Warp vs iTerm2
Warp (Rust, AGPL-3.0, cross-platform, AI agents) vs iTerm2 (Objective-C, GPL-2.0, macOS-only, tmux integration): how they differ.
Updated
short verdict
Pick Warp if you need Linux or Windows support, or want an editor-style command line with output grouped into Blocks and built-in AI agents. Pick iTerm2 if you work on a Mac and want tmux -CC integration, regex triggers, automatic profile switching and a Python scripting API.
Both are GPU-accelerated terminal emulators, but they cover different ground. Warp is a Rust application for macOS, Linux and Windows that restructures the shell session into Blocks and adds AI agents and optional cloud features. iTerm2 is a macOS-only terminal written in Objective-C that extends the traditional terminal with shell integration, triggers, tmux integration and scripting.
this page is for
- Developers choosing a terminal across macOS, Linux and Windows
- Mac users deciding between an editor-style terminal and a classic one
- Teams that keep terminal settings in version control
Better pick when you want a terminal with an editor-like input, Blocks for command output and built-in agents, or when you are not on macOS only.
best for
- Linux or Windows users, including WSL2
- Developers who want AI agents next to the shell
- Teams that want settings in a TOML file
strengths
- Runs on macOS, Linux and Windows, with WSL2 support on Windows
- Blocks let you copy, search, filter, bookmark and share each command with its output
- Settings live in settings.toml, synced with the Settings panel and reloaded on save; themes are YAML
- Supports bash, zsh, fish and PowerShell, with optional Vim keybindings and YAML workflows
weaknesses
- Other shells such as Nushell are not supported as the login shell; Warp falls back to a default shell
- Needs an internet connection on first launch, and telemetry and crash reporting are on by default
- Its own comparison table lists no Sixel graphics, italic, dim or curly-underline support
Better pick when you are on a Mac and want tmux integration, triggers, shell integration and a Python scripting API in a classic terminal.
best for
- Mac users who rely on tmux sessions that survive disconnects
- People who automate the terminal with triggers or Python
- Developers who want profiles that switch by host, user or directory
strengths
- tmux -CC turns tmux windows into native windows and tabs, and sessions survive crashes and SSH disconnects
- Triggers fire regex-matched actions: highlight, run a command, notify or call a Python script
- Profiles switch automatically by hostname, username, directory or running command
- Python API adds status bar components, triggers and menu items; imgcat shows inline images
weaknesses
- macOS only; there is no build for Linux or Windows
- Most configuration is done in the Settings window rather than a text file
- Ligatures render through CoreText, which the font documentation says is significantly slower
Key differences
- Platforms: Warp runs on macOS, Linux and Windows; iTerm2 is macOS only
- Language and license: Warp is Rust under AGPL-3.0; iTerm2 is Objective-C under GPL-2.0
- Output model: Warp groups each command and output into a Block; iTerm2 keeps a continuous scroll with prompt marks
- Configuration: Warp uses settings.toml and YAML themes; iTerm2 mainly uses the Settings window, plus JSON profiles
- AI: Warp has built-in agents; iTerm2 has an optional AI chat window that can work with terminal contents
- Session persistence: iTerm2 uses tmux -CC and long-lived server processes; Warp restores windows, tabs, panes and recent Blocks
Choose Warp when
- You use Linux or Windows, or switch between operating systems
- You want to copy, filter or share a single command's output as a Block
- You want settings in a settings.toml file you can version control
- You want to run coding agents in the same app as your shell
Choose iTerm2 when
- You are on macOS and use tmux, and want tmux -CC native windows
- You want triggers that react to output with regex patterns
- You want profiles that change by host, user, directory or command
- You want to script the terminal with the Python API
When not to use these
- You need Nushell or another unsupported shell as the login shell in Warp, and you are not on a Mac
- You need a terminal on Linux or Windows with iTerm2-style tmux integration, since iTerm2 has no build for those platforms
FAQ
- Which is faster, Warp or iTerm2?
- Neither project publishes a head-to-head benchmark. Both use GPU rendering: Warp lets you choose a Vulkan or OpenGL backend, and iTerm2 has settings for when its GPU renderer is used, such as off on battery power. iTerm2's docs warn that ligatures render through CoreText, which is significantly slower.
- Can I use Warp and iTerm2 on the same Mac?
- Neither project documents running them together, but they are separate apps. Warp installs with brew install --cask warp on macOS, and iTerm2 is a standalone macOS terminal, so nothing in either description prevents having both.
- Which is easier to configure?
- Warp keeps settings in a settings.toml file that stays in sync with the Settings panel and reloads on save. iTerm2 is configured mostly through its Settings window, though profiles can be exported as JSON and Dynamic Profiles in JSON or XML property lists reload when they change.
- Does either one run on Linux or Windows?
- Warp does. It supports macOS, Linux and Windows, with WSL2 on Windows. iTerm2 is macOS only and has no Linux or Windows build.