Cmder
cmder.app
What it is
Cmder is a free, portable console emulator package for Windows. It uses ConEmu with Clink enhancements, a Monokai color scheme, and a custom prompt layout. Tabs can run cmd.exe, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty shells. The package supports split panes, a scripting API, and SSH. Settings, aliases, and history can travel with Cmder on a USB stick or in the cloud. The Full edition includes Git for Windows and its Unix commands in PATH; Mini excludes vendored Git binaries. Aliases are configured with the alias command and stored in config/aliases, while executable files placed in bin are added to PATH. Registering with /REGISTER ALL adds a “Cmder Here” option to File Explorer. The documentation describes starting the vendored SSH agent with start-ssh-agent. Mini is a roughly 7.8MB download; Full is about 100MB or 52MB as a 7z archive. The project is licensed under MIT.
Spec sheet
- Product
- Cmder is a portable console emulator package for Windows.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Free plan
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · cmder.app
- Support
- The maker directs users to GitHub issues and notes that upstream ConEmu, Clink, and Git for Windows may be better places to find solutions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- License
- The project repository identifies the license as MIT.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Aliases
- Cmder supports simple aliases, configured with the alias command and stored in config/aliases.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Build requirements
- The maker says building from the repository requires PowerShell 3.0 or later and 7z.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Built on
- Cmder uses ConEmu with enhancements from Clink, plus a Monokai color scheme and a custom prompt layout.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Customization
- Users can place executable files in the bin folder to have them added to PATH.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Git and Unix tools
- The Full edition includes Git for Windows, which provides Unix commands in PATH; Mini excludes vendored Git binaries.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Integration
- Registering Cmder with /REGISTER ALL adds a “Cmder Here” option to File Explorer's directory context menu.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limits
- Preconfigured Bash tabs may not work in the Mini edition without additional configuration.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Portability
- The maker says settings, aliases, and history can travel with Cmder on a USB stick or in the cloud.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
- Scripting API
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · cmder.app
- Shells
- Tabs can run cmd.exe, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty shells.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Split panes
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · cmder.app
- SSH
- The documentation describes starting the vendored SSH agent with start-ssh-agent.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- SSH support
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · cmder.app
- Supported platforms
- WindowsRead 20 Sep 2026 · cmder.app
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free Mini and Full editions
- Portable settings, aliases, and history
- Supports cmd, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty
- Includes split panes and scripting API
- SSH agent documentation provided
Limits
- Windows-only platform
- Mini excludes vendored Git binaries
- Preconfigured Bash tabs may need Mini configuration
- Full download is substantially larger
Who it suits
Cmder suits Windows users who want a portable terminal with multiple shells, panes, scripting, or SSH. Choose Full when bundled Git and Unix commands are needed.
Verdict
Cmder provides a portable Windows terminal with shell tabs, panes, aliases, scripting, and SSH support. The two free editions differ mainly in bundled Git binaries and download size.
Where Specifiction places it
- Terminal Emulators#14 of 408.2
- Terminal apps#25 of 417.9