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Best tmux Alternatives

3 editor-verified alternatives · tmux overview →

source: tools.alternatives · stored order · active records only; review scores are annotations and never change membership or order

Zellij logo
1

Zellij

open sourceexplicit relation

Modern terminal workspace manager written in Rust that provides tmux-like functionality with a more intuitive UX and batteries-included defaults. Features split panes, tabs, sessions, floating/stacked layouts, a built-in plugin system (via WebAssembly), and a status bar with configurable widgets. Supports mouse interaction, copy mode, and sixel images. No configuration required to get started. Growing as a modern tmux alternative with 23K+ GitHub stars and an active plugin ecosystem.

Free
Fish Shell logo
2

Fish Shell

open sourceexplicit relation

User-friendly interactive shell for Linux and macOS that works great out of the box with zero configuration needed. Features autosuggestions based on command history (accept with right arrow), syntax highlighting as you type, tab completions with inline descriptions, web-based configuration UI for themes and settings, and a scripting syntax that is simpler than bash/zsh. Not POSIX-compatible by design. Popular among developers who want a productive shell without customization effort.

Free
Nushell logo
3

Nushell

open sourceexplicit relation

Nushell is a modern cross-platform shell written in Rust that treats all data as structured tables instead of plain text streams. Pipes carry typed rows through commands like ls, where, and get, so you can query JSON, CSV, SQLite, TOML, and YAML with a single uniform syntax. Powerful enough to replace bash or PowerShell for interactive use and scripting, with plugin support for custom data sources.

Free

Open-source tmux alternatives

Zellij, Fish Shell, Nushellsee all open-source developer tools.

FAQ

What is the best tmux alternative?

Zellij tops our editor-verified list of 3 tmux alternatives.

Are there open-source tmux alternatives?

Yes — Zellij, Fish Shell, Nushell are open source.