Tech riderRev. 2 Oct 2026
Windows Terminal
- 1Runs onWindows
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3Supported platformsWindows
- 4Split panesYes
- 5GPU accelerationYes
- 6Scripting APIYes
- 7SSH supportYes
7 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: learn.microsoft.com

Overview
Windows Terminal is ranked #13 of 40 in terminal emulators on Specifiction, made by Windows Terminal (Redmond, Washington, United States). It runs on Windows. There is a free plan.
Windows Terminal plans and pricing
All plansWindows Terminal Free Microsoft Store or GitHub distribution · GitHub installation does not automatically update learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
Compared on terminal emulators
- Free plan
- Yeslearn.microsoft.com
- Supported platforms
- Windowslearn.microsoft.com
- Split panes
- Yeslearn.microsoft.com
- GPU acceleration
- Yeslearn.microsoft.com
- Scripting API
- Yeslearn.microsoft.com
- SSH support
- Yeslearn.microsoft.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Windows Terminal is a host application for command-line shells such as Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash through WSL.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Tabs and panes
- It supports multiple tabs and panes, including running multiple shells side by side.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Shell profiles
- It supports command-line applications including PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, WSL distributions, and Git Bash.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can customize themes, text, colors, backgrounds, and keyboard shortcuts.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Rendering and characters
- Windows Terminal supports Unicode and UTF-8 characters and uses the GPU to render text.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Tab management
- Users can tear tabs out into new windows and drag tabs into existing windows.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Azure integration
- Windows Terminal includes an Azure Cloud Shell profile and can save Azure credentials for quicker Cloud Shell sign-in.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- WSL integration
- Windows Terminal automatically detects installed WSL distributions and creates profiles for them.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Windows Terminal is available through the Microsoft Store and GitHub releases, with package-manager options including winget, Chocolatey, and Scoop.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Updates
- The packaged distribution installed through the MSIX bundle automatically updates through the Store; GitHub installations do not automatically update.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Portable mode
- The unpackaged ZIP distribution supports portable mode, which stores settings and runtime state alongside the application.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The project repository states that Windows Terminal requires Windows 10 version 2004, build 19041, or later.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Administrator security limit
- Windows Terminal does not support mixing administrator-level and non-administrator shells in tabs within the same window, citing security concerns.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
- Support and feedback
- The installation guide directs users to troubleshooting documentation and the GitHub page for reporting bugs or requesting features.learn.microsoft.com · 2 Oct 2026
Company
- Headquarters
- Redmond, Washington, United Stateslearn.microsoft.com · 23 Sept 2026
Best Windows Terminal alternatives
See all 12 All accessCh 01 Termalin Free planFree trialAPI from $8/mo8.0 All accessCh 02 Contour Free planLinuxMac Free to start7.5 All accessCh 03 Warp Free planLinuxMac from $20/mo7.4 All accessCh 04 Tabby Free planLinuxMac Free to start7.2 All accessCh 05 WezTerm Free planLinuxMac Free to start7.2 All accessCh 06 Hyper Free planLinuxMac Free to start7.1
Where it ranks on Specifiction
- Best Terminal Emulators in 2026#13 of 40
Is Windows Terminal yours?
Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.
Sources
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/· checked 2 Oct 2026
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/install· checked 2 Oct 2026
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/faq· checked 2 Oct 2026
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/distributions· checked 2 Oct 2026
- github.com/microsoft/terminal/blob/main/README.md· checked 2 Oct 2026




