Terminator can be used without paying: GPL-2.0 software is free to use. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.

Is Terminator open source?

Yes. Terminator publishes its source code under the GPL-2.0 license.

Which platforms does Terminator support?

Terminator is available on: Linux.

What is Terminator best for?

Several shells side by side on a Linux desktop. In our ranking of terminal emulators it is number 10 of 10 with a score of 77.5.

What are the best alternatives to Terminator?

The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are WezTerm, iTerm2, Ghostty, Windows Terminal.

Terminator

Linux terminal that puts several terminals side by side in one window

#10 of 10 in best terminal emulators
Free and open source
Free to use
Open source
Linux

77.5

Score in best terminal emulators

Visit gnome-terminator.org Alternatives Compare Share

Ranked 10 of 10 in best terminal emulators

GPL-2.0 Linux terminal that combines and recombines several terminals in one window, aimed at people with many shells open. It is Linux-only and narrower than the cross-platform terminals here.

Best for Several shells side by side on a Linux desktop

About Terminator

Terminator is a terminal emulator that lets a user combine and recombine several terminals in one window. The project's overview page describes it as multiple GNOME terminals in one window, and it was first developed in 2007 as a small Python script. The page names tilix and iTerm2 among the projects that inspired parts of its design.

The GitHub repository is GPL-2.0 licensed and had about 2,700 stars when checked, with its last push in September 2026. Terminator is aimed at people who keep many shells open at once, such as those logged into several remote machines. Users who want a macOS or cross-platform terminal may compare iTerm2 or WezTerm, which are both in this ranking.

Key features

Split terminals
Multiple shells in one window
GNOME integration
GPL-2.0 license
Plugins

Strengths

GPL-2.0 open source
Split terminals in one window
Repository updated in September 2026

Limits

Built for GNOME desktops on Linux

Where Terminator ranks

Best terminal emulators#10of 10 · 77.5
Best for: Several shells side by side on a Linux desktop

How Terminator compares

Product	Score	Price	Platforms	Built-in tabs and splits
#6Warp	82.5	Free plan, paid upgrades	macOSLinuxWindows	Yes
#7Tabby	80.5	Free and open source	WindowsmacOSLinux	Yes
#8Alacritty	79.0	Free and open source	LinuxmacOSWindows	No
#9Hyper	78.5	Free and open source	macOSWindows	Yes
#10Terminator	77.5	Free and open source	Linux	Yes

The full comparison table for best terminal emulators has all 10 products.

Alternatives to Terminator

All 9 alternatives

Questions about Terminator

Is Terminator free?: Terminator can be used without paying: GPL-2.0 software is free to use. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
Is Terminator open source?: Yes. Terminator publishes its source code under the GPL-2.0 license.
Which platforms does Terminator support?: Terminator is available on: Linux.
What is Terminator best for?: Several shells side by side on a Linux desktop. In our ranking of terminal emulators it is number 10 of 10 with a score of 77.5.
What are the best alternatives to Terminator?: The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are WezTerm, iTerm2, Ghostty, Windows Terminal.

Show this ranking on your site

If you make or maintain Terminator, this badge links back to this page and shows its current rank. It updates when the ranking does.

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Articles that mention Terminator

All articles

Guides · 4 min readHow to choose a terminal emulator: platform, tabs, licenseChoose a terminal emulator by operating system, built-in tabs and splits, and license. Compare WezTerm, iTerm2, Ghostty, Windows Terminal, kitty and Alacritty.