Apple’s Mac terminal is a great utility for handling any command line task. But still, there are other options that allow interacting with your Mac. We’ve compiled the best macOS Terminal alternatives you can use.
While almost everything in Mac OS can be performed without delving under the graphical interface, sometimes you may need to configure some parameters or open some functions using Mac terminal commands. The native Terminal app works fine, but it is far from the only option out there. It can be emulated by alternative apps.
The Terminal is a powerful tool in OS X. It gives you the ability to make changes to the operating system that are not available from the GUI (graphical user interface). It’s pretty straightforward to use the Terminal app: all you need is to type a command in the command line and press the Return Enter key to execute it.
If you are wondering how to get to Terminal on Mac, there are three main ways to do this: by going to the Applications folder in Finder, by using the Spotlight search bar, and by using Launchpad. Here are brief step-by-step guides for these processes.
How to open Terminal via the Finder:
How to open Terminal through Spotlight:
How to open Terminal through Launchpad:
You can also use Siri to launch Terminal: simply click the Siri icon and say "Open Terminal". To quit the Terminal app, you just need to click Terminal > Quit Terminal or use the Command + Q shortcut.
As we mentioned before, the Terminal is a great way to take direct control of the computer, but you can also opt for other solutions that can emulate Terminal functions. They are more customizable and come with additional features. Let’s take a look at some of the Mac OS Terminal alternatives.
Commander One is a versatile file management tool offering many features to efficiently work with documents, archives, remote servers, and system processes. The app comes with a classic dual-panel interface and is highly customizable. Commander One allows you to open any number of tabs, supports various file types, and lets you customize your own hotkeys for any action. That means you can perform the most frequent tasks just with a touch of a button.
What’s more, there is a built-in FTP manager that lets you connect to remote servers using FTP, SFTP, or FTPS. Thanks to the two-panel interface, Commander One improves efficiency and speed, and smartly organizes file operations in queues. That’s convenient when you need to work with lots of different servers.
Besides being one of the best file managers, Commander One also works as the Terminal emulator, making it extremely easy to manage all the system processes. You can invoke Terminal simply by using hotkeys. The emulator includes all the necessary features, and eliminates the need for switching between apps while working with it. All Mac Terminal commands can be executed in the application window.
Pros
Cons
Supported OS: macOS
Price: $29.99
Another emulator of Terminal on Mac is iTerm2. It offers a set of handy features and is a great choice for both beginners or advanced users. iTerm2 enables you to split a tab into multiple panes, automate routine commands, and comes with a robust in-page search function which makes browsing much easier. Besides that, you can speed up your work with hotkeys and copy without using a mouse.
Pros
Cons
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free
To get the most out of the Mac Terminal, you should know the following commands.
At the top of the list, you will see an overview of the running processes and the resources they are consuming.
This command will help keep your Mac from going to sleep mode.
Terminal is a Mac command line interface with which you can access the Unix part of macOS to manage files and run scripts via text commands. You can find it in the / Applications / Utilities / folder. Once you launch the Terminal, you will be able to enter the commands to your computer.
But first, you’ll need to understand its basic commands and functions. Each of these commands is responsible for a specific action. Once you've done that, you can start using Terminal to accomplish tasks.
Terminal emulator Mac is a software that emulates the functionality of traditional computer terminals. It gives access to the console and command line interface, provides more control over all functions, and speeds up processes as well. Terminal emulators are usually more customizable and feature-rich compared to the built-in Terminal.
If you're new to using the Terminal app on a Mac, take some time to understand it. Mac Terminal is good enough and does its job efficiently, but it is not the only option available.
If you are looking for more features and customizable solutions, there are enhanced apps like Commander One. It is one of the powerful Terminal emulators with a wide set of handy features. Not only this, it even serves as an FTP client and file manager for Mac.
While Mac Terminal and its alternatives listed above will give you full control over your system, you should be careful to get it right.
