Terminalz

Terminalz is a lightweight terminal multiplexer that brings terminal streams from multiple machines into one web browser. Users can connect any number of uniquely named machines to a web account and switch among them in a sidebar. With Herdr running, it mirrors sessions, spaces, tabs, panes, split layout, ordering, statuses, and icons. Without Herdr, local tmux sessions remain available, and users can create sessions inside allowlisted directories. Terminal bytes stream in both directions; the most recent focus, click, or keystroke controls writing and resizing. The web control plane runs as a Docker Compose image, while the native machine agent is installed through Homebrew or a GitHub release script. The README calls for self-hosting the control plane. Agents connect over outbound authenticated WSS, so machines need no inbound port. A SwiftUI iPhone and iPad client requires building with Xcode. Terminal output and replay checkpoints stay in bounded memory rather than being persisted or sent to observability services. The project is free and includes an MIT license.

Terminalz centralizes terminal access from multiple machines, with Herdr mirroring and local tmux support. Setup involves self-hosting, and scrollback is capped on both phones and desktops.

It suits people who want to reach terminals across multiple machines through a browser, including users of tmux or Herdr. It may fit self-hosters comfortable setting up the Docker Compose control plane and machine agent.

Terminalz is a self-hosted terminal multiplexer that brings sessions from multiple machines into a web browser, with an iPhone and iPad client. It suits people who want one place to manage remote terminal sessions and are comfortable running their own control plane.

Its Herdr mirroring and local tmux support give it a useful range of session workflows, but setup and short scrollback make it a focused tool rather than a universal terminal client.

Overview

Terminalz connects any number of uniquely named machines to one web account, then lets users switch between them in a sidebar. The terminal stream runs both ways: the latest focus, click, or keystroke takes control of writing and resizing. That keeps interaction tied to the most recently active client, a practical arrangement when moving between devices.

Terminalz is not an open-ended remote command runner. Users can create, rename, and close runtime objects through typed Herdr or tmux operations, while the project explicitly avoids an arbitrary remote shell-command channel. That narrower model is a sensible boundary for managed terminal access, but it will not suit users seeking a general-purpose remote administration interface.

Key features

Herdr and tmux sessions

With Herdr running, Terminalz mirrors its sessions, spaces, tabs, panes, split layout, ordering, statuses, and icons. Without Herdr, local tmux sessions remain visible, and users can create sessions inside allowlisted directories. The Herdr integration is the stronger fit for people already organizing work there; tmux support keeps the tool useful for a more conventional local session setup.

Self-hosted access and security

The web control plane runs through Docker Compose, while the native machine agent is installed with Homebrew or a GitHub release script. Agents connect outbound over authenticated WSS, so machines do not need an inbound port. Raw machine tokens are shown once and stored hashed in SQLite; directory, git, runtime, and power operations are allowlisted and validated on the local agent.

Terminal output and replay checkpoints stay in bounded memory rather than being persisted or sent to observability services. Public hostnames require Google OAuth and an allowed email; trusted-network mode is intended for private networks and is only as private as the network in front of it. This gives technically capable operators meaningful control, but makes deployment and access configuration part of the product experience.

Mobile client and limits

The SwiftUI iPhone and iPad client adds native dark navigation and settings while reusing the existing terminal renderer. It must be built with Xcode, so it is not a ready-to-install mobile app for users who do not want to build it themselves. Scrollback is capped at 500 lines on phones and 2,000 on desktops, which can constrain investigation of older output.

Pricing

Terminalz is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid plan described. Its cost is operational rather than subscription-based: users must run the Docker Compose control plane and install the machine agent. There is no paid tier to remove the self-hosting requirement or the scrollback caps.

Platforms

Terminalz supports web browsers, macOS, and Linux, with a SwiftUI client for iPhone and iPad. The documented environment also includes tmux and Herdr. The web control plane is self-hosted, and the mobile client requires an Xcode build. The repository has no GitHub releases listed, so users should expect to rely on the documented installation paths rather than a release catalog.

Who it's for

Terminalz is best for developers or operators who work across several machines, already use Herdr or tmux, and are comfortable managing a self-hosted service. Its outbound agent connections, bounded in-memory terminal data, and allowlisted operations will appeal to people who want control over where terminal access runs and what it can do.

It is a weaker choice for anyone who wants a hosted service, an install-and-go iPhone app, long terminal history, or arbitrary remote shell execution. Teams should also weigh the self-hosting and access-configuration work before treating it as a shared terminal hub.

Pros and cons

• Pros: One account can connect any number of uniquely named machines, making it practical to switch between systems from a shared browser interface.
• Pros: Herdr session mirroring preserves layout and status, while local tmux support offers a fallback when Herdr is absent.
• Pros: Outbound authenticated connections avoid inbound machine ports, and terminal output remains bounded in memory rather than persisted.
• Cons: Users must self-host the web control plane and configure authentication or a trusted network, adding meaningful setup work.
• Cons: Phone and desktop scrollback caps of 500 and 2,000 lines limit access to older terminal output.
• Cons: The iPhone and iPad client requires an Xcode build, and the repository has no listed GitHub releases.

Alternatives

For a wider set of terminal-multiplexer options, browse Terminal Multiplexers.

• Zellij is a free, open-source choice at no cost, with no account required; choose it if that account-free model or its Windows support matters more than Terminalz's multi-machine browser hub. Zellij.online offers paid hosted session sharing with a free tier and is in closed beta.
• Okena is another free, open-source option at 0; it spans Android, iOS, desktop, web, and API platforms, making it worth considering when that broader platform coverage is the priority.
• TermStation is a free option with self-hosted, web, and Android support; consider it if those platform choices better match your setup.
• muxel is free and open source at no cost under GPL-3.0, for Linux, macOS, and Windows; it may fit users seeking a desktop-focused alternative.
• openmux is free MIT-licensed software at no cost, for self-hosted macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64; pick it if those target systems are the relevant constraint.
• p2pmux is a free MIT-licensed option at no cost for Linux and macOS.
• RMUX is free, self-hosted local software at no cost, dual-licensed MIT or Apache-2.0, with web and API support alongside Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Séance is a free, MIT-licensed Linux option at no cost for X11 or Wayland, and has no free trial.

Verdict

Terminalz is a strong fit for technically comfortable users who want one self-hosted browser interface for Herdr or tmux sessions across multiple machines. Its session mirroring, outbound connections, and bounded terminal data are compelling reasons to choose it; look elsewhere if you need hosted access, a ready-built mobile client, deeper scrollback, or a general remote shell.