A terminal for macOS
Full speed.
Light touch.
Lean Term is a free, open-source terminal for macOS. Built around responsive input, a small footprint, and a beautifully simple place to work.
Apple silicon. macOS 26+. Free and open source.
Less between you and your shell.The idea
A clear prompt.
A clear head.
Run a quick command. Start a project. Settle into your favorite TUI.
A terminal is a place you return to all day. Lean Term is being built to make that space feel immediate, light, and easy to use. A clean interface, with your work at the center.
One Mac app. A simple idea. Every decision starts with how it feels to use. Read why Lean Term exists
In this order
Fast. Lean.
Lovely.
Three priorities.
One very focused terminal.
Speed you can feel.
Responsive typing. Smooth output. A quick start. The first job is to keep the terminal feeling connected to your hands.
A lighter footprint.
Keep memory use in check and CPU quiet at idle. Leave more of your Mac for the things you’re actually running.
Good looks. Clear thinking.
Beautiful type, considered colors, and controls that make sense. A simple workspace that feels at home on your Mac.
Measure what matters
The feeling comes first.
The numbers follow.
Our performance report will cover typing, launching, output, and resource use. Results will be published once measurements of the released app are ready.
What are we measuring?
Input to visible response
How quickly typed input appears on screen, including the shell’s response.
Launch to a ready shell
The wait between opening the app and having a visible prompt ready to use.
Output under load
How well the terminal stays responsive while text, color, and Unicode flow through it.
Memory and idle CPU
Resource use at rest, with scrollback, and after sustained output.
Lean Term’s own performance numbers will be published once the released app has been measured, with conditions and supporting evidence. See the benchmark guide and results status.
Early release availableOpen a terminal.
Get to work.
Download the signed, notarized ZIP for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later. The source is on GitHub. Downloads and release notes
Apple silicon. macOS 26+. Updates checked on launch and about hourly.
The Lean family
For the code
between commands.
Lean VS Code
A quieter, open-source code editor for your Mac. Write code and review local changes in a familiar workspace.
Explore Lean VS CodeA few things to know.
Is Lean Term free?
Yes. Lean Term is free and open source.
Which Macs does it support?
The current release supports Apple silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later.
Is the terminal on this page the actual app?
It’s an interactive design concept for the visual direction. You can try a few demo commands and switch its appearance. It runs entirely in this page and doesn’t access your Mac or execute real shell commands.
How do updates work?
Lean Term checks on launch and about hourly. You can check immediately from the app menu. Installing an update respects the confirmation before closing active terminal sessions. Read the update instructions.