macOS Terminal by offering a feature-rich environment that enhances productivity and user experience. Its advanced functionalities, such as split panes and hotkey access, streamline multitasking and quick terminal access. Features like instant replay and paste history prevent data loss and reduce repetitive tasks. The high degree of customization ensures that users can create a terminal setup that aligns with their specific workflow requirements. By integrating these capabilities, iTerm2 solves common challenges faced by command-line users, making it an invaluable tool for those seeking a more efficient and personalized terminal experience. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 51 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [iTerm2](https://www.g2.com/sellers/iterm2) - **HQ Location:** ST MARTIN D HERES, FR - **Twitter:** @iterm2 (7 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/iterm/about (23 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 39% Mid-Market, 31% Small-Business ### 5. [Alacritty](https://www.g2.com/products/alacritty/reviews) Alacritty is a modern terminal emulator that comes with sensible defaults, but allows for extensive configuration. By integrating with other applications, rather than reimplementing their functionality, it manages to provide a flexible set of features with high performance. The supported platforms currently consist of BSD, Linux, macOS and Windows. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,638,213 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,000 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market ### 6. [Mintty](https://www.g2.com/products/mintty/reviews) Mintty is a terminal emulator for Cygwin, MSYS or Msys2, and derived projects, and for WSL. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 16 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,638,213 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,000 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 44% Small-Business, 31% Enterprise ### 7. [Upterm](https://www.g2.com/products/upterm/reviews) Upterm (formerly Black Screen) is an IDE in the world of terminals. Strictly speaking, it's both a terminal emulator and an interactive shell based on Electron. **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,638,213 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,000 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Company Size:** 50% Small-Business, 42% Mid-Market ### 8. [ConEmu](https://www.g2.com/products/conemu/reviews) ConEmu-Maximus5 is a Windows console emulator with tabs, which presents multiple consoles and simple GUI applications as one customizable GUI window with various features. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 11 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,638,213 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,000 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 62% Mid-Market, 31% Enterprise ### 9. [Yakuake](https://www.g2.com/products/yakuake/reviews) Yakuake is a drop-down terminal emulator based on KDE Konsole technology. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 13 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [KDE](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kde) - **Year Founded:** 1996 - **HQ Location:** World, DE - **Twitter:** @kdecommunity (118,765 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kde/ (301 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 46% Mid-Market, 38% Small-Business ### 10. [Jubilant Terminal Emulator](https://www.g2.com/products/jubilant-terminal-emulator/reviews) Jubilant Terminal Emulator provides a browser based, terminal emulator to access key business systems. Access Mainframe, iSeries, Unix, VMS or MultiValue systems, on any device with zero client software. The terminal emulator is installed in a server environment, either on-premise or in the cloud, and centrally managed via the Jubilant administration centre. Jubilant works on all browsers and devices with no Java or ActiveX plugins. Jubilant has all the features you would expect in an enterprise terminal emulator, including client and server-side macro creation, file transfer, single sign-on, MFA and keyboard remapping. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Flynet](https://www.g2.com/sellers/flynet) - **Year Founded:** 1995 - **HQ Location:** Burwell, Cambridgeshire - **Twitter:** @FlynetViewer (307 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/flynet/ (56 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Enterprise, 33% Small-Business ### 11. [GNOME Terminal](https://www.g2.com/products/gnome-terminal/reviews) Terminal is a terminal emulator application for accessing a UNIX shell environment which can be used to run programs available on your system. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GNOME Foundation](https://www.g2.com/sellers/gnome-foundation) - **Year Founded:** 1997 - **HQ Location:** Orinda, CA - **Twitter:** @gnome (197,205 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/792348/ (134 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 64% Small-Business, 21% Mid-Market ### 12. [Tabby.sh](https://www.g2.com/products/tabby-sh/reviews) A terminal for the modern age Tabby is an infinitely customizable cross-platform terminal app for local shells, serial, SSH and Telnet connections. **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 16 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 5.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/sellers/github) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @github (2,638,213 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1418841/ (6,000 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 63% Small-Business, 38% Mid-Market ### 13. [TeraTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/teraterm/reviews) TeraTerm is an open-source, free, software implemented, terminal emulator. It emulates different types of computer terminals, from DEC VT100 to DEC VT382. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 18 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Tera Term Project](https://www.g2.com/sellers/tera-term-project) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @TeraTerm (40 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 33% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market ### 14. [XShell](https://www.g2.com/products/xshell/reviews) NetSarang Computer, Inc. develops performance driven network connectivity software for the global market. