16.8
Terminal tool for pane layouts, named sessions, shareable KDL setups and browser access.
Free planiOSWebLinux
Best Terminal Multiplexers in 2026
Zellij leads this chart of 29 (6.8/10, free plan). RMUX is next (6.7/10, free plan), and LibreBooking is the next highest-placed with a free plan (6.6/10). Terminal multiplexers organize terminal work into sessions and panes; persistence and pane layouts are key things to compare. Check platform support before choosing, especially if you want to use a tool from an Android device. The platform facts here cover Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosted, web, and API access.
26.7
Rust multiplexer for persistent shells, tmux-compatible commands, SDK automation and encrypted web sharing.
Free planWebAPILinux
36.6
LibreBooking is free, open-source software for organizations that schedule reservations for shared resources.
Free planWebAPILinux
- 4
muxel
Desktop app for multiple shells and coding agents, with tabs, split panes and Git worktrees.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.6Free plan - 5
Okena
Android, iOS, desktop and web app for running CLI agents and projects with saved layouts and Git worktrees.
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI6.6Free plan - 6
p2pmux
p2pmux is a free peer-to-peer terminal multiplexer that lets users and machines connect to a shared session.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.5Free plan - 7
openmux
Desktop multiplexer with stacked, horizontal or vertical panes, nine workspaces and detachable sessions.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.4Free plan - 8
muxterm
Web-first multiplexer with named workspaces, persistent sessions, split panes and offline-capable PWA access.
Free planWebLinuxmacOSWindows6.3Free plan - 9
Séance
Linux app showing AI agent status in scrolling panes, with notifications for requests and completions.
Free planLinux6.3Free plan - 10
TermStation
Android, desktop and web session manager with templates, scratch pads, containers and an API.
AndroidWebAPILinux6.3 - 11
Terminalz
Web terminal multiplexer that streams sessions from multiple machines and can mirror Herdr or tmux.
iOSWebLinuxmacOS6.2 - 12
Herdr
Herdr is a background runtime that keeps coding agents’ terminal sessions running when users detach and return from another machine.
Free planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.1Free plan - 13
Quil
Quil is a free terminal multiplexer for developers coordinating multiple tools alongside AI coding assistants.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.1Free plan - 14
Byobu
Linux and macOS terminal multiplexer wrapper with shortcut keys, split panes and configurable system status.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.0Free plan - 15
Shpool
Shpool is free, open-source software for keeping named shell sessions available when connections drop.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.0Free plan - 16
tmux
Classic multiplexer for persistent sessions, multiple windows, split panes and shared terminal access.
Free planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.0Free plan - 17
TUIOS
Terminal app with workspaces, pane layouts, lasting sessions, agent status and an approval inbox.
WebAPILinuxmacOS6.0 - 18
WMUX
Persistent multiplexer for shells, servers, logs and agents, with panes, windows and native Windows support.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.0Free plan - 19
amux
Shared-workflow multiplexer with pane controls, agent JSON events, broadcast keys and crash recovery.
Free planLinuxmacOS5.8Free plan - 20
mtm
mtm, the Micro Terminal Multiplexer, is free software for Unix-like command-line environments, with Linux and macOS listed.
LinuxmacOS5.8 - 21
Ferrix
Rust multiplexer with sessions, windows, split panes, snapshots and optional experimental crash recovery.
LinuxmacOS5.6 - 225.6
- 23
qmux
qmux is a free, MIT-licensed macOS desktop terminal multiplexer for launching and managing coding agents.
macOS5.5 - 245.5
- 25
Conmux
Conmux is free, Windows-native terminal multiplexer software for running command-line tools in supervised sessions.
Windows5.4
Choosing well
Which platforms do you need?
Start with the platforms you plan to use. Check whether a tool supports Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosting, or API access as needed.
How should sessions persist?
Check the persistence scope to learn what happens to a session when you disconnect or close a terminal. Session synchronization is a separate comparison point if you need sessions to stay in step across access points.
What pane layout do you need?
Compare custom pane layouts if you want to arrange terminal work in a particular way. Check the maximum sessions figure too if you expect to keep several sessions available.
Do you need collaboration or extensions?
Look at collaboration features if you need to work with other people. Plugins or extensions matter if you want to add capabilities; check the tool's own details for what it supports.
Can you use it on a free plan?
Check whether the free plan covers the features you need and review any paid-from price before deciding. A free trial and a free plan are different; confirm the current terms with the tool.
Questions people ask
What does a terminal multiplexer do?
It organizes terminal work into sessions and panes. Compare persistence, pane layouts, and session limits to find a fit.
Which platforms should I check for a terminal multiplexer?
Check for the platforms you need, such as Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosted, or API access.
What is the difference between persistence and session synchronization?
Persistence describes how sessions are retained; session synchronization is a separate feature to compare when you need sessions to stay in step.
Are terminal multiplexers free?
Check each tool’s free-plan details and any paid-from price. The list compares free plans, but plan terms can vary.