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Tabby Terminal

Tabby is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux with built-in SSH, Telnet, and serial clients.

Our take: Tabby Terminal is a highly configurable, MIT-licensed terminal emulator (formerly 'Terminus') for Windows, macOS, and Linux, available at tabby.sh.

Best forRetail staff
ReviewedPricing: Free
8.0 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try TabbyFree (open source, MIT license)
The bottom line

The go-to free terminal upgrade for developers who want SSH, serial, and local shells in one polished, plugin-extensible app.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isTabby — a free, open-source, cross-platform terminal emulator with built-in SSH, Telnet, and serial client.
Our takeTabby Terminal is a highly configurable, MIT-licensed terminal emulator (formerly 'Terminus') for Windows, macOS, and Linux, available at tabby.sh.
The tool is completely free and squarely developer-facing. With 72k+ GitHub stars, split panes, persistent tabs, an integrated SSH/SFTP/Telnet client, and a growing plugin ecosystem, it is one of the most popular modern terminal replacements available.
Why we rate it72k+ GitHub stars and 200+ releases signal a mature, actively maintained project.
The breadth of built-in protocols (SSH, Telnet, serial) plus community plugins makes it exceptionally capable for a zero-cost tool.
The catchNo official commercial support — users rely on GitHub Issues and community forums.
The plugin API is powerful but documentation is sparse, and some advanced configurations have a steep learning curve.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Developers replacing PuTTY or native OS terminals with a feature-rich alternative
  • Sysadmins managing multiple SSH connections with persistent profiles and split panes
  • Power users wanting deep theming, plugin extensions, and cross-platform consistency
Not good for
  • Non-technical users who need a GUI-only workflow with no command-line exposure
  • Teams requiring enterprise support SLAs or centralized fleet management
  • Mobile or browser-only environments (desktop install required)
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Fast: download, install, and open a local or SSH session in under 5 minutes; no account or signup required.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    No hard scale limit as an OSS tool, but managing dozens of SSH profiles and config-sync across machines requires manual setup or community plugins.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: MIT license means full portability; config files are local and human-readable; no vendor lock-in.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try Tabby

A look inside

Tabby Terminal product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this payment terminal support contactless payments and mobile wallets?

Payment terminals support contactless payments, NFC cards, and mobile wallets.

What payment methods does Tabby Terminal support?

Tabby Terminal supports multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and contactless payments.

How can Tabby Terminal provide a secure payment terminal solution for businesses to accept in-person card payments?

Tabby Terminal provides a secure in-person card payment solution for businesses, supporting EMV and contactless transactions.

How does this payment terminal solution handle in-store transactions and secure payments efficiently?

Payment terminal solutions handle in-store transactions by securely processing card payments, applying encryption, and integrating with POS systems.

What payment processing and point-of-sale solutions does this terminal provide for businesses?

Payment terminals support in-store and online transactions, card processing, and secure checkout management.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    Warp Terminal for AI-augmented command completion and team collaboration features.

  • Lighter alternative

    Windows Terminal (Microsoft) for a simpler, OS-native free option on Windows.

Showing 1–2 of 2

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Tags

#Payments#POS