cmux vs iTerm2
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
cmux
8.0Ghostty-based terminal with vertical tabs and notifications for AI coding agents
iTerm2
8.5Terminal emulator as alternative to Apple's Terminal app
| Metric | cmux | iTerm2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| AI Score | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| 30-day Installs | 9.1K | 32.4K |
| 90-day Installs | 24.7K | 100.6K |
| 365-day Installs | 24.7K | 320.0K |
| Version | 0.64.2 | 3.6.10 |
| Auto-updates | Yes | Yes |
| Deprecated | No | No |
| GitHub Stars | 4.8K | 17.1K |
| GitHub Forks | 292 | 1.3K |
| Open Issues | 384 | 54 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Swift | Objective-C |
| Last GitHub Commit | 1mo ago | 1mo ago |
| First Seen | Feb 26, 2026 | Mar 10, 2012 |
Reviews
cmux
Cmux is a Ghostty-based terminal offering vertical tabs and notifications tailored for AI coding agents. It caters to developers and coders by providing a sleek interface with integration for AI tools, enhancing productivity through its unique features.
Cmux functions as a terminal multiplexer with vertical tabs and notifications designed for AI coding agents.
Pros
- + Integration with Ghostty for terminal functionality
- + Vertical tabs for efficient workflow management
- + Notifications tailored for AI coding agents
Cons
- - A high number of open issues may indicate areas needing attention
- - Primarily focused on AI coding agents, which might limit its appeal to some users
iTerm2
iTerm2 is a highly customizable and powerful terminal emulator for macOS, offering features like split panes, hotkeys, and integration with macOS utilities. It's favored by developers and power users for its advanced customization options and performance.
iTerm2 provides a terminal emulation environment with enhanced features compared to Apple's built-in Terminal app.
Pros
- + Highly customizable interface
- + Advanced features including split panes and hotkeys
- + Regular updates and active development
Cons
- - Steep learning curve for new users
- - Occasional security vulnerabilities, though promptly addressed