Agents UI
The mature, deeply configurable macOS terminal — unmatched for manual power-user workflows, but not built around AI agents. If it isn't the right fit, here are the strongest iTerm2 alternatives in 2026.
1. Agents UI
The only terminal designed from the ground up to run, orchestrate, and steer AI coding agents — with SSH, file editing, and a Python SDK built in.
- Purpose-built to run agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI side by side
- Orchestrate mode turns one goal into tasks dispatched across multiple sessions
- Built-in SSH host management, file transfer, and port forwarding
Platforms: macOS · Price: Free · Open source: Yes · Compare with iTerm2
2. Warp
A fast, polished terminal with AI features and a modern block-based UI, but proprietary and account-gated.
- Fast GPU-accelerated rendering written in Rust
- Block-based command UI and built-in AI command assistance
- Cross-platform across macOS, Linux, and Windows
Platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows · Price: Freemium · Open source: No · Compare with iTerm2
3. Ghostty
A blazing-fast, native terminal focused on speed and simplicity — great for manual work, no agent features.
- Very fast GPU-accelerated, native rendering
- Sensible defaults with minimal configuration
- Native splits and tabs
Platforms: macOS, Linux · Price: Free · Open source: Yes · Compare with iTerm2
4. Kitty
A fast, scriptable terminal with a powerful remote-control protocol — flexible for manual work, not built for agents.
- GPU-accelerated with a rich remote-control protocol
- Kittens extend functionality (image preview, SSH, diffing)
- Native splits, tabs, and layouts
Platforms: macOS, Linux · Price: Free · Open source: Yes
5. Alacritty
The fastest bare-bones terminal — pair it with tmux for anything beyond a single pane.
- Extremely fast and lightweight
- Cross-platform and simple
- GPU-accelerated rendering
Platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows · Price: Free · Open source: Yes
6. WezTerm
A powerful cross-platform terminal with a built-in multiplexer and Lua config — great for remote work, manual-first.
- Built-in multiplexer with persistent remote sessions
- Cross-platform with Lua-based configuration
- Native SSH client and GPU rendering
Platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows · Price: Free · Open source: Yes
7. Apple Terminal
Fine for occasional commands, but underpowered for serious development or agent workflows.
- Pre-installed on every Mac
- Zero setup for basic tasks
- Lightweight
Platforms: macOS · Price: Free · Open source: No
Frequently asked questions
What is the best iTerm2 alternative?
Agents UI is a strong choice: The only terminal designed from the ground up to run, orchestrate, and steer AI coding agents — with SSH, file editing, and a Python SDK built in.
Is there a free, open-source iTerm2 alternative?
Agents UI is open source. Several options here are free and open source.