The macOS default for power users vs a modern cross-platform alternative.
iTerm2 has been the go-to Mac terminal for over a decade. It is mature, deeply customizable, and free. If you have been using it for years, switching feels unnecessary. So what would make you consider something else?
Yaw is not trying to be a better iTerm2. It is a different kind of terminal - one that bundles connections, databases, and AI alongside the shell. Whether that matters depends on how you work.
| Feature | Yaw | iTerm2 |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS only |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Tabs and split panes | Yes | Yes |
| Click to move cursor | Yes | No |
| SSH connection manager | Built-in | No (profiles only) |
| Database connections | 5 engines built-in | No |
| AI assistant | 9 providers (own API key) | Optional plugin (multi-provider) |
| Triggers and automation | Limited | Extensive |
| Shell integration | Basic | Deep (marks, captures) |
| Hotkey window | No | Yes |
| Native performance | WebGL (Electron) | Native macOS |
| Customization depth | Moderate | Extensive |
| Built-in file editor | Yes | No |
| Paste history | Yes | No |
| Snap grid layout | Yes | No |
| Telemetry | None | None |
iTerm2 is a native macOS app with decades of refinement. It has features yaw does not match:
If you rely on any of these features heavily, iTerm2 is the better choice and will be for the foreseeable future.
iTerm2 has profiles that can run SSH commands, but it does not have a connection manager. Yaw provides a dedicated connection library where you store SSH hosts and database credentials together - Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, and Redis are all supported. Everything is encrypted on disk with AES-256-GCM and never leaves your Mac.
Yaw ships with an AI assistant that reads your terminal output in context. Pick from nine providers - Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Mistral, xAI, plus self-hosted options like Ollama - using your own API key. The assistant can diagnose errors, draft commands, and walk through debugging steps. iTerm2 added a stable AI plugin in 3.6.9 that supports multiple providers, though it is an optional add-on rather than a core part of the terminal.
If you use macOS at work and Windows at home (or vice versa), yaw is the same terminal on both. Your connections, snippets, and workflows carry over. iTerm2 is macOS-only.
iTerm2 is a native macOS app. It will always have lower baseline resource usage than an Electron-based terminal. For most workflows this difference is negligible, but if you run many terminal windows simultaneously or process extremely high-throughput output, iTerm2 has the edge.
Stay with iTerm2 if you are happy with it, rely on its advanced features (triggers, shell integration, hotkey window), and work exclusively on macOS. It is an excellent terminal.
Consider yaw if you want your terminal to manage SSH and database connections, you want a built-in file editor, an AI assistant with provider choice, or you work across platforms.
Published by Yaw Labs.