electerm is a free, open-source desktop application for macOS (and other platforms) that combines a local terminal emulator, SSH client, and SFTP file manager into a single, Electron-based window.
What is electerm?
electerm is an all-in-one terminal and remote access client that lets you open local shell sessions, connect to remote servers over SSH, and browse or transfer files via SFTP — without switching between separate tools. Built on Electron and web technologies, it targets developers who manage multiple servers daily and want a modern, tabbed interface that feels less austere than iTerm2 or Terminal.app.
I started using it after growing tired of juggling iTerm2 for SSH, Transmit for SFTP, and a handful of shell aliases to keep context between them. electerm's ability to flip between a terminal prompt and a drag-and-drop file panel on the same connection is genuinely useful when you're deploying code and immediately want to verify the file landed correctly.
What does electerm do best?
electerm shines brightest at unified SSH + SFTP workflows — a single connected session exposes both a terminal pane and a graphical file browser side by side.
- Tabbed multi-session management: Open dozens of SSH connections as tabs; each tab preserves its own environment and scroll history.
- Integrated SFTP panel: Upload and download files with drag-and-drop directly inside the session — no separate login required.
- Bookmark vault: Store server credentials (host, port, user, key path) in an encrypted local bookmark store and reconnect in one click.
- Split panes: Tile multiple terminals or mix a terminal with an SFTP view inside the same window.
- Themes and glyphs: Ships with several built-in colour schemes and respects Nerd Font ligatures, so Starship and Powerlevel10k prompts render correctly.
- Serial port support: Unusually for a Mac SSH client, electerm can also open serial connections — handy for embedded and IoT work.
Where tools like SSH Config Manager or Royal TSX lean toward enterprise credential vaulting, electerm stays scrappy and developer-first: the UI is fast to navigate from the keyboard, and the project is actively maintained with frequent releases.
Is electerm free?
Yes — electerm is completely free and open-source, licensed under MIT. There are no paid tiers, no feature gates, and no telemetry opt-in dark patterns. You can install it via Homebrew Cask (brew install --cask electerm) or download a DMG directly from the official site.
Who should use electerm?
electerm is a strong fit for backend and DevOps engineers who SSH into Linux servers every day and want their terminal and file transfers in one place. If you currently use iTerm2 for SSH and then separately fire up Cyberduck or Transmit whenever you need to push a config file, electerm collapses that into one tool.
It also suits developers who work on multiple machines — the bookmark system keeps your server inventory tidy without requiring a paid licence. That said, if your workflow is 90% local shell work and you already love iTerm2's advanced scripting, Python API, or AI integration, switching to electerm for the SFTP panel alone probably isn't worth it. electerm's local terminal experience is solid but not quite at the level of iTerm2's profile power or Warp's AI command completion.
How does electerm compare to its closest alternatives?
The obvious comparisons are iTerm2, Warp, and Termius. iTerm2 remains the gold standard for local terminal work on macOS — richer profiles, better AppleScript hooks, and a more native feel — but it has no built-in SFTP. Warp is spectacular for AI-assisted local shells and team collaboration, but remote connections are only starting to appear. Termius is the closest competitor to electerm in the SSH-plus-SFTP category, with a polished mobile client and team vaults, but the sync features that make it compelling require a paid subscription. electerm offers the same core SSH + SFTP workflow for zero cost, at the price of a less native macOS look and the overhead that any Electron app carries.
For pure SFTP without a terminal, Cyberduck and Transmit 5 are both more capable file managers. But if the terminal is your primary surface and you just need SFTP to be there, electerm's integration wins.
What are the best electerm alternatives?
Your best alternatives depend on what's missing for you:
- Termius — best if you want iOS/Android access and team vaults and don't mind a subscription.
- iTerm2 + Transmit 5 — best if you want a native feel and are happy running two apps.
- Warp — best if AI command assistance and collaborative terminal sessions matter more than remote file management.
- Royal TSX — best for enterprise teams managing dozens of RDP, VNC, and SSH targets in one pane.
