Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iTerm2 VS ConnectBot

Compare iTerm2 VS ConnectBot and see what are their differences

iTerm2 logo iTerm2

A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

ConnectBot logo ConnectBot

ConnectBot is a Secure Shell client for the Android platform.
  • iTerm2 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-29
  • ConnectBot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

iTerm2 features and specs

  • Versatility
    iTerm2 supports a wide range of features such as split panes, multiple tab management, and hotkey-activated terminal windows, making it highly versatile for different workflows.
  • Customization
    Offers extensive customization options, including themes, color schemes, and key bindings, allowing users to tailor the terminal to their preferences.
  • Advanced Features
    Includes advanced functionality like instant replay, which allows users to rewind their terminal session, and integration with automation tools like AppleScript.
  • Performance
    Designed to be efficient and responsive, ensuring it performs well even with multiple sessions and tabs open simultaneously.
  • Integrations
    Seamless integration with macOS features such as native notifications, fullscreen mode, and support for external editors.
  • Community Support
    Active community and comprehensive documentation, which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and learning advanced configurations.

Possible disadvantages of iTerm2

  • Mac-Only
    iTerm2 is exclusive to macOS, which means users on other operating systems cannot utilize its features.
  • Complexity
    The sheer number of features and customization options can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a learning curve to utilize efficiently.
  • System Resource Usage
    iTerm2 may consume more system resources compared to simpler terminal emulators, which could be a concern on lower-end hardware.
  • Update Frequency
    Occasional updates can introduce bugs or unexpected behavior, requiring users to adjust settings or find workarounds.

ConnectBot features and specs

  • Open Source
    ConnectBot is open-source software, which means the source code is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This fosters transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Secure
    ConnectBot supports secure shell (SSH) protocol, ensuring encrypted communication between the client and server, which enhances security for remote management.
  • Multi-session Management
    It allows users to manage multiple SSH sessions simultaneously, which is convenient for those who need to connect to various servers at the same time.
  • Port Forwarding
    ConnectBot offers SSH port forwarding capabilities, which allows users to securely forward ports from their local machine to the remote server.
  • Terminal Emulation
    It provides a robust terminal emulation environment, supporting features like scrollback, copy-paste, and multiple fonts, making it easier to handle command-line tasks.

Possible disadvantages of ConnectBot

  • Complexity
    For beginners, the array of features and technical jargon can be overwhelming, potentially creating a steep learning curve.
  • Limited GUI
    It lacks a graphical user interface (GUI) for more advanced functions, which may deter users who prefer GUI-based management tools.
  • Mobile Device Limitations
    While designed for Android, the small screen size and touch inputs of mobile devices can make complex command-line work more cumbersome compared to a desktop environment.
  • Battery Drain
    Running SSH connections and maintaining active sessions on a mobile device can be resource-intensive, leading to increased battery consumption.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, users may encounter occasional bugs or stability issues, which could interrupt their workflow.

Analysis of iTerm2

Overall verdict

  • iTerm2 is regarded as an excellent terminal emulator for macOS due to its robust feature set and usability, making it a top choice for power users.

Why this product is good

  • iTerm2 is often praised for its advanced features, customization options, and efficiency that enhance productivity for users who work with the command line frequently. It offers split panes, hotkey window, undo close, instant replay, and a highly configurable interface that caters to power users, making it a versatile tool for developers and system administrators.

Recommended for

  • Developers and programmers who need a highly customizable terminal.
  • System administrators who require powerful scripting and automation capabilities.
  • Users who frequently work with command-line interfaces and require multiple sessions handled efficiently.
  • Anyone seeking an enhanced, feature-rich alternative to the default macOS terminal.

Analysis of ConnectBot

Overall verdict

  • Overall, ConnectBot is regarded as an efficient and practical tool for managing SSH connections on Android devices. Its reputation for stability and ease of use makes it a popular choice among users needing remote server access.

Why this product is good

  • ConnectBot is considered a good SSH client for Android because it is open-source, lightweight, and reliable. It offers robust features such as encrypted communication, multiple SSH sessions management, and compatibility with a range of key types. Additionally, it supports port forwarding and integrates well with other terminal apps, making it versatile for developers and system administrators.

