Zellij

Zellij is a terminal workspace for developers, operations-oriented users, and others who work in a terminal. It organizes work in tiled, floating, or stacked panes, which users can move and resize with mouse or keyboard controls. KDL layouts can specify panes, tabs, commands, and plugins for repeatable workspace setups. Users can switch between named sessions and restore their pane structure and commands, including after reboots. A built-in web server enables browser access and remote session sharing over HTTPS; read-only tokens let observers view without interacting. The server is off by default, requires authentication, and the documentation recommends a reverse proxy on untrusted networks because the server has no rate limiting. Plugins use WebAssembly and can be written in any language that compiles to WASM; Rust has an official SDK and scaffolding tools. Zellij works with existing terminal emulators, shells, and editors. It is free and open source, requires no account, and runs inside a terminal rather than replacing the terminal emulator.

Zellij combines pane management, reusable layouts, and session restoration for terminal workflows. Its browser sharing has security requirements to consider, and the workspace does not replace a terminal emulator.

Zellij suits developers and operations-oriented users who work in a terminal and want organized panes or restorable sessions. Teams needing browser-based session access can use its built-in web server, with its security limits in mind.

Overview

Zellij is a terminal workspace for developers and operations-focused users who want to organize recurring command-line work. It is most compelling for people who value configurable panes and recoverable sessions while keeping their existing terminal tools. The key trade-off is that browser sharing expands access but needs care on untrusted networks.

Key features

Shape a working session

Tiled, floating, and stacked panes can be moved and resized with a mouse or keyboard, giving users several ways to keep concurrent tasks visible. Command panes expose exit codes and can be rerun with Enter; layouts can also start them suspended. That combination suits repeatable workflows, though Zellij remains a workspace inside a terminal rather than a replacement for one.

Reuse layouts and restore sessions

KDL layouts can specify panes, tabs, commands, and plugins, allowing users to automate and share a workspace arrangement instead of rebuilding it by hand. Named sessions support switching between contexts, and resurrection restores pane structure and commands, including after a reboot. Persistence is local, so it offers continuity on the machine rather than cloud-backed storage.

Share sessions with care

The built-in web server enables browser access and remote sessions over HTTPS. Authentication is required, and read-only tokens let observers view without interacting. The server is off by default, but it has no rate limiting; the documentation recommends a reverse proxy on untrusted networks. This is useful for remote viewing or collaboration, but users should not treat the HTTPS requirement alone as a complete security setup.

Extend and fit existing tools

Plugins run on WebAssembly and can be written in any language that compiles to WASM; Rust has an official SDK and scaffolding tools. Zellij works with existing terminal emulators, bash, zsh, fish, and editors including vim, neovim, emacs, and helix. Its maker says there are no ads, telemetry, or data collection, and no account or online presence is required.

Zellij.online is a separate commercial hosted session-sharing service from the maintainers, described as end-to-end encrypted and in closed beta. That hosted option should not be confused with Zellij's local persistence.

Pricing

Zellij: free. The free and open-source plan requires no account, making it the straightforward choice for individual terminal users and teams willing to manage their own workspace and sharing setup.

Zellij.online: custom pricing. It is a paid hosted session-sharing service with a free tier and is in closed beta. A hosted option may suit users seeking hosted sharing, but the free-tier limits and paid terms are not established here.

Platforms

Zellij supports Linux, macOS, and Windows terminals, as well as a browser web client. Native Windows support and downloadable Windows binaries are stated by the maker. Because it runs inside a terminal, users still need a terminal emulator; it works with common shells and editors rather than replacing them.

Who it's for

Zellij is a strong fit for developers and operations-oriented users who run several terminal tasks, want a repeatable pane-and-tab arrangement, or need to return to named sessions after interruption or reboot. Its local persistence and no-account approach also suit people who prefer to keep their workflow on their own machine.

It is less suitable for anyone looking for a standalone terminal emulator or a ready-made, hosted collaboration product outside the closed-beta Zellij.online offering. Users exposing the built-in server to untrusted networks should account for the reverse-proxy recommendation and lack of rate limiting.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Flexible pane types, mouse and keyboard controls, and command reruns make busy terminal work easier to organize and revisit.
• Pros: KDL layouts and session resurrection preserve useful workspace structure without requiring an account or online presence.
• Pros: HTTPS remote access and read-only observer tokens provide options for browser-based sharing.
• Cons: Local persistence does not provide cloud-backed session storage.
• Cons: The web server has no rate limiting, so remote exposure on untrusted networks calls for additional protection.
• Cons: Zellij runs inside a terminal emulator rather than replacing it.

Alternatives

Browse terminal multiplexers to compare this category more broadly.

• Okena is a free option across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, with an API platform also listed; consider it when that wider platform set matters.
• Terminalz is free and spans iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and web platforms; choose it if those are the environments you need.
• TermStation is a free option for Android, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
• muxel is free and open source for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a GPL-3.0 plan; it is worth considering when that platform scope and license fit.
• p2pmux is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux and macOS.
• Séance is a free, MIT-licensed Linux option for X11 or Wayland.
• Byobu is free for Linux and macOS and requires tmux ≥ 1.5 and/or GNU Screen.
• Quil is free for Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted use, with no paid tier or hosted version.

Verdict

Choose Zellij if you want a free, account-free terminal workspace with reusable layouts and sessions that can be restored after a reboot. Its strongest reason to choose it is the combination of pane control and persistent local workflow; look elsewhere if you need a terminal emulator itself, cloud-backed persistence, or hosted sharing beyond a closed-beta service.