Instead of tmux: Zellij
If you are starting fresh, use Zellij. It shows its key bindings on screen, has floating and stacked panes and layouts built in, and is usable without writing a config file. If you already have a tmux setup you like, there is no pressing reason to move.
Both are for splitting one terminal into panes and keeping sessions running after you disconnect.
Why Zellij is better
- A status bar lists the available keys for the current mode, so you do not need a cheat sheet to start.
- Floating and stacked panes are built in, which tmux does not offer.
- Layouts let you define a workspace of panes and commands in a file and open it in one step.
- Plugins can be written in any language that compiles to WebAssembly.
- It includes a built-in web client, so a session can be reached from a browser.
When to keep tmux
Keep tmux if you already have muscle memory and a config you rely on, on remote servers where it is already installed, and for scripted session setups. tmux is mature, lightweight, part of the OpenBSD base system and packaged everywhere, and its plugin ecosystem is larger.
Switching
Install Zellij, or try it without installing via the launch script on its site. Your tmux.conf does not carry over; Zellij is configured in KDL. Its default key bindings differ from tmux and can clash with editor shortcuts, so expect to remap a few.
Watch out
Zellij has not reached a stable major release and still changes between versions. The project also runs a paid hosted session-sharing service in beta, alongside the free open-source tool. It is less likely than tmux to be already installed on a server you SSH into.
More newer, better terminal emulators and multiplexers
Sources
Judged on 2026-11-06. See every terminal emulators and multiplexers, or all 66 replacements.