EVERYTHING XIAOMI
Get listed

mintty

mintty is a free terminal emulator for Windows, intended for Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, related projects, and WSL.

Place
#10 of 40
Score
6.6
mintty's website

What mintty is

mintty is a free terminal emulator for Windows, intended for Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, related projects, and WSL. It provides xterm-compatible terminal emulation and DEC screen controls, with support for 256 colours, True Colour, Unicode, bidirectional text, emoji, and Arabic shaping. It can display images and emulate Sixel, ReGIS, and Tektronix 4014 graphics. Interaction options include configurable shortcuts, mouse selection, copy and paste, drag and drop, and Ctrl-click to open files or URLs. Window features include virtual tabs, session switching, fullscreen, transparency, multiple monitors, and high DPI. Settings can be passed as command-line options or saved in a text file without registry entries. mintty is the default Cygwin Terminal, comes installed by default in MSYS2, and is included with Git for Windows as Git Bash. It can host WSL, but does not include PuTTY's networking functions; the project points to packages such as OpenSSH and inetutils for networking. The site notes possible interworking issues between native Windows console input/output and pseudo-terminal mode; Cygwin 3.1.0 uses the Windows 10 ConPTY API to compensate.

Good

  • Free plan; no trial is listed.
  • Supports WSL as well as Cygwin and MSYS environments.
  • Offers tabs, session switching, fullscreen, and transparency.
  • Settings can be stored in a text file without registry entries.

Watch out

  • Windows is the only listed platform.
  • SSH support is listed as unavailable.
  • Does not include PuTTY networking functionality.
  • Pseudo-terminal mode can have Windows console interworking issues.

Who it suits

mintty suits Windows users working with Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, related environments, or WSL who want a configurable terminal emulator. It may also fit users who need Unicode, varied graphics emulation, tabs, or text-file configuration.

Verdict

mintty offers extensive terminal display and window options for Windows command-line environments. Users who need networking functionality must obtain it separately, and should note the stated pseudo-terminal compatibility caveat.

Plans and prices

From mintty's own pricing page, checked 10 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
MinttyFreeTerminal emulator for Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, derived projects, and WSL

The facts

Each one read from mintty's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Clipboard and links
It supports text selection, copy and paste, drag and drop, and opening files or URLs with Ctrl+click.checked 10 Oct 2026
Color and text
It supports 256 colors, True Color, Unicode, bidirectional rendering, and Arabic shaping.checked 10 Oct 2026
Compatibility caveat
The site notes that Windows console input and output can have interworking problems with pseudo-terminal mode; it says Cygwin 3.1.0 compensates through the Windows 10 ConPTY API.checked 9 Oct 2026
Compatibility limit
The site notes that native Windows console input and output can have interworking problems in pseudo-terminal mode, with Cygwin 3.1.0 compensating through the Windows 10 ConPTY API.checked 10 Oct 2026
Configuration
Settings can be supplied on the command line or in a configuration file, and options are stored in a text file without registry entries.checked 10 Oct 2026
Display
It supports 256 colours, True Colour, Unicode, bidirectional text, emoji, image display, Sixel, ReGIS, and Tektronix 4014 vector graphics emulation.checked 9 Oct 2026
Documentation
The Cygwin package includes a mintty manual page, and the site links to a wiki for keycodes, control sequences, and other hints.checked 9 Oct 2026
Downloads
The homepage links to the source repository, latest releases, a release archive, and a current snapshot download.checked 10 Oct 2026
Graphics
It supports image display, Sixel graphics, ReGIS graphics, and Tektronix 4014 vector graphics emulation.checked 10 Oct 2026
Input
Input features include Unicode character composition, configurable key modifiers, AltGr, Windows IME, and multiple mouse modes.checked 10 Oct 2026
Input and interaction
Features include configurable keyboard shortcuts, mouse selection, copy and paste, drag and drop, and Ctrl-click opening of files and URLs.checked 9 Oct 2026
Integrations
Mintty is installed as the default Cygwin Terminal, comes with MSYS2, and is installed by default in Git for Windows as Git Bash.checked 10 Oct 2026
Latest release shown
The releases page lists version 3.8.3 as the latest release.checked 9 Oct 2026
Networking
Mintty leaves out PuTTY's networking functionality, which the homepage says is provided by packages such as OpenSSH and inetutils.checked 10 Oct 2026
Purpose
Mintty is a terminal emulator for Cygwin, MSYS, MSYS2, derived projects, and WSL.checked 10 Oct 2026
Scripting API
Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
Security
The manual says mintty prompts for confirmation before pasting multiline clipboard contents when line-ending controls are not filtered, as a measure against malicious command-line pastes.checked 10 Oct 2026
Security information
The project page links to its source code repository; the pages reviewed do not state security certifications or compliance claims.checked 9 Oct 2026
Split panes
Nochecked 22 Sep 2026
SSH support
Nochecked 22 Sep 2026
Support
The project directs bug reports and enhancement suggestions to its GitHub issue tracker and general Cygwin questions to the Cygwin mailing list.checked 10 Oct 2026

Money

Free plan
Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026

Where it runs

Platforms
The site says mintty works on Windows versions from Windows XP onwards and can host WSL.checked 9 Oct 2026
Supported platforms
Windowschecked 22 Sep 2026

Alternatives to mintty

All alternatives
  1. 1

    Termalin

    Free planiOSWebAPILinux
    7.7From $8 a month
    Visit
  2. 2Warp logo

    Warp

    Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
    7.6From $50 a month
    Visit
  3. 3MobaXterm logo

    MobaXterm

    Free planWindows
    7.4From $69 a year
    Visit
  4. 4

    Cool Retro Term

    Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
    7.1Free plan
    Visit
  5. 5Contour logo

    Contour

    Free planLinuxmacOSWindows
    6.8Free plan
    Visit
  6. 6

    gitsome

    Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
    6.8Free plan
    Visit