Comparison
Onda vs iTerm2
iTerm2 is the long-standing macOS terminal workhorse — stable, customizable, and battle-tested. Onda is the 2026-era AI-native alternative with MCP, session resume, and integrated dev workflows. Which one fits your setup?
Feature comparison
| Feature | Onda | iTerm2 |
|---|---|---|
Platform | macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon) | macOS 10.14+ (Intel + Apple Silicon) |
Native AI integration iTerm2 has no built-in AI features | Yes | No |
MCP integration (21 tools) | Yes | No |
AI session resume | Yes | No |
Cmd+K command generation | Yes | No |
Built-in Git panel | Yes | No |
File browser | Yes | No |
Dev server preview | Yes | No |
Workspaces iTerm2 has Arrangements, less featured | Yes | Partial |
Split panes | Yes | Yes |
Plugin API iTerm2: Python API, no plugin store | Yes | Partial |
Theme customization | Yes | Yes |
Hotkey window iTerm2 has native hotkey window | Partial | Yes |
tmux control mode | No | Yes |
Open source | Partial | Yes |
Price | Free / Pro from $3/mo | Free, donation-supported |
Pick Onda when
- You use Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, or Cursor daily
- You want split panes, Git, and file browser integrated out of the box
- You value one-click AI session resume when CLIs crash
- You prefer a modern plugin API over shell scripts and Python hooks
- You want a terminal that autodetects your dev server and previews it inline
Pick iTerm2 when
- You have a deep iTerm2 configuration with custom profiles and scripts
- You need tmux integration in a specific form iTerm2 provides
- You prefer fully free, open-source, no telemetry even opt-in
- You need Intel Mac support (iTerm2 supports both architectures)
Common questions: Onda vs iTerm2
Is Onda mature enough to replace iTerm2?
For AI-focused workflows, yes. Onda 1.7 is stable, notarized by Apple, and ships weekly. For exotic iTerm2 features — tmux control mode, advanced triggers, Python scripting, session ghosting — Onda has not reached parity. Most developers who primarily run shells, Git, and AI CLIs will find Onda a full replacement.
Does Onda support iTerm2 color schemes?
Not directly as an import, but Onda ships with Dracula, Nord, Solarized Light/Dark, and supports custom themes via plugins. The major iTerm2 themes are recreatable in minutes. Theme import from iTerm2 .itermcolors files is on the roadmap.
Can I use tmux inside Onda?
Yes — tmux works natively in any Onda pane like any other process. What Onda does not offer is iTerm2 tmux control mode (where iTerm2 draws tmux panes as native terminal panes). If you rely on that, stay on iTerm2 for now. Most tmux users transition to Onda split panes instead.
Why switch from iTerm2 if it has worked for years?
Only if AI-assisted development is central to your day. iTerm2 has zero native AI or MCP support and will never add them — that is not its scope. If you spend hours in Claude Code or Codex CLI, Onda saves clicks: session resume, MCP pane control, dev server preview, Git panel. For non-AI workflows, iTerm2 remains excellent.
Does Onda run on my 2018 Intel MacBook Pro?
No. Onda is Apple Silicon only (M1/M2/M3/M4) and will stay that way — Apple has dropped Intel support in recent macOS releases. iTerm2 runs natively on Intel, so if you are on a 2018 Intel MacBook Pro stay with iTerm2 plus an external AI CLI.
How is Onda performance compared to iTerm2?
For typical shell workloads (text output, 60-120 fps scroll), both are smooth. iTerm2 can edge ahead on Metal renderer stress tests (massive paste, very high scroll rate) due to years of optimization. Onda uses xterm.js + node-pty, which is fast enough for all practical development workloads, and ships performance fixes regularly.
Can I run both side by side?
Yes. Onda and iTerm2 coexist peacefully — they use your same shell, dotfiles, and environment. Many users keep iTerm2 for scripting and SSH profiles and move to Onda for AI coding sessions. There is no lock-in either way.