The Terminal on macOS lets you access the inner workings of your Mac via a command-line interface, offering capabilities beyond the GUI. It uses the Bash shell and requires basic command knowledge to operate. You can open Terminal via Spotlight, Finder, Launchpad, or Siri. While the built-in Terminal app is powerful, users can explore alternatives like Commander One, ZOC, MacTerm, iTerm2, Kitty, Hyper, MacWise, and Byobu, each with unique features and limitations. Stay tuned for a detailed tutorial in the next forum post.
Hey everyone ,
So, I’ve been playing with Terminal on my Mac and wanted to share how you can open it up and some alternative Terminal emulators you might want to check out.
How to Open Terminal on macOS: Different Ways
Just got a Mac this year and want to dive into Terminal? No worries! Here are a few ways to fire it up:
Option 1: Using Spotlight Search 
Just hit the magnifying glass icon or press Ctrl + Space
. Type in ‘Terminal’ and press Enter. Boom, you’re in!
Option 2: Finder Method 
If Spotlight isn’t your thing, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities. You’ll find Terminal in there. Click to open!
Option 3: Launchpad 
Hit up Launchpad from your Dock, head over to the ‘Others’ folder, and launch Terminal from there.
Option 4: Siri Command 
Lazy like me? Just tell Siri, ‘Open Terminal,’ and you’re good to go!
Top Mac Terminal Emulators
Looking for something more feature-packed than the built-in Terminal? Here’s a list of the top 8 Terminal emulators you can try.
1. Commander One
Commander One isn’t just a Terminal emulator. It’s a fast file manager with hotkeys to execute commands without leaving the interface. Plus, it supports FTP/SFTP/FTPS, cloud storages, works with iOS/Android/MTP devices, and offers unlimited tabs.
Pros:
- FTP/SFTP/FTPS support
- Integrates with cloud storage
- Works with mobile devices
- Unlimited tabs
Cons:
- No comparison/directory sync
- No multi-rename feature
Price: Free version, Pro costs $29.99 (for 1 Mac)
Latest update: September 25, 2023
User rating: 4.3/5 on Mac App Store
2. ZOC
ZOC is packed with features and supports multiple sessions through SSH, telnet, QNX, and more. Highly customizable, with features like automatic highlights and mouse/keyboard support.
Pros:
- Supports Rexx scripting
- Automatic highlight feature
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Pricey
Price: Free 30-day trial, then $79.99
Latest update: October 30, 2023
User rating: 4.2/5 on CNET
3. MacTerm
MacTerm is powerful with tons of customization options. Features include full keyboard access, speech commands, a Unicode core, and advanced emulation.
Pros:
- Macro support
- Floating command line
Cons:
- Occasionally unresponsive
Price: Free
Latest update: December 30, 2022
User rating: 3.5/5 on CNET
4. iTerm2
iTerm2 is feature-rich and suitable for both beginners and advanced users. It supports multiple tabs, hotkeys, session playback, and Growl notifications.
Pros:
- Instant session playback
- Growl support
- Split panes
- Easy to use out of the box
Cons:
- Requires macOS 10.14 or higher
- No RTL support
- Steep learning curve
Price: Free and open-source
Latest update: October 5, 2023
User rating: 4.8/5 on G2
5. Kitty
Kitty uses OpenGL rendering, offloading tasks to the GPU for smoother performance. It supports tiling mode across multiple windows and ‘launch sessions.’
Pros:
- Create individual commands
- Hotkey support
And that’s just the beginning. There are many more out there, but these are some of the best to get you started.
Feel free to ask any questions or share your own experiences with these emulators!
Pros and Cons of Kitty
Pros:
- Support for ligatures in code
Cons:
- Sometimes it gets slow with multiple large files open
- No configuration reload
Price: Free and open-source
Latest update (when I checked): August 8, 2023
User rating: 4.7/5 on AlternativeTo
Download: Kitty
Hyper - A Terminal with Lots of Configs 
Looking for a terminal with loads of settings you can tweak right from the command line? Hyper might be what you need! Built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it supports plugins to boost productivity. Made by its developers to offer an awesome experience for command-line lovers on top of open web standards.
Pros:
- Multiple tabs open at once
- Tons of handy shortcuts
- Terminal splitting
- You can style it with your own CSS
Cons:
- Eats up a lot of resources
- Sometimes slows down your system
Price: Pricing upon request
Latest update: July 4, 2023
User rating: 2.6/5 on AlternativeTo
Download: Hyper
Say Hi to MacWise 
MacWise is a super versatile Mac Terminal emulator that can emulate a bunch of different terminals like ADDS Viewpoint, Wyse, Televideo, DEC VT100, and more. It lets you connect via modem, direct serial, SSH, or Telnet. With this, you can send commands, transfer files, and run scripts - pretty neat, huh?
Pros:
- Supports loads of different protocols and connection modes
- Log into Mac Unix Shell directly
Cons:
- Interface is a bit confusing and not very Mac-like
- Pretty expensive
Price: Starts with a trial version, then $59
Latest update: May 29, 2023
User rating: 2.9/5 on CNET
Download: MacWise
Byobu - The Handy Shell 
Last but not least on the list is Byobu! It’s a super convenient shell for GNU Screen that allows running multiple programs in the background within a single console session. You can reconnect to the same session after disconnecting too. It comes packed with advanced profiles, cool keyboard shortcuts, and works on most Linux, BSD, and Mac distributions.
Pros:
- Multi-window mode
- Saves windows and running scripts on the server even after disconnecting
- Split-screen with several tabs
Cons:
- Can be a bit tricky to get used to
Price: Free
Latest update: February 7, 2020
Download: Byobu
Basic macOS Terminal Commands 
Here are some handy commands to help you make the most of your Mac’s Terminal app:
-
Show hidden files and folders:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
-
View the contents of any file:
cat ~/enter/file/path
-
Copy the contents of a folder from one place to another:
ditto -V ~/original/folder/ ~/new/folder/
-
Download a file without a browser:
cd ~/Downloads/ curl -O http://www.thefilename.com/thefile/url.mp3
-
View all active processes:
top
-
Automatic check for updates:
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1
-
Prevent sleep mode:
caffeinate
Why Consider an Alternative Terminal? 
A lot of Mac users barely touch the Terminal app since it can seem pretty intimidating. While the default Terminal gets the job done, it’s missing some nifty features. If you want something more customizable or just plain cooler, there are plenty of other options out there. So, find the best terminal for Mac that fits your needs!
Wrapping It Up 
Each Mac Terminal emulator has its ups and downs. Some do certain things better, while others might lack those features. So, why not give them all a try, see what works best for you, and pick your top Terminal for Mac? Happy terminal-ing!