KonsoleLinux
vs
Windows TerminalWindows
Konsole as a Linux alternative to Windows Terminal
Updated
Our verdict
Konsole is a solid replacement for Windows Terminal for users who prefer a native KDE application or who need deep integration with the KDE desktop. It supports tabbed sessions, split panes, multiple profiles, and GPU‑accelerated rendering via OpenGL, matching the core features of Windows Terminal. It is especially useful for developers who already use KDE or need advanced bookmark and notification features. However, it may lack some Windows‑specific integrations such as PowerShell or Windows‑only shells.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 26.04.3 (July 2, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Tabbed interface
- Split pane support
- Multiple shell profiles
- GPU‑accelerated rendering
- Unicode and color support
What is different
- No built‑in PowerShell support (unless installed separately)
- No Windows‑specific registry‑based profile configuration
- Lacks the exact same JSON‑based profile format
- No native integration with Windows file system paths
- Does not support Windows‑only terminal features like ConPTY
Opening your Windows Terminal files
Konsole does not read Windows Terminal profile JSON files directly. You would need to manually recreate profiles in Konsole’s settings. Exporting from Konsole to Windows Terminal is not supported; you can copy command lines and settings manually.
Switching from Windows Terminal to Konsole, step by step
- Open Windows Terminal and export your profiles to JSON (File → Export).
- Launch Konsole and go to Settings → Edit Current Profile to create a new profile.
- Copy the command, font, and color settings from the exported JSON into Konsole’s profile editor.
- Repeat for each profile you need.
- Save the profiles and restart Konsole.
- Verify that each shell starts correctly and adjust any missing options manually.
Key features of Konsole
- Tabbed terminal sessions
- Customizable color schemes and fonts
- Multiple terminal profiles with different settings
- Silence and activity notifications
- Bookmark support for frequently used directories
- Search within terminal output
- Save terminal output to file
- Drag-and-drop and split views (in some layouts)
How to install Konsole on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.konsolesudo apt install konsolesudo apt install konsolesudo dnf install konsolesudo pacman -S konsolesudo zypper install konsoleFrequently asked questions
Can I use PowerShell in Konsole?
Yes, if PowerShell is installed on your Linux system (e.g., via PowerShell for Linux), you can set it as the shell in a Konsole profile.
Does Konsole support split panes?
Konsole supports split views in its tab layouts; you can split horizontally or vertically within a tab.
How do I import color schemes from Windows Terminal?
Export the color scheme from Windows Terminal as a JSON file, then import it into Konsole via Settings → Color Schemes → Import. You may need to adjust color names to match Konsole’s format.
4 other alternatives to Windows Terminal
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