Recommended for

    ConnectBot is recommended for developers, system administrators, and IT professionals who require secure and reliable SSH access to remote servers via their Android devices. It is also suitable for tech-savvy users who need to manage multiple SSH sessions on the go.

iTerm2 videos

Customizing iterm2 with ZSH and PowerLevel9k | Z shell Tutorial

ConnectBot videos

ConnectBot: Basic Features in v1.2

More videos:

  • Review - Access Home Server with Android with VX ConnectBot

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iTerm2 and ConnectBot)
SSH
89 89%
11% 11
Server Management
88 88%
12% 12
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Terminal Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare iTerm2 and ConnectBot

iTerm2 Reviews

  1. Useful

    I've had so many problems with terminal in my Mac.. thanks for this tool. It's like really useful

    👍 Pros:    Fast|Convenience|Fastest, safest, and cheapest
    👎 Cons:    None

MobaXterm for Mac: Best Alternatives to MobaXterm for Mac
You can choose a Hotkey and register it as a shortcut to open the iTerm2. When you are using other application, just press the Hotkey and it will bring iTerm (terminal) to the foreground of your screen. So the iTerm2 is the best alternative to MobaXterm for Mac which will be always available for you.
30 best PuTTY alternatives for SSH clients for 2020
The iTerm2 system is available for Macs. Specifically, the program can run on Mac OS 10.10 and higher. This interface shows different terminal sessions through a split screen method, allowing you to tile sessions side by side. To lessen confusion, the active panel shows in full resolution, while the others dimmed. You can set up keyboard shortcuts to navigate through the...

ConnectBot Reviews

10 Termux Alternatives
ConnectBot is a powerful and advanced software that is a secure and safe shell environment for the android platform. The main focus of this fantastic software is to build a secure connection that is user-friendly, and users can easily use a shell from remote servers, transfer their files to other software, and move them back and forth in your phone storage. It also provides...
Top 10 Best Apps To Use Linux Terminal on Your Android Device
If you are looking for a simple SSH client for Android devices, ConnectBot is the right application for you. It saves you from the extra hassles you might face with a full-fledged Linux terminal emulator. This is capable of giving you access to the target server from the Android phone. No need to physically access the server as you can remotely control, check, monitor, and...
Top 10 Best MobaXterm Alternatives for Windows, macOS & Linux In 2021
This tool is among the very best SSH customers for Android gadgets. This client, which is open source, will assist to make any mobile phone or tablet with the Google operating system into an easy and total Secure Shell customer to connect remotely to any server from anywhere. This new version of ConnectBot has actually received a great deal of enhancements and brand-new...
Best Terminal Emulator for Android in 2021
ConnectBot is an excellent terminal emulator of SSH Client, and it has access to Shell servers. It provides secure tunnels with encryption for completely safe usage. The multiple SSH sessions can be handled easily, and it is quick to switch between each session. It has copy-paste feature for every app, and the connection can be private with a unique Key. There is also a...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iTerm2 seems to be a lot more popular than ConnectBot. While we know about 111 links to iTerm2, we've tracked only 2 mentions of ConnectBot. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iTerm2 mentions (111)

  • Must-have apps and services in 2024
    iTerm + fish. I wrote a post explaining my environment settings. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Unavoidable developer tools
    🍎 macOS: The default Terminal.app is widely used, but iTerm2 is often preferred for its rich feature set and customization options. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: How can I experiment with LLMs with a old machine?
    Make yourself comfortable with https://blogs.oracle.com/database/post/freedom-to-build-announcing-oracle-cloud-free-tier-with-new-always-free-services-and-always-free-oracle-autonomous-database https://gist.github.com/rssnyder/51e3cfedd730e7dd5f4a816143b25dbd https://www.reddit.com/r/oraclecloud/ or any other offer. Deploy some minimal Linux on them, or use what's offered. Plus optionally, if you don't want to... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Honukai Color Theme Goes IDE
    Honukai has long been my favorite iTerm, Oh My ZSH color theme, and I just assumed it existed for other use cases. But alas, I had to create them for myself. I adapted Oskar's work for Tabby terminal, ZED IDE and VS Code. You can get the files here. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • (Youtube blogpost) Building Tree Link app with Svelte and Tailwind CSS
    iTerm2 is a fast terminal emulator for macOS. Install one of Nerd Fonts for displaying fancy glyphs on your terminal. My current choice is Hack. And use it on your terminal app. For example, on iTerm2:. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

ConnectBot mentions (2)

  • Connectbot scripting
    I'd like to customize the connectbot application so I can transmit and receive ssh commands to my raspberry pi, by pushing a button. I am imagining it like scripting the application and putting the scripts at buttons, and display the response that the raspberry sent back. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • ⟳ 0 apps added, 21 updated at f-droid.org
    ConnectBot (version 1.9.8-oss): SSH and local shell client. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing iTerm2 and ConnectBot, you can also consider the following products

MobaXterm - Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

KiTTY - KiTTY is a fork from version 0.70 of PuTTY. It adds extra features to PuTTY.

ConEmu - ConEmu-Maximus5 is a full-featured local terminal for Windows devs, admins and users. Get better console window with tabs, splits, Quake style, copy+paste, DosBox and PuTTY integration, and much more.

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.

GNOME Terminal - GNOME Terminal is a terminal emulator for GNOME desktop.