GNU Screen Alternatives

GNU Screen is described as 'Enables full-screen terminal session multiplexing, independent windows for processes, VT100 emulation, scrollback, copy-paste, and detachable sessions' and is a popular app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to GNU Screen for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Rust, Cygwin and iPhone apps. The best GNU Screen alternative is tmux, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GNU Screen are byobu, Zellij, abduco and Twin.

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GNU Screen alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. tmux icon
     127 likes

    tmux is a terminal multiplexer: it enables a number of terminals (or windows), each running a separate program, to be created, accessed, and controlled from a single screen. tmux may be detached from a screen and continue running in the background, then later reattached.

    13 tmux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
     
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    2
    tmux vs GNU Screen Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Tmux is the hot new kid on the terminal multiplexing block. Better readability in config and code, vertical split, and actual updates!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Much simpler, more logical and there is a great guide available which let me understand the program in minutes!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • tmux is Free and Open SourceGNU Screen is also Free and Open Source
    • tmux is LightweightGNU Screen is not according to our users
  2. byobu icon
     24 likes

    Byobu is a GPLv3 open source text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer. It was originally designed to provide elegant enhancements to the otherwise functional, plain, practical GNU Screen , for the Ubuntu server distribution.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
     
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    1
    byobu vs GNU Screen Comments
    rogeriopradoj
    Positive
    0

    It's more modern than GNU Screen and still simple to use, on the other hand tmux is very complex.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • byobu is Free and Open SourceGNU Screen is also Free and Open Source
    • byobu is LightweightGNU Screen is not according to our users
  3. Zellij icon
     8 likes

    Zellij is a terminal workspace. It has the base functionality of a terminal multiplexer (similar to tmux or screen) but includes many built-in features that would allow users to extend it and create their own personalized environment.

    11 Zellij alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
     
  4. abduco icon
     2 likes

    abduco provides session management i.e. it allows programs to be run independently from their controlling terminal. That is programs can be detached - run in the background - and then later reattached. Together with dvtm it provides a simpler and cleaner alternative to tmux or...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (ISC)

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
     
  5.  1 like

    Twin is a windowing environment with mouse support, window manager, terminal emulator and networked clients, all inside a text display.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  6. mtm icon
     2 likes

    Perhaps the smallest useful terminal multiplexer in the world.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  7. Wemux icon
     3 likes

    wemux - Multi-User Tmux Made Easy.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  8. dtach icon
     7 likes

    dtach is a tiny program that emulates the detach feature of screen, allowing you to run a program in an environment that is protected from the controlling terminal and attach to it later. dtach does not keep track of the contents of the screen, and thus works best with programs...

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    dtach vs GNU Screen Comments
    dess
    Positive
    0

    Light, slim, not overhauled, resource efficient and just the most handy for its main purpose.

    • dtach is Free and Open SourceGNU Screen is also Free and Open Source
  9.  1 like

    shpool is a service that enables session persistence by allowing the creation of named shell sessions owned by shpool so that the session is not lost if the connection drops. shpool can be thought of as a lighter weight alternative to tmux or GNU screen.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Rust
     
  10. Get Console icon
     1 like

    Get Console is the first ipad and iphone serial port terminal application providing serial terminal connectivity without jailbreaking. The app store description advises it works on network devices, but offers a standard VT100 emulation.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  11. Zterm icon
     4 likes

    ZTerm is a terminal emulation program for the Macintosh. In its day, many people used it to connect to Bulletin Board Systems and download files. Now we have the internet. Its still a useful utility for those systems that only offer dialup connections and for connecting to...

    22 Zterm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  12. diss icon
     Like

    A dtach-like program / crate in Rust.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Rust
     
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