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Comparison · Terminal emulators

WezTerm vs Windows Terminal: which is better in 2026?

WezTermvsWindows Terminal

WezTerm ranks higher in our list of terminal emulators (#1 against #4, score 91.5 against 86.5).

Choose WezTerm if you want

One cross-platform terminal with multiplexing.

A cross-platform terminal and multiplexer with SSH, serial ports and copy mode built in, under the MIT license. Its configuration surface is large, so the first setup takes time.

Choose Windows Terminal if you want

Windows, WSL and command-line work.

Microsoft's MIT-licensed terminal for Windows, free from the Microsoft Store and built to host cmd, PowerShell and WSL sessions. It runs only on Windows.

The main differences

  • Only WezTerm runs on Linux.
  • Only WezTerm runs on macOS.

Side by side

WezTermWindows Terminal
Score91.586.5
Rank in list#1 of 7#4 of 7
PriceFree and open sourceFree under the MIT license; source code published on GitHubFree and open sourceFree from the Microsoft Store; MIT-licensed source on GitHub
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesYes
PlatformsWindowsmacOSLinuxWindows, macOS, LinuxWindowsWindows
Made byWez FurlongMicrosoft
Built-in tabs and splitsYesYes
Best forOne cross-platform terminal with multiplexingWindows, WSL and command-line work
Strengths
  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Built-in multiplexing and SSH
  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Supports WSL distributions
Limits
  • Large configuration surface takes time to learn
  • Windows only
  • Its code shares a repository with the Windows console host
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about WezTerm vs Windows Terminal

Is WezTerm better than Windows Terminal?
WezTerm ranks higher in our list of terminal emulators (#1 against #4, score 91.5 against 86.5). WezTerm is best for: one cross-platform terminal with multiplexing. Windows Terminal is best for: windows, WSL and command-line work.
Which is cheaper, WezTerm or Windows Terminal?
WezTerm: Free under the MIT license; source code published on GitHub. Windows Terminal: Free from the Microsoft Store; MIT-licensed source on GitHub.
Do WezTerm and Windows Terminal run on the same platforms?
WezTerm supports Windows, macOS, Linux. Windows Terminal supports Windows.