Windows Terminal vs Tabby
Windows Terminal vs Tabby: a Windows-only C++ terminal for PowerShell, CMD and WSL against a cross-platform terminal with SSH and serial.
Updated
short verdict
Pick Windows Terminal if you work on Windows and want one GPU-accelerated window for PowerShell, CMD, WSL and Azure Cloud Shell. Pick Tabby if you SSH into servers or use serial devices, or if you need the same terminal on Linux, macOS and Windows, since it bundles an SSH connection manager, SFTP and plugins.
Both are MIT-licensed tabbed terminal emulators, but they cover different ground. Windows Terminal is a C++ application for Windows that hosts local shells such as PowerShell, CMD and WSL. Tabby is a TypeScript application for Linux, macOS and Windows that adds an SSH client, serial support, SFTP and a plugin system on top of the terminal.
this page is for
- Windows developers choosing a default terminal
- Admins who SSH into many servers
- Developers who switch between Windows, macOS and Linux
The better pick when you are on Windows and mostly run local shells like PowerShell, CMD and WSL.
best for
- Windows users juggling PowerShell, CMD and WSL
- Anyone who wants GPU-accelerated rendering
strengths
- Hosts PowerShell, CMD, WSL and Azure Cloud Shell in one window
- GPU-accelerated rendering
- Tabs and panes, with themes, backgrounds and key bindings
- Unicode support including emoji and international characters
weaknesses
- Windows only, so it does not follow you to Linux or macOS
- No built-in SSH client, serial support or SFTP is documented
The better pick when you connect to remote machines or devices, or need one terminal across three operating systems.
best for
- Sysadmins who SSH into servers often
- Users who work with serial devices
- Developers on mixed Linux, macOS and Windows setups
strengths
- Built-in SSH client with a connection manager
- Serial port support and built-in SFTP file transfer
- Plugin system for extending behavior
- Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows
weaknesses
- GPU-accelerated rendering is not documented, unlike Windows Terminal
- No Windows-specific shell profiles such as WSL or Azure Cloud Shell are documented
Key differences
- Platforms: Windows Terminal runs on Windows only; Tabby runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Scope: Windows Terminal hosts local shells; Tabby also includes an SSH client and serial port support.
- Remote tools: Tabby has a connection manager and SFTP; Windows Terminal documents neither.
- Shells: Windows Terminal lists PowerShell, CMD, WSL and Azure Cloud Shell as profiles.
- Rendering: Windows Terminal is GPU-accelerated; Tabby does not document this.
- Language and extensibility: Windows Terminal is C++; Tabby is TypeScript with a plugin system. Both are MIT.
Choose Windows Terminal when
- You are on Windows and switch between PowerShell, CMD and WSL.
- You use Azure Cloud Shell alongside local shells.
- GPU-accelerated rendering and Unicode or emoji display matter to you.
- You only need tabs, panes, themes and key bindings, not remote tooling.
Choose Tabby when
- You SSH into servers often and want a connection manager inside the terminal.
- You connect to serial devices or transfer files over SFTP.
- You work on Linux or macOS as well as Windows and want one terminal everywhere.
- You want to extend the terminal through its plugin system.
When not to use these
- You need a terminal multiplexer for persistent remote sessions; neither is described as one.
FAQ
- Which is faster, Windows Terminal or Tabby?
- Windows Terminal is described as GPU-accelerated, with smooth rendering. Tabby does not document rendering performance, so there is no basis here for a direct speed comparison.
- Can I use both on the same Windows machine?
- Both run on Windows, so installing both is possible. A common split would be Windows Terminal for local PowerShell, CMD and WSL, and Tabby for SSH and serial sessions.
- Which one works on Linux or macOS?
- Only Tabby. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, while Windows Terminal is Windows only.
- Which is easier to configure?
- Neither project settles this. Windows Terminal lists themes, backgrounds and key bindings as customizable, and Tabby lists a plugin system and high configurability.