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Alacritty

alacritty.org

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Spec score 8.5 #7 of 40 in Terminal Emulators

What it is

Alacritty is a free, cross-platform terminal emulator for Linux, macOS, Windows, and BSD. It uses OpenGL and is designed for high performance and extensive configuration, for people who spend substantial time in a terminal. Vi mode supports viewport and scrollback navigation, text selection, and copying with keyboard bindings; users can also search forward or backward through scrollback. Configurable regex hints can recognize visible text or links and pass them to an external application or trigger a built-in action. One instance can run multiple terminal windows, including through the alacritty msg create-window command. Alacritty is designed to integrate with other applications rather than recreate their functions, and URL-opening applications can be configured. Settings use a TOML file that the software does not create automatically. The project describes Alacritty as beta, with missing features and bugs still to address. It has no tabs, split panes, or graphical configuration editor, and requires OpenGL ES 2.0. Windows use requires ConPTY support on Windows 10 version 1809 or higher.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Alacritty is a modern, cross-platform OpenGL terminal emulator designed for high performance and extensive configuration.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Intended users
The project describes Alacritty as suited to people who spend a lot of time in a terminal.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · alacritty.org
Integrations
Alacritty integrates with other applications instead of reimplementing their functionality, and URL opening applications can be configured.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Support
The project README points users to the `#alacritty` channel on Libera.Chat for questions or quick help.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The project is released under the Apache License 2.0 and MIT licenses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Clipboard control
Configuration controls OSC 52 clipboard access, which defaults to allowing copy but not paste.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Configuration
Alacritty uses a TOML configuration file and does not create that file automatically.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Feature limits
The project says Alacritty does not include tabs, splits, or a graphical configuration editor.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
GPU acceleration
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · alacritty.org
Multiple windows
Alacritty can run multiple terminal windows from one instance, including through the `alacritty msg create-window` command.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform requirements
The project lists OpenGL ES 2.0 as a requirement and requires ConPTY support on Windows 10 version 1809 or higher.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Readiness
The project describes the software as beta, with some missing features and bugs still to be fixed.Read 4 Oct 2026 · alacritty.org
Scripting API
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · alacritty.org
Search
Users can search forward or backward through the scrollback buffer, including while in vi mode.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Split panes
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · alacritty.org
Supported platforms
Linux,macOS,Windows,BSDRead 20 Sep 2026 · alacritty.org
Terminal hints
Configurable regex hints can detect visible text or hyperlinks and send them to an external application or trigger a built-in action.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Vi mode
Vi mode lets users navigate the viewport and scrollback, select text, and copy it using keyboard bindings.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Alacritty Free Open-source terminal emulator · BSD, Linux, macOS, Windows Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every Alacritty plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and available for Linux, macOS, Windows, and BSD.
  • Supports GPU acceleration.
  • Vi mode supports navigation and text selection.
  • Searches forward and backward through scrollback.
  • One instance can run multiple terminal windows.

Limits

  • The project describes it as beta.
  • It does not include tabs or split panes.
  • It has no graphical configuration editor.
  • Requires OpenGL ES 2.0.

Who it suits

Alacritty suits people who spend a lot of time in a terminal and prefer keyboard navigation and a configurable TOML file. It may suit users who are comfortable with beta software and without tabs or split panes.

Verdict

Alacritty offers terminal navigation, search, hints, and multiple windows, with configuration in a TOML file. The project labels it beta and explicitly omits tabs, split panes, and a graphical configuration editor.

Where Specifiction places it

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