Hyperterminal Alternatives: 15 Best Windows Terminal Emulators To Install
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Key notes
- The best Windows 11 Terminal emulators allow you to remotely communicate with various systems and servers.
- Some tools provide your Windows PC with Unix capabilities through extensions of apps like Cygwin and MinTTY.
- The ideal software will be easily customizable, easy to use, and set up by anybody.
A terminal emulator allows you to imitate the function of the standard computer terminals. With it, you can perform data transfers and access another computer remotely.
The creative possibilities with these tools are endless when combined with a high-level operating system like Windows 11. However, there are so many third-party terminal emulators available.
So, it is hard to pick the right one. But, as we did with the must-have Windows 11 apps, we have selected the best terminals you can use and improve your productivity.
How do we choose the best Windows 11 terminal emulator?
Before selecting the tools on this list, our team of experts tested their compatibility with Windows 11 first. We also checked their interface for ease of use features like multi-tab management.
Other features checked are compatibility with different servers and shells, speed, customization, and mode of communication with hosts. Be assured that all the tools on this list do their jobs well.
What to consider when choosing your Windows 11 terminal emulator
Depending on the use case, there are numerous features to consider in a Windows 11 terminal emulator. If you care more about the interface, you should consider a fully customizable tool with a simple design.
If you are all about multi-tasking and running multiple sessions simultaneously, you should go for a tool with a multi-tab feature. So, there is no general rule to it.
What are the best Windows 11 terminal emulators to use?
Cmder – Terminal with a portable version
The Cmder is a stunning Windows 11 terminal emulator in C++ and Powershell. This free and open-source software is built on the well-known ConEmu emulator.
It gives a Windows PC a Unix capability that makes it compatible with PowerShell, myysgit, and MinTTY. Finally, it has a portable version that programmers can use on a USB drive.
Other features:
- Works with VS Code terminal.
- The portable version lacks Unix commands.
- Works well with command-line apps.
⇒ Get Cmder
ConEmu – Windows 11 terminal with screenshot
This is a tabbed console emulator built explicitly for Windows PC. It has immense customization features like hotkeys, auto-hide mode, and custom colors.
Furthermore, it is compatible with many other shells like Cmder and PowerShell. Lastly, it supports GUI applications and also has a built-in screenshot option.
Other features:
- Customizable graphical user interface.
- Lacks remote connections.
- Supports multiple tabs.
MobaXterm – Highest server-client integrations
This is an all-in-one software that makes remote computing effortless. It has a free and paid version called home and professional editions.
One endearing feature of MobaXterm generally is the integration of different server clients like SSH, RDB, and VNC. Lastly, it offers Unix commands like bash and rsync.
Other features:
- Simple and intuitive interface.
- Has a password vault.
- Can integrate with WSL.
PuTTY – Open-source with full code available
PuTTY is the most popular SSH client and is written in C language. In addition, it is considered one of the best Windows 11 terminal emulators, thanks to its reliability and the availability of the source code.
Programmers can make changes to suit the various tasks with the whole code available. Moreover, PuTTY is very secure thanks to its incorporation of public-key authentication.
Other features:
- Works with a series of protocols.
- Available on different platforms.
- Does not have a tabbed interface.
FireCMD – High-level multi-tab tool
If you are looking for a high-level Windows 11 terminal emulator that allows you to run various tasks, you might have just come across the perfect tool in FireCMD.
It offers multi-tab support and allows users to carry out several tasks simultaneously.
FireCMD also allows you to run various console apps like CMD, Bash, and Cygwin simultaneously.
Other features:
- Offers HTML and CSS support.
- Customizable fonts, style, and color.
- Supports full-screen mode.
Terminus – Clean and simple interface
This is a Windows 11 terminal emulator with a clean and polished interface. It works on different operating systems and is highly customizable.
You can change the hotkeys, color, tab placement, cursor style, and many other features. Lastly, Terminus works well with WSL, PowerShell, and CMD.
Other features:
- Fully customizable.
- Has several plugins.
- Takes up a lot of space.
Mintty – Old Windows versions support
Mintty is a unique, open-source software perfect for programmers that majorly use Cygwin for Windows Shell. It has been the default terminal for Cygwin since 2011 and has come leaps and bounds since.
