How popular isWezTerm?
In September 2026, people searched for WezTerm by name about 40,500 times worldwide, a 22.4% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 9.4% of all global terminal emulator searches, placing WezTerm fifth out of eight emulators. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about terminal emulators, WezTerm appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.
WezTerm is the fifth most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.
- GhosttyShare of searches 38.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
iTerm2Share of searches 14.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
Windows TerminalShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
WarpShare of searches 9.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th- WezTermShare of searches 9.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
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Top terminal emulators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, WezTerm was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. WezTerm is the second most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Ghostty5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Windows Terminal4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- WezTerm4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Alacritty4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
iTerm23 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Kitty3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Warp2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hyper0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about terminal emulators
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which terminal emulator should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best terminal emulators?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best terminal emulator for a developer workflow?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“terminal emulator”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“linux terminal emulator”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which terminal emulators compete with WezTerm?
Share of searches by month for Ghostty, iTerm2, Windows Terminal, Warp, WezTerm, Alacritty, Kitty. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Ghostty | iTerm2 | Windows Terminal | Warp | WezTerm | Alacritty | Kitty | Hyper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 28.6% | 15.7% | 13.1% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 2.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 26.7% | 17.9% | 12.2% | 12% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 30.7% | 16.9% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.9% | 16.1% | 11% | 8.8% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.6% | 17.4% | 9.7% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.4% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 7.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 0.95% |
| Apr 2026 | 40% | 17.9% | 10% | 9.8% | 8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 37% | 16.7% | 11.4% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.9% | 16.1% | 11% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 36.8% | 13.5% | 11.3% | 9% | 13.5% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 37.7% | 13.8% | 11.5% | 9.3% | 11.3% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 38.5% | 14.1% | 11.8% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1.3% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 38.5% | 165K | 0% | +0.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 14.1% | 60.5K | 0% | +0.3 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.8% | 50.5K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 9.4% | 40.5K | 0% | +0.2 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 9.4% | 40.5K | -18.2% | -1.9 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 7.7% | 33.1K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 7.7% | 33.1K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.3% | 5.4K | 0% | 0 points |
1.Ghostty
38.5%
Held 1st. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
2.
iTerm214.1%
Held 2nd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
11.8%
Held 3rd. 50.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
4.
Warp9.4%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
5.WezTerm
9.4%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.
7.7%
Held 6th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
7.Kitty
7.7%
Held 7th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
8.
Hyper1.3%
Held 8th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between WezTerm and its closest rivals
Every comparison with WezTerm
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for WezTerm changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for WezTerm worldwide rose from 33.1K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WezTerm’s share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide increased from 8.6% to 9.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WezTerm’s share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide peaked at 13.5% in July 2026 and was lowest at 8% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WezTerm rose from 7th to 5th among terminal emulators worldwide.
How did search popularity change for terminal emulators worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Ghostty gained share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide, from 37.7% to 38.5%.
In September 2026, WezTerm lost share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide, from 11.3% to 9.4%.

Windows Terminal’s share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 11% to 11.8% in September 2026.

Alacritty’s share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 7.2% to 7.7% in September 2026.
Kitty’s share of searches among terminal emulators worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 7.2% to 7.7% in September 2026.

In September 2026, Warp rose from 5th to 4th among terminal emulators worldwide.
How are WezTerm’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using WezTerm’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- wezterm
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