Wave Terminal
Wave Terminal is an open-source terminal desk: a CLI pane beside file, preview, and markdown widgets.
OUR TAKE
Pick Wave Terminal for developers who will stay on Apache Wave at $0 — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent allowance. AI features still need a model key.
Good fit
Developers who will stay on Apache Wave at $0 — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent allowance.
Poor fit
Wave Terminal
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-26 · waveterm.dev
OUR TAKE
Pick Wave Terminal for developers who will stay on Apache Wave at $0 — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent allowance. AI features still need a model key. if you turn them on — that $ is yours.
Good fit
Developers who will stay on Apache Wave at $0 — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent allowance.
Poor fit
Wave Terminal
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-26 · waveterm.dev
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-26 · waveterm.dev
Wave Terminal
Apache-2.0. Download from the site or GitHub releases
$0
Paid Cloud
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-10-26·waveterm.dev
Before you pay
Good fit
Developers who will stay on Apache Wave at $0 — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent allowance.
Watch out
AI features still need a model key. if you turn them on — that $ is yours.
Instead, try
iTerm2 if Mac terminal; GPL donationware $0; Ghostty if GPU terminal; MIT $0
Compare Wave Terminal with
Limits, in full
- 01
AI features still need a model key. if you turn them on — that $ is yours.
- 02
Not Warp’s billed agent seat. For that see Warp.
- 03
Younger than iTerm2. Treat it as a current OSS , not a 15-year default.
If Wave Terminal isn't it
Why: Mac terminal; GPL donationware $0.
Free· open source,GPL
macOS-onlyChecked 2026-10-23·iterm2.com
vs Wave Terminal
Why: GPU terminal; MIT $0.
Free· open source,MIT
No Windows buildChecked 2026-10-23·ghostty.org
vs Wave Terminal
Why: agentic terminal; Free $0 / Build $20.
Free· paid from$20/mo yearly
Included usage is a dollar allowanceChecked 2026-10-22·warp.dev/pricing
vs Wave TerminalLimits & alternatives3 limits · iTerm2, Ghostty, Warp instead
Limits, in full
- 01
AI features still need a model key. if you turn them on — that $ is yours.
- 02
Not Warp’s billed agent seat. For that see Warp.
- 03
Younger than iTerm2. Treat it as a current OSS , not a 15-year default.
If Wave Terminal isn't it
Why: Mac terminal; GPL donationware $0.
Free· open source,GPL
macOS-onlyChecked 2026-10-23·iterm2.com
vs Wave TerminalWhy: GPU terminal; MIT $0.
Free· open source,MIT
No Windows buildChecked 2026-10-23·ghostty.org
vs Wave TerminalWhy: agentic terminal; Free $0 / Build $20.
Free· paid from$20/mo yearly
Included usage is a dollar allowanceChecked 2026-10-22·warp.dev/pricing
vs Wave Terminal