Cool Retro Term
Cool Retro Term is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Linux and macOS that gives terminal sessions the appearance of cathode tube screens.
What Cool Retro Term is
Cool Retro Term is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Linux and macOS that gives terminal sessions the appearance of cathode tube screens. The project describes it as customizable and reasonably lightweight. A context menu provides access to colors, fonts, and visual effects, while community profiles cover effects such as flickering, scanline rasterization, screen curvature, static noise, and burn-in. The project wiki invites users to share themes and includes example settings in JSON format. Release notes for version 2.0.0-beta1 list support for multiple tabs and windows, and version 2.0.0-beta2 lists tab-management shortcuts. Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole. Linux users can download an AppImage from Releases or find the application in official repositories for distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch. macOS users can download a DMG from Releases. The project wiki provides installation and build instructions for Linux and macOS, along with theme guidance and information about the terminal widget.
Good
- Free and open-source
- Visual settings include colors, fonts, and effects
- Community profiles cover several CRT effects
- Release notes list multiple tabs and windows
Watch out
- Available for Linux and macOS only
- Build information lists different Qt requirements
Who it suits
Cool Retro Term suits Linux and macOS users who want terminal sessions with adjustable CRT-style visuals. Its theme guidance and multiple-tab support may also appeal to users who want to customize the appearance and organization of terminal windows.
Verdict
Cool Retro Term pairs a CRT-inspired appearance with customizable visual settings and community themes. Check the project’s installation and build guidance for your system before choosing a distribution method.
Plans and prices
From Cool Retro Term's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Linux and macOS desktop terminal emulator · AppImage or DMG releases · distribution packages |
The facts
Each one read from Cool Retro Term's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and SDK
- The official README and wiki describe a desktop application and build process but do not document a public API or SDK.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirement
- The README says the application requires Qt6, while the Linux build wiki lists Qt5 dependencies and qmake build instructions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Configuration format
- An independent repository analysis reports that settings are configured through the GUI and no documented configuration-file format is provided.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Creator identity
- The Swordfish90 GitHub account identifies the maintainer as Filippo Scognamiglio.checked 15 Oct 2026
- CRT effects
- Its presentation includes scanlines, phosphor glow, screen curvature, flicker, bloom and burn-in effects.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Design
- The project describes the emulator as customizable and reasonably lightweight.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution packages
- The README says many distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch, package the application in their official repositories.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Documentation consists mainly of the README, GitHub wiki build pages and release notes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The README directs users to download the latest AppImage for Linux or DMG for macOS from Releases.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Frame customization
- The 2.0.0-beta1 release added a frame with customizable size, color and shininess.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The 2.0.0-beta2 release notes list tab management shortcuts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- GitHub lists 2.0.0-beta2 as the latest release, published 31 May 2026.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The repository contains GPL-2.0 and GPL-3.0 licence text files, while an independent directory classifies the project as open source under GPL-3.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: missing functionality
- TechRadar lists lack of functionality as a reason to avoid the application.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: older Snap package
- It's FOSS warns that the Snap package is older than the version available in distribution repositories.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: resource use
- Softpedia reports that the program is relatively resource-heavy for a terminal emulator.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: unsupported features
- Terminal Trove lists no image support, Sixel, Kitty graphics, true color, split panes, shell integration, notifications or built-in multiplexer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: weaker modern capability
- Softpedia says it is less capable and customizable than many modern open-source terminal emulators.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Albuzzano, Italychecked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Linux build
- The Linux wiki documents Qt5 package dependencies, recursive cloning, qmake and make.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Linux installation
- Linux users can download an AppImage or use packages supplied by distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch.checked 15 Oct 2026
- macOS build
- The macOS wiki documents Qt5 LTS dependencies, qmake, make and macdeployqt DMG creation.checked 15 Oct 2026
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