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Cmder
What it is
Cmder is a portable console emulator package for Windows, built on ConEmu with Clink enhancements, a Monokai color scheme, and a custom prompt layout. Tabs can run cmd.exe, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty. The package supports split panes, a scripting API, SSH, aliases, and adding executables to PATH through its bin folder. Settings, aliases, and history can travel on a USB stick or in cloud storage. The Full edition includes Git for Windows and its Unix commands in PATH, while Mini excludes vendored Git binaries. Registering with /REGISTER ALL adds a Cmder Here option to File Explorer’s directory menu. Documentation describes starting the included SSH agent with start-ssh-agent. Mini and Full are both free: Mini is free at about 7.8MB, while Full is free at about 100MB or 52MB as a 7z archive.
For and against
For
- Portable settings, aliases, and history
- Supports cmd, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty
- Offers split panes and SSH support
- Full includes Git for Windows
- Licensed under MIT
Against
- Windows-only platform
- Preconfigured Bash tabs may need Mini configuration
- Full download is substantially larger than Mini
The verdict
Cmder focuses on portable Windows command-line work while adding shell choices, panes, aliases, and SSH. Choose between Mini and Full based on whether bundled Git is needed.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want a portable terminal with multiple shells, panes, scripting, or SSH. Full is aimed at users who also want Git for Windows included.
Plans and prices
Cmder Full
Download ~100MB or ~52MB 7z · includes Git for Windows
Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
Cmder Mini
Download ~7.8MB · excludes vendored Git binaries
Read 8 Oct 2026 · cmder.app
On the record
- Aliases
- Cmder supports simple aliases, configured with the alias command and stored in config/aliases.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- The maker says building from the repository requires PowerShell 3.0 or later and 7z.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Built on
- Cmder uses ConEmu with enhancements from Clink, plus a Monokai color scheme and a custom prompt layout.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can place executable files in the bin folder to have them added to PATH.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Git and Unix tools
- The Full edition includes Git for Windows, which provides Unix commands in PATH; Mini excludes vendored Git binaries.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Registering Cmder with /REGISTER ALL adds a “Cmder Here” option to File Explorer's directory context menu.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The project repository identifies the license as MIT.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Limits
- Preconfigured Bash tabs may not work in the Mini edition without additional configuration.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Portability
- The maker says settings, aliases, and history can travel with Cmder on a USB stick or in the cloud.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Cmder is a portable console emulator package for Windows.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Scripting API
- Yescmder.app · read 20 Sep 2026
- Shells
- Tabs can run cmd.exe, PowerShell, Bash, and Mintty shells.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Split panes
- Yescmder.app · read 20 Sep 2026
- SSH
- The documentation describes starting the vendored SSH agent with start-ssh-agent.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- SSH support
- Yescmder.app · read 20 Sep 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users to GitHub issues and notes that upstream ConEmu, Clink, and Git for Windows may be better places to find solutions.cmder.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windowscmder.app · read 20 Sep 2026
