


What is the difference between iTerm2 and the default Terminal app?
Jun 13, 2025 am 12:03 AMiTerm2 has more functions, is more customized and has better ease of use than macOS's default terminal. 1. In terms of functions, iTerm2 supports split screen, enhanced search, hotkey windows and mouse interaction, while the terminal only provides basic functions; 2. In terms of appearance, iTerm2 supports preset themes, hyphen fonts and background pictures, while the terminal only provides basic style settings; 3. In terms of integration, iTerm2 supports Python/AppleScript scripts, better Tmux integration and task completion notifications, and the terminal has weak integration capabilities; 4. In terms of performance, iTerm2 renders faster and has better high resolution display, but the terminal is more stable due to the native system support. Therefore, if you use optional terminals for light use in daily life, heavy developers are more suitable for iTerm2.
If you're using a Mac and have started exploring command-line tools, you might have heard of iTerm2. So what's the difference between iTerm2 and the default Terminal app? In short: iTerm2 offers more features, better customization, and improved usability — all while being free and open-source.
Here's how they actually differ in everyday use:
1. Feature Set and Advanced Functionality
The biggest difference is that iTerm2 packs in a lot of features that the default Terminal doesn't offer out of the box.
- Split Panes: With iTerm2, you can easily split your terminal window into multiple panes — vertically or horizontally — and switch between them with keyboard shortcuts. This makes multitasking much smoother.
- Search Enhancements: iTerm2 has a powerful search function that lets you search across multiple tabs or even through scrollback history.
- Hotkey Window: You can set a global hotkey to show or hide iTerm2 instantly, like a Quake-style console — super handy for quick commands.
- Mouse Support: If you're using applications like Vim or Tmux, iTerm2 supports mouse interactions by default (with some config tweaks), which the standard Terminal does not do well.
Terminal.app is solid and stable, but it sticks to the basics — it's designed to be simple and reliable, not feature-rich.
2. Customization and Appearance
If you care about how your terminal looks or want to tweak settings to match your workflow, iTerm2 wins hands down.
- Themes and Colors: iTerm2 has built-in support for color presets, and there are tons of community-created themes you can import with one click. Terminal requires more manual setup to get the same look.
- Fonts and Ligatures: iTerm2 support logics (those fancy joined-up programming fonts like Fira Code) more seamlessly than Terminal, especially when combined with tools like Powerlevel10k or Oh My Zsh.
- Background Images: Yes, you can even set a background image in iTerm2 if you're into that kind of thing (though maybe not recommended for productivity).
In comparison, Terminal gives you basic color and font settings — nothing wrong with that, but not very flexible.
3. Integration and Automation
For developers or power users who rely on scripting and automation, iTerm2 provides deeper integration options.
- Scripting Support: iTerm2 can be scripted using Python or AppleScript, letting you automate tasks like opening specific sessions, changing profiles, or responding to events.
- Better Tmux Integration: While both apps work with Tmux, iTerm2 handles mouse support and pane resizing much more smoothly when running Tmux sessions.
- Notifications and Alerts: iTerm2 can notify you when a long-running command finishes — something most people don't realize they need until they try it.
Terminal does integrate well with macOS (like Quick Look and native accessibility features), but it lacks the level of scripting and session control that iTerm2 offers.
4. Performance and Stability
Both apps are pretty stable, but there are small differences depending on usage.
- For most day-to-day tasks, performance is similar. However, iTerm2 tends to handle rendering faster when you're working with large outputs or complex prompts (especially when using frameworks like Oh My Zsh).
- iTerm2 also has a “native full-screen” mode and better handling of retina displays, making things look crisper.
That said, because Terminal comes with macOS, it's been tested extensively across versions and tends to break less often after OS updates.
So, basically, if you're just checking logs or occasionally SSH-ing into a server, the default Terminal is totally fine. But if you spend a lot of time in the terminal — coding, scripting, or managing servers — iTerm2 will make your life easier with its extra tools and smoother experience.
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iTerm2 has more functions, is more customized and has better ease of use than macOS's default terminal. 1. In terms of functions, iTerm2 supports split screen, enhanced search, hotkey windows and mouse interaction, while the terminal only provides basic functions; 2. In terms of appearance, iTerm2 supports preset themes, hyphen fonts and background pictures, while the terminal only provides basic style settings; 3. In terms of integration, iTerm2 supports Python/AppleScript scripts, better Tmux integration and task completion notifications, and the terminal has weak integration capabilities; 4. In terms of performance, iTerm2 renders faster and has better high resolution display, but the terminal is more stable due to the native system support. Therefore, if you use optional terminals for daily use, heavy developers are more suitable for iTerm2

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