iTerm2: Pricing, Features & Alternatives
iTerm2 has been the first thing many developers install on a new Mac for well over a decade. Split panes, a hotkey window, search, autocomplete from history, triggers that react to output, shell integration that marks each command, and a native tmux mode (`tmux -CC`) that turns remote tmux sessions into real macOS tabs and windows. It is free, GPL-licensed, and funded by donations. It is macOS only, and its preferences window is famously deep, which is both the appeal and the complaint.
Category
Terminals & CLI Tools
Pricing
Free tier available
Free tier
Yes
Best for
Terminals & CLI Tools — terminal, macos
iTerm2 Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| FreePopular | $0 (GPL, donation-supported) |
Pricing summary: Free. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.
Key iTerm2 Features
- Split panes, hotkey window, profiles
- Native tmux integration
- Triggers and shell integration
Pros
- +Mature and extremely configurable
- +Best-in-class tmux integration
- +Free with no account or telemetry
Cons
- −macOS only
- −Not as fast as GPU-first terminals like Ghostty
- −Settings sprawl can be overwhelming
Best iTerm2 Alternatives
Compare alliTerm2 Compared
iTerm2 FAQ
What is iTerm2 used for?⌄
iTerm2 is a terminals & cli tools tool. The long-standing default terminal on macOS for developers. It is free, GPL-licensed and has deep tmux integration.
Is iTerm2 free?⌄
Yes — iTerm2 has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.
How much does iTerm2 cost?⌄
iTerm2 is free to use.
What are the best iTerm2 alternatives?⌄
Popular iTerm2 alternatives include Ghostty, Windows Terminal, Warp. Compare pricing and features on our iTerm2 alternatives page.
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