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Konsole
Konsole · Berlin, Germany · founded 1996
What it is
Konsole is a terminal emulator for running a command shell and controlling a computer through a command-line interface. It is free and open source under the GPL-2.0+ license, with Linux, Windows, and macOS listed as platforms. Tabs and multiple profiles help organize sessions; profiles can automate common commands, such as connecting to another machine with SSH. Tabs can be split into left-right or top-bottom views, and a layout can be saved to a file. Konsole supports bookmarks, search, and saving output, including scrollback as a text or HTML file. Activity monitoring can alert users to silence, activity, a shell prompt, or a finished process. With shell integration enabled, it distinguishes prompts, input, and command output and can provide visual cues for commands that resulted in errors. A documented D-Bus interface allows software to control Konsole windows and sessions. Linux installation options include application stores, distribution package managers, and Flathub; the project also links to Windows and macOS platform pages with nightly installers.
For and against
For
- Free and open source under GPL-2.0+.
- Supports Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Tabs, profiles, and split views organize sessions.
- Can monitor activity and save output.
Against
- It is a text-only command-line interface.
- Nightly versions are intended for testing.
- Shell hints require shell integration to be enabled.
The verdict
Konsole provides a free terminal emulator with session organization, monitoring, and output-saving tools across three listed platforms. Nightly builds are intended for testing rather than described as regular releases.
Who it suits
Konsole suits users who run a command shell through a text-only interface. Its tabs, profiles, split views, and SSH support may help users managing multiple command-line sessions.
Plans and prices
Konsole
Free and open-source terminal application
Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.kde.org
On the record
- Activity monitoring
- Konsole can monitor a tab for silence, activity, a shell prompt, or a process finishing and display notifications.docs.kde.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Bookmarks and search
- Konsole supports bookmarks and searching.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The KDE Applications page offers Linux installation through application stores or a distribution package manager, and links to Windows and macOS platform pages.apps.kde.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Funding
- KDE says it is a voluntary community rather than a for-profit company and that KDE e.V. receives donations to fund expenses.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The handbook documents a D-Bus interface for controlling Konsole windows and sessions.docs.kde.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes Konsole as a text-only command-line interface for users running a command shell.docs.kde.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- KDE software
- KDE says its software is free and open source, with freedoms to use, study, change, and redistribute it free of charge.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- Konsole is listed under the GPL-2.0+ license.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Linux installation
- The page lists Linux installation through Discover and other AppStream application stores, a distribution package manager, or Flathub.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Maker
- KDE describes itself as an international community that has built and distributed free, open-source software since 1996.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- Konsole includes silence and activity monitoring.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Nightly builds
- Konsole nightly versions are described as intended for testing and generated from the latest development branch.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Other platforms
- The page lists Windows and macOS as other platforms and provides nightly installers for Windows and macOS ARM and Intel.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Output
- Konsole can save output.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Profiles
- Konsole supports multiple profiles.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Konsole runs a command shell and provides a command-line interface for directly controlling a computer.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Scripting API
- Yesapps.kde.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Search and output
- The feature list includes searching and saving output, and the handbook says scrollback can be saved as a text or HTML file.apps.kde.org · read 4 Oct 2026
