Warp vs iTerm2
A side-by-side of two tools in the same category. Facts come from each vendor's own pages, checked 2026-10-21.
| Warp | iTerm2 | |
|---|---|---|
| platforms | macOSWindowsLinux | macOS |
| price | FreemiumFree $0/mo (no included agent usage); Build $20/mo or $18/mo annual; Max $200/mo or $180/mo annual; Business $50/user/mo or $45 annual (up to 25 seats); Enterprise custom (seen 2026-10-20) | FreeFree (seen 2026-10-20) |
| source | Open source | Open source |
| SSH | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| Tabs | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| Split panes | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| SFTP | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| Port forwarding | ? not verified | ? not verified |
| Scripting / API | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| AI agents | ✓ yes | ✓ yes |
| MCP | ✓ yes | – no |
| Cloud sync | ✓ yes | ? not verified |
iTerm2 is stronger at
- tmux -CC integration maps tmux windows to native tabs/windows, and sessions survive a dropped SSH connection
- Python API plus triggers and shell integration allow scripted automation of sessions
- Profiles can switch automatically based on context such as the SSH host connected to; AI features are permission-gated per category
Warp is stronger at
- Account is optional: docs say login can be skipped and core terminal works offline
- Built-in agent, a CLI for it, and an SSH extension giving remote file tree and code editing on Linux/macOS hosts
- Client repo public (AGPL-3.0) with macOS, Windows and Linux builds including ARM64
which to pick
- pick iTerm2 if
- Mac users who live in tmux over SSH and want scripting and per-host profiles.
- pick Warp if
- Developers who want an AI-agent-centric terminal with shared workflows and optional team plans.
- skip iTerm2 if
- Anyone needing Windows or Linux, or a dedicated SSH client with a connection manager and file browser.
- skip Warp if
- Users who want a classic SSH/serial/port-forwarding client or a terminal with no AI or paid-tier surface.