It has a clean display that supports graphics, images, and emojis. In addition, Minty is one of the best Windows 11 terminal emulators due to its support for many Windows applications.
Lastly, it performs superbly on even old operating systems like Windows XP.
Other features:
- Has drag and drop features.
- Supports theme changes.
- Offers MSYS support.
KiTTY – User details storing terminal
KiTTY is software adapted from the much-heralded PuTTY terminal emulator. They share the same interface and user experience, making it easy to switch between them.
However, it offers some features that are not available on PuTTY. For example, KiTTY is designed for Windows but can access Linux and Unix apps.
Moreover, it has multiple added features like an SSH handler, alternative command-line options, and WinSCP integration.
Other features:
- Telnet and SSH connections.
- Holds login details.
- Integrated text editor.
Xshell – Secure Windows 11 terminal emulator
Xshell is a powerful Windows 11 terminal emulator that effectively copies a host system. It essentially imitates the presence of a virtual console and allows your system to work as a terminal.
This makes accessing data on a mainframe effortless for programmers. In addition, Xshell is built for Windows PC but can access Linux servers easily.
Finally, it is well-known and considered one of the best terminals for its transparency and security. So, there is no risk of data loss.
Other features:
- Automatically downloads and installs updates.
- Features a tabbed interface.
- Offers UTF-8 coding support.
z/Scope – Professional tool
This is one of the most professional and high-level terminal emulators used on Windows 11. It boasts a modern interface with tabbed features for handling various tasks simultaneously.
This multi-protocol and multi-host software work on all versions of the Windows OS, including the old ones like XP and Vista. Furthermore, it is easy to use and integrates features needed to communicate with hosts on SSL protocols.
Other features:
- It is a paid software.
- Offers keyboard remapping.
- Has a web-based edition.
Hyper – Fast and stable emulator
Hyper is another special software that works on different operating systems. It is mainly used to create a dial-up connection to another system.
This tool can effortlessly connect to several systems using the SSH and dial-up modem. It can also be fully customized, allowing you to change features such as fonts, colors, shapes, and more.
Other features:
- It can be used to transfer data between networks like hosts and servers.
- Allows commands modification.
- Allows image size configuration.
Zoc – Terminal with Unlimited access to Unix accounts
This is the ideal terminal emulator if you need unlimited access to Unix accounts data from Windows 11. It is a paid tool that gives professionals great value.
Zoc supports many connection types like SSH, Telnet, and ISDN. All the commands you need to run the tool are available in the help guide to make things easy.
Other features:
- Highly customizable.
- Offers keyboard and mouse support.
- Multi-tabbing feature.
⇒ Get Zoc
Babun – Terminal with many addons
Babun is another top-level tool built on Cygwin. This free software, the most beautiful Windows shell, is straightforward.
Babun has a built-in feature known as a pact. This feature helps developers to have unlimited access to shell provisions.
Also, it has many addons that extend its functions considerably. Lastly, it is easy to set up and can be used by beginners.
Other features:
- Permits the execution of Linux apps.
- Easy to use.
- Has all Cygwin features and more.
Windows Terminal – Windows 11 built-in emulator
While this might not be the fully-packed emulator like the third-party tools on this list, it is no slouch.
The Windows built-in emulator combines WSL, Git Bash, Command-Line, Azure Cloud Shell, and PowerShell in one tool. It has come a long way since the hard-to-use tool can not easily copy and paste commands.
Other features:
- Easy to use.
- Already built-in.
- Does not face delay or lag.
Git Bash Terminal – Dedicated tool for Git
The Git Bash is a tool that allows you to run Git in the BASH emulator. And with the wide usage of Git and GitHub in many projects, programmers have found this tool very useful.
It packs in various stunning features that make your task easy. Also, it is one of the few terminals that were first available for Windows 11. So you don’t need to worry about compatibility.
Other features:
- Easy to set up.
- Highly versatile.
- Easily customizable.
The best Windows 11 terminal emulators should offer a combination of ease of use, high compatibility, and security. In addition, we have gathered free and paid products that help you efficiently access remote devices.
Check out this list of the best productivity apps to install on Windows 11 to improve your performance.
Feel free to let us know any worthy software missing from our list in the comments below.
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