iTerm 2 vs WezTerm
Learn how iTerm 2 and WezTerm differ in their key features, development activity, technology
stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these terminal emulators is best for you.
Learn how iTerm 2 and WezTerm differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these terminal emulators is best for you.
iTerm 2
Last 30 days
Last commit
13 hours agoRepository age
16 yearsLicense
GPL-2.0Repository
gnachman/iterm2
WezTerm
Last 30 days
Last commit
10 days agoRepository age
9 yearsLicense
MITRepository
wezterm/wezterm
Detailed Comparison
WezTerm appears to have several advantages over iTerm 2, particularly in popularity, growth and licensing. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.
WezTerm appears to have several advantages over iTerm 2, particularly in popularity, growth and licensing. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.
Community & Popularity
WezTerm leads in popularity with 29,456 stars vs 18,257 stars for iTerm 2. The 61% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, WezTerm has 1,855 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.
Growth Momentum
WezTerm is growing faster, adding 317 stars in the last 30 days (+1.1%) against adding 130 stars for iTerm 2 (+0.7%). WezTerm is both larger and pulling further ahead.
Development Activity
Both projects show recent activity, with iTerm 2 last updated 13 hours ago and WezTerm 10 days ago.
Technology Stack
Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, CSS, Bash, Python, C, Objective-C. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: iTerm 2 uses Swift, C++, Ruby, MATLAB while WezTerm leverages Rust, GLSL.
Project Maturity
iTerm 2 has been in development longer, starting 16 years ago, compared to WezTerm which began 9 years ago. This 6.9-year head start suggests iTerm 2 may have more mature features and established processes.
Licensing
WezTerm uses the MIT license, which is more permissive than iTerm 2's GPL-2.0 license, potentially offering greater flexibility for commercial use and integration.
Use Cases & Features
Both tools serve similar use cases in Terminal Emulators. However, they also have distinct specializations: WezTerm extends into Terminal Multiplexers.
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