Byobu vs TermStation
Byobu
byobu.orgTermStation
termstation.devSide by side
| Figure | Byobu | TermStation |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Terminal Multiplexers | 8.1 (#6) | 7.1 (#25) |
| Integrations | Byobu integrates with tmux and GNU Screen as backends and can display system indicators including network, Wi-Fi, battery, updates, RAID status, and custom scripts. | Integrations use templates to configure CLI commands and arguments, and GitHub is enabled as a code forge by default. |
| License | Byobu is GPLv3-licensed open-source software hosted on GitHub. | The repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. |
| Support | Support is largely volunteer-led; users can report bugs on GitHub Issues and ask questions on StackExchange. | The maker invites questions through GitHub Discussions or contact with developer @kcosr on X. |
Plans
In their own words
Byobu
Byobu is a free, GPLv3-licensed text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer for Linux, BSD, and macOS. It runs over tmux or GNU Screen and adds function-key controls, status notifications, profiles, and split-pane layouts. Users can create, rename, reorder, split, zoom, and synchronize windows and panes, then save layouts for restoration or define repeatable window sets in configuration files. Detaching and reattaching preserves windows, processes, and history, with up to 10,000 lines of scrollback per window. A two-line status bar can display CPU, memory, disk, network, battery, load, time, and other indicators, each independently toggleable. The interactive F9 menu changes notifications, keybinding sets, profiles, and backend selection. Byobu defaults to tmux when available but supports GNU Screen and switching through byobu-select-backend. The project requires tmux 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen. Support is largely volunteer-led through GitHub Issues and StackExchange.
TermStation
TermStation is a web-based terminal session manager with an API for organizing sessions across multiple machines. Configurable templates set CLI commands and arguments, then shape the forms used to create sessions. Session and workspace scratch pads, session links, and file generation with macros and includes support day-to-day work. It can launch commands in containers and route HTTP access to web servers in those containers through a reverse tunnel. Multiple users can work with role-based access and share sessions. Configurable code-forge integrations include GitHub by default; the maker also demonstrates installing Claude, Codex, and Cursor in a container. TermStation is open source under the MIT license and free. It is marked pre-alpha and not ready for general distribution. Backend requirements include Ubuntu 22.04+ or Rocky Linux 10+, Node.js 22+, and Docker or Podman. Authentication exists, but the maker says it is not hardened for untrusted networks and advises against public exposure. Session data must be deleted manually until automatic cleanup is implemented.