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iTerm2 vs Terminal.app: which one to pick in 2026?
Terminal.app in a pinch. iTerm2 for serious work.
What each does better
iTerm2
In my stack
Better at: Split panes, history search, configurable profiles, perfect shell integration
Worse at: Interface a bit dated compared to Warp, no built-in AI
Based on my iTerm2 review
Terminal.app
Competitor
Better at: Pre-installed, no installation needed
Worse at: Limited: no native split panes, no advanced search, less customizable
Compared from my iTerm2 review
My verdict
Terminal.app in a pinch. iTerm2 for serious work.
My rating
iTerm2
I only rate the tools I really use. Terminal.app is not in my stack, so it has no rating here.
Pricing
iTerm2
€0
Entry price
Terminal.app
No pricing sheet on my side: I do not use it day to day, so I do not put a price on it here.
Compatibility
iTerm2
Go further
Other comparisons
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