WezTerm

What is it?

WezTerm is a GPU-accelerated terminal emulator and terminal multiplexer in one program. Tabs, panes, and sessions are built in, so you can skip tmux if you like, and the entire configuration is a Lua script. That means you can generate keybindings programmatically, query the system, and build dynamic status bars without leaving the config file.

Why use it?

WezTerm suits people who want their terminal to be a project. The Lua configuration is genuinely powerful — you can write functions, load modules, and change behaviour based on the hostname or time of day. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows with the same config, and its multiplexer supports attaching and detaching sessions like tmux.

Key features

• GPU rendering via WebGPU/OpenGL with fallbacks
• Tabs, panes, and workspaces without an external multiplexer
• Lua configuration for keybindings, colors, and dynamic behaviour
• Ligature support and font fallback across scripts
• Image and sixel support in the terminal
• Cross-platform, including serial and SSH domains

How it compares

Against Kitty, WezTerm is more configurable and has a stronger built-in multiplexer, but the Lua learning curve is real. Against Alacritty it is heavier and more featureful. If you already use tmux and only want a fast renderer, both Alacritty and Kitty are simpler; choose WezTerm when you want to shape the whole experience.