What are the key differences between Terminal.app and iTerm2?

Compare Terminal.app and iTerm2 side by side on Lunoo to see detailed feature differences, AI scores, and expert analysis.

How are Terminal.app and iTerm2 scored?

Terminal.app has an AI score of 7.4/10 and iTerm2 has an AI score of 8.4/10. Scores are based on category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency.

Terminal.app vs iTerm2 2026 - Compared

Terminal.app

iTerm2

WINNER iTerm2

iTerm2 edges ahead with a score of 8.4/10 compared to 7.4/10 for Terminal.app. While both are highly rated in their resp...

Terminal.app

7.43 Good

Terminal Emulator

emoji_events WINNER

iTerm2

9.01 Excellent

Terminal Emulator Get iTerm2 open_in_new

psychology AI Verdict

iTerm2 edges ahead with a score of 8.4/10 compared to 7.4/10 for Terminal.app. While both are highly rated in their respective fields, iTerm2 demonstrates a slight advantage in our AI ranking criteria. A detailed AI-powered analysis is being prepared for this comparison.

emoji_events Winner: iTerm2

verified Confidence: Low

Ready to decide? Get iTerm2 arrow_forward

description Overview

Terminal.app

Terminal.app is Apple’s built-in terminal emulator application, providing a command-line interface for interacting with macOS and accessing shell environments like Bash or Zsh, allowing users to execute commands and manage system settings directly.

iTerm2

iTerm2 is the undisputed champion for macOS terminal emulation. Its extensive feature set, including split panes, search, and customizable profiles, makes it incredibly versatile. The ability to create complex workflows and integrate with other macOS tools is a major draw. While it's not GPU-accelerated, its performance remains excellent, and its stability is unparalleled. It's a mature and relia...