Software Alternatives & Startups

iTerm2 VS PM2

Compare iTerm2 VS PM2 and see what are their differences

iTerm2

A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

Rating
4.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
PM2

Advanced, production process manager for Node.js

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, iTerm2 should be more popular than PM2. It has been mentioned 119 times since March 2021.

social mentions
119 vs 61
Developer Tools popularity
88% vs 12%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 120

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

iTerm2
PM2
Website iterm2.com pm2.keymetrics.io
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

iTerm2 6 features
PM2 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Process Management
    PM2 provides efficient process management, allowing you to easily start, stop, and restart applications. It handles the daemonization of processes and ensures that all your services run continuously.
  • Monitoring & Logging
    PM2 offers robust monitoring and logging features, providing real-time metrics on CPU and memory usage, along with comprehensive logging to help debug issues and monitor application performance.
  • Cluster Mode
    PM2 supports cluster mode, enabling you to run multiple instances of your application to utilize multi-core systems effectively, thereby improving performance and handling more traffic.
  • Easy Deployment
    With PM2, deployment is simplified through built-in functionalities like management of environment variables and automatic startup scripts, making it easier to deploy applications across environments.
  • Platform Agnostic
    PM2 is platform-agnostic and can be used with diverse environments and languages, though it is optimized for Node.js applications, offering flexibility to manage various types of applications.

Possible disadvantages

  • Overhead
    While PM2 is lightweight, it can add some overhead, particularly in smaller or simpler applications where its full range of features may not be necessary.
  • Configuration Complexity
    For new users or simple applications, PM2's configuration options may seem complex, with a steep learning curve to understand and leverage all available features effectively.
  • Memory Usage
    PM2's memory usage can be higher compared to more minimal solutions, which might be a concern for resource-constrained environments or small-scale projects.
  • Limited to JavaScript by Default
    Although you can manage other types of applications, PM2 is primarily designed for Node.js, so managing non-JavaScript applications could require additional effort or wrappers.
  • Potential Issues with Large Projects
    In some cases, PM2 may face challenges scaling very large projects due to its process management design, requiring more thorough testing and configuration tuning.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

iTerm2
PM2

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.

No analysis of PM2 yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

iTerm2 1 video + Add
PM2 3 videos + Add

Customizing iterm2 with ZSH and PowerLevel9k | Z shell Tutorial

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (PM2) Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

More videos

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  • - Spyderco Paramilitary 2 S110V Long-Term Review (Best value PM2?)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
iTerm2
PM2
88% 88%
12% 12%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
SSH
0% 0%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using iTerm2 and PM2. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

iTerm2 4.0 · 1 review
PM2 no reviews yet

We have no reviews of PM2 yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

iTerm2 119 mentions
PM2 61 mentions

View more

  • Build a Discord bot with discord.js v14: app setup, your first slash command and keeping it online
    A VPS or home server with a process manager. Pm2 is a popular choice for Node:. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • The hosting setup nobody talks about anymore
    At this point we have a few options to handle our Nuxt site. We could just copy the dist folder over, install node, and use something like pm2 to manage the node process. While this works, I find it a little brittle. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • JavaScript Awesome Package
    PM2 - PM2 is a daemon process manager that will help you manage and keep your application online 24/7. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago

View more

Alternatives to iTerm2 and PM2

When comparing iTerm2 and PM2, you can also consider the following products.