Contour Free plan 8.8 Visit Cool Retro Term
github.com
What it is
Cool Retro Term is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Linux and macOS that imitates the appearance of cathode-ray tube screens. The project describes it as customizable and reasonably lightweight. A context menu exposes color, font, and visual-effect settings. Community profiles can add flicker, scanline rasterization, screen curvature, static noise, and burn-in effects, while the wiki invites users to share themes and provides JSON examples. Release notes list support for multiple tabs and windows, plus shortcuts for tab management. Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole. Linux users can download an AppImage or find packages in repositories for distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch. macOS users can download a DMG. Build information covers Qt6 requirements, Linux Qt5 dependencies, and qmake instructions. Installation, build, theme, and widget guidance appears in the project wiki.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Cool Retro Term is a terminal emulator designed to resemble old cathode-ray-tube displays.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Purpose
- Cool Retro Term is a terminal emulator designed to mimic the look and feel of old cathode tube screens.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Support
- The project wiki provides installation and Linux/macOS build instructions, theme guidance, and information about the terminal widget.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Headquarters
- Albuzzano, ItalyRead 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Maker
- The GitHub account identifies Swordfish90 as Filippo Scognamiglio and lists Pavia, Italy.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- API and SDK
- The official README and wiki describe a desktop application and build process but do not document a public API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Build requirement
- The README says the application requires Qt6, while the Linux build wiki lists Qt5 dependencies and qmake build instructions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Configuration format
- An independent repository analysis reports that settings are configured through the GUI and no documented configuration-file format is provided.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hysenlabs.com
- Creator identity
- The Swordfish90 GitHub account identifies the maintainer as Filippo Scognamiglio.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- CRT effects
- Its presentation includes scanlines, phosphor glow, screen curvature, flicker, bloom and burn-in effects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Design
- The project describes the emulator as customizable and reasonably lightweight.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Distribution packages
- The README says many distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch, package the application in their official repositories.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Documentation depth
- Documentation consists mainly of the README, GitHub wiki build pages and release notes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Download
- The README directs users to download the latest AppImage for Linux or DMG for macOS from Releases.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Frame customization
- The 2.0.0-beta1 release added a frame with customizable size, color and shininess.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Integration
- Cool Retro Term uses the QML port of qtermwidget, a terminal widget based on Konsole.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The 2.0.0-beta2 release notes list tab management shortcuts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Latest release
- GitHub lists 2.0.0-beta2 as the latest release, published 31 May 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Licence
- The repository contains GPL-2.0 and GPL-3.0 licence text files, while an independent directory classifies the project as open source under GPL-3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · terminaltrove.com
- Limit: missing functionality
- TechRadar lists lack of functionality as a reason to avoid the application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Limit: older Snap package
- It's FOSS warns that the Snap package is older than the version available in distribution repositories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · itsfoss.com
- Limit: resource use
- Softpedia reports that the program is relatively resource-heavy for a terminal emulator.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.softpedia.com
- Limit: unsupported features
- Terminal Trove lists no image support, Sixel, Kitty graphics, true color, split panes, shell integration, notifications or built-in multiplexer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · terminaltrove.com
- Limit: weaker modern capability
- Softpedia says it is less capable and customizable than many modern open-source terminal emulators.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.softpedia.com
- Linux build
- The Linux wiki documents Qt5 package dependencies, recursive cloning, qmake and make.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Linux installation
- Linux users can download an AppImage or use packages supplied by distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- macOS build
- The macOS wiki documents Qt5 LTS dependencies, qmake, make and macdeployqt DMG creation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- macOS installation
- macOS users can download a DMG, install through Homebrew or install through MacPorts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maker location
- The maintainer's GitHub profile lists Pavia, Italy.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Multiple tabs and windows
- The 2.0.0-beta1 release introduced support for multiple tabs and windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Operating systems
- The README states that the application runs on Linux and macOS and requires Qt6.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Praise: distribution availability
- It's FOSS notes that packages are available in the official repositories of nearly all major Linux distributions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · itsfoss.com
- Praise: nostalgia
- Softpedia says the application delivers a strong nostalgic experience and offers decent rendering when effects and framing are disabled.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.softpedia.com
- Praise: visual appeal
- TechRadar highlights the convincing CRT appearance, customizable effects and retro character sets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
- Profiles
- Profiles include Amber, Green, Scanlines, Pixelated, Apple, Vintage, IBM DOS, IBM 3278 and Transparent Green.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.softpedia.com
- Project origin
- Terminal Trove records the project creation date as 22 November 2013.Read 15 Oct 2026 · terminaltrove.com
- Rating on Softpedia
- 4.9 out of 5 from 2 votesRead 15 Oct 2026 · linux.softpedia.com
- Rendering
- The 1.2.0 release added sub-pixel rasterization and a blinking cursor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Supported platforms
- linux,macosRead 20 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Tabs
- The 2.0.0-beta2 release added tab-management shortcuts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Tabs and windows
- The 2.0.0-beta1 release notes list support for multiple tabs and windows.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Terminal engine
- The project uses qmltermwidget, a QML port of Konsole's qtermwidget terminal widget.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Themes
- The project wiki invites users to share custom CRT themes and provides example theme settings in JSON format.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Visual customization
- The application exposes colors, fonts and visual effects through a context menu.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Visual settings
- Colors, fonts, and visual effects can be accessed through the context menu.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Free Free Linux and macOS desktop terminal emulator · AppImage or DMG releases · distribution packages Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free and open-source
- Runs on Linux and macOS
- Customizable colors, fonts, and effects
- Community CRT themes with JSON examples
- Multiple tabs and windows
Limits
- No Android support
- No online netplay
- Build information differs between Qt6 and Qt5
- Desktop platforms are limited to Linux and macOS
Who it suits
Cool Retro Term suits Linux and macOS users who want a customizable terminal with CRT-style visuals. It also suits people who prefer open-source software and community-shared themes.
Verdict
Cool Retro Term provides a free desktop terminal with extensive CRT visual controls, themes, and tab support. Check the platform-specific download and build guidance when installing it.
Where Specifiction places it
- Terminal Emulators#2 of 408.8
- Terminal apps#24 of 418.0