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [NetSarang Computer](https://www.g2.com/sellers/netsarang-computer) - **HQ Location:** United States - **Twitter:** @NetSarang (492 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/netsarang-inc./ (3 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 58% Small-Business, 25% Enterprise ### 15. [NetTerm](https://www.g2.com/products/netterm/reviews) NetTerm is a network terminal which can act as a telnet client, direct Connect terminal and modem connected terminal to hosts that support the telnet protocol or dial-in modems. **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 11 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [InterSoft International](https://www.g2.com/sellers/intersoft-international) - **Year Founded:** 1995 - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/intersoft-international-inc/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 64% Enterprise, 27% Mid-Market ### 16. [Terminator](https://www.g2.com/products/terminator/reviews) Produce a useful tool for arranging terminals. It is inspired by programs such as gnome-multi-term, quadkonsole, etc. in that the main focus is arranging terminals in grids (tabs is the most common default method, which Terminator also supports). **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 5 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [jessies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/jessies) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 60% Mid-Market, 20% Enterprise ### 17. [Ivanti Terminal Emulation](https://www.g2.com/products/ivanti-terminal-emulation/reviews) Terminal Emulation extends your enterprise systems to warehouse workers’ mobile devices. Add barcode scanning, optimize with automation scripts, even add voice, all without modifying your host system. Boost your perfect order rate with Terminal Emulation. **Average Rating:** 3.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 4 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Ivanti](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ivanti) - **Year Founded:** 1985 - **HQ Location:** South Jordan, UT - **Twitter:** @GoIvanti (6,772 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/15224185/ (2,968 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 25% Small-Business ### 18. [PowerTerm WebConnect](https://www.g2.com/products/powerterm-webconnect/reviews) PowerTerm WebConnect is a solution for secure, on-demand access to desktops, hosted on leading desktop virtualization platforms. **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 4 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 5.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **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®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 25% Small-Business ### 19. [Konsole](https://www.g2.com/products/konsole/reviews) The "konsole-devel" mailing-list is targeted at developers and interested users. The bug report and reviewboard emails for Konsole are also posted automatically to the list. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 3 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [KDE](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kde) - **Year Founded:** 1996 - **HQ Location:** World, DE - **Twitter:** @kdecommunity (118,765 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kde/ (301 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 67% Enterprise, 33% Small-Business ### 20. [Termux](https://www.g2.com/products/termux/reviews) Termux is an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment app that works directly with no rooting or setup required. A minimal base system is installed automatically - additional packages are available using the APT package manager. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 3 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Termux](https://www.g2.com/sellers/termux) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ### 21. [Flex Terminal Emulator](https://www.g2.com/products/flex-terminal-emulator/reviews) Fast, secure Terminal Emulation Software for Mainframe, Power Systems and Open Systems, providing secure access to your mission critical enterprise data. Provides secure access to host systems on IBM Z (Mainframe) via TN3270, Open Systems (Unix/Linux) via VT/WYSE/SCOANSI and IBM i (AS/400) via TN5250: - Modern user interface utilizing the latest ribbon technology - Multiple sessions within a single workspace - Secure host access using the latest TLS & SSH encryption protocols - Robust scripting/macro support for automation - Secure FTP and IND$FILE transfer **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 2 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [FlexSoftware](https://www.g2.com/sellers/flexsoftware) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Enterprise, 50% Small-Business ### 22. [kitty](https://www.g2.com/products/kitty/reviews) Offloads rendering to the GPU for lower system load and buttery smooth scrolling. Uses threaded rendering to minimize input latency. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 2 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [kitty](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kitty) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Mid-Market ### 23. [Rocket Secure Host Access Pro (formerly MicroFocus Reflection Desktop)](https://www.g2.com/products/rocket-secure-host-access-pro-formerly-microfocus-reflection-desktop/reviews) Reflection Desktop (formerly Attachmate Reflection Desktop) raises the bar once again. Every feature is designed to deliver something truly useful to you. Not just today, but tomorrow too. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 2 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Rocket Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rocket-software) - **Year Founded:** 1990 - **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA - **Twitter:** @Rocket (3,534 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10127/ (4,314 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Enterprise, 50% Mid-Market ### 24. [Blink Shell](https://www.g2.com/products/blink-shell/reviews) Blink is the first professional, desktop-grade terminal for iOS that leverages the support of Mosh and SSH. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Blink Shell](https://www.g2.com/sellers/blink-shell) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ### 25. [Dapplegray](https://www.g2.com/products/dapplegray/reviews) Dapplegrey gives you the ability to set options DOSBox provides to the user, but w/o having to enter those options by using the Terminal or even have to edit the DOSBox config file by TextEdit. The config file which will be send to DOSBox will be written to hard disk just before Dapplegrey tells DOSBox to start. **Average Rating:** 3.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Plugins:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Resource Usage:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Customization:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Emutopia](https://www.g2.com/sellers/emutopia) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Mid-Market ## Parent Category [IT Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/it-management) --- ## Buyer Guide ### 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.