Cmder vs Hyper
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A portable console emulator package for Windows, built on ConEmu with a custom config and prompt.
Open source · MIT
An open-source terminal app built with web technologies, focused on being extensible.
The short answer
Choose Cmder if you need…
- Windows users who want a nicer, tabbed command-line window
- People who want a portable terminal setup they can carry between machines
- Developers who use cmd.exe, PowerShell, or Bash side by side
- Users who want Git-aware prompts and bundled tools like git, curl and wget in the full edition
Choose Hyper if you need…
- Developers who want a terminal they can customize with extensions or themes
- People who prefer a terminal built with web tools like TypeScript, React, and HTML/CSS
- Linux or macOS users who want a downloadable app with a simple install
- Hobbyists who enjoy tweaking their development environment
Side-by-side
| Cmder | Hyper | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 27k | 44.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | PowerShell | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 10 days ago | 3 months ago |
What each one is
Cmder
Cmder is a terminal window for Windows that bundles a console emulator (based on ConEmu), a Monokai color scheme, enhanced command-line completion via Clink, and a custom prompt. It is designed to run without installation, so the whole setup can be kept on a USB stick or in cloud storage. It is useful for people who find the default Windows command prompt limiting.
Hyper
Hyper is a terminal application, the window where you type commands on your computer, built on open web standards. Its stated goals are speed, stability, and a clear API for extension authors, so people can add features and customize its look. The README says it is available for macOS, Linux, and Windows through various package managers and downloads.
Best for
Cmder
- Windows users who want a nicer, tabbed command-line window
- People who want a portable terminal setup they can carry between machines
- Developers who use cmd.exe, PowerShell, or Bash side by side
- Users who want Git-aware prompts and bundled tools like git, curl and wget in the full edition
Hyper
- Developers who want a terminal they can customize with extensions or themes
- People who prefer a terminal built with web tools like TypeScript, React, and HTML/CSS
- Linux or macOS users who want a downloadable app with a simple install
- Hobbyists who enjoy tweaking their development environment
Strengths
Cmder
- Portable: the README says it is self-contained with no external dependencies
- Bundles familiar tools such as git, curl and wget in the full edition, and offers tabs for several shells
- Customizable through ConEmu settings and a configurable cmder_config folder
Hyper
- Built on open web standards, so its codebase is approachable to people who know JavaScript or TypeScript
- Designed around an extension API, with sample extensions and themes linked from the README
- Open source under the MIT license with an active project and a public contribution path
Not ideal for
Cmder
- macOS or Linux users, since the project is described as a Windows package (the README does not describe other platforms)
- Users who need the Bash tabs to work in the mini edition without extra setup, since the README says they may not work there without additional configuration
- Users who need strict security or policy control over bundled executables, since the README does not describe a security model and portable folders can be edited freely
Hyper
- People who need the fastest or most minimal terminal, since the README names speed as a goal rather than a proven result
- Users who want a stable, long-established terminal with a large existing ecosystem, as the README does not compare it to mature alternatives
- Anyone who needs an install guaranteed to be the newest version, since the README warns package-manager versions may lag behind
Trade-offs
Cmder
- Windows only, and the README's Bash and Mintty tabs have caveats depending on edition and setup
- The README is truncated and some keyboard shortcuts are noted as undocumented
- Portable installs must not sit in protected folders like Program Files, which limits where it can live
Hyper
- The README does not give performance benchmarks, so speed claims are goals rather than measured results
- Some package-manager versions (Homebrew, Chocolatey, Snapcraft, AUR) may be out of date
- Building from source needs extra system setup, including build tools and platform-specific fixes for node-pty and code signing
Getting started
Cmder
Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page, then extract the archive to a non-admin folder
git clone https://github.com/cmderdev/cmderHyper
macOS install via Homebrew Cask
brew updatemacOS install via Homebrew Cask
brew install --cask hyperFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Cmder and Hyper?
Cmder: A portable console emulator package for Windows, built on ConEmu with a custom config and prompt. Hyper: An open-source terminal app built with web technologies, focused on being extensible. Cmder suits windows users who want a nicer, tabbed command-line window, while Hyper suits developers who want a terminal they can customize with extensions or themes.
Are Cmder and Hyper free?
Cmder: Free and open source. Hyper: Free and open source.
Is Cmder or Hyper more popular?
Hyper has more GitHub stars (44.8k) than Cmder (27k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Cmder and Hyper?
Other options people compare them with include Flow Launcher.
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.