OpenTerminal for Mac

Name: OpenTerminal
Rating: 4.6 (8 reviews)
Author: Thomas Wiesehoefer

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OpenTerminal Analysis

AI Assisted Content · June 11, 2026

Not written by CNET Staff.

OpenTerminal is a free utility for Mac that enhances productivity by providing quick access to the terminal from any Finder window. This application allows users to open a terminal session directly in the directory currently being viewed, eliminating the need for tedious navigation through various directories. With a simple right-click, users can initiate terminal commands without disrupting their workflow, making it a valuable tool for both novice and experienced users.

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In addition to its core functionality, OpenTerminal offers customization options that allow users to personalize their terminal experience. It supports various terminal applications, ensuring compatibility with the user's preferred setup. The intuitive interface and seamless integration into the Mac ecosystem make OpenTerminal an essential tool for anyone looking to enhance their command-line efficiency.

OpenTerminal for Mac

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: August 1, 2010

Latest update: June 11, 2026

Version: 2.07

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Mac

Operating System

Mac OS X 10.5
Mac OS X
Mac OS X 10.6

Additional Requirements

This app requires Mac OS X 10.6, and does not run on Mac OS X 10.5. Please ignore the "Operating System Requirements" field for this listing.
(Version 1.3.1 for Mac OS X 10.2, OpenTerminal 2.0.3 for Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.4 and OpenTerminal 2.0.5 for Mac OS X 10.5 can still be downloaded from the developer's site)
iTerm support has been tested with version 0.10

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 706

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.6/5

8 User Votes

I use it all the time.
vicnortonNovember 11, 2010
Pros
It's very helpful in creating hard or symbolic link ih the current [Finder] folder.
Cons
I would really like it to open in the current Path Finder folder.
Summary
essential for command-line work
corrpNovember 5, 2010
Pros
Drag it to the Dock and it is ready to take you to the Terminal window for the frontmost Finder window.
Cons
I haven't found any. It is simple and does its one-trick job well.
Summary
For a keyboard jockey, it is great. I can activate "all controls" under the Keyboard shortcuts control panel and with Fn-Ctrl-F2 on my laptop and navigate to Open Terminal in first position with the arrow keys, I can get to work easily.
Great time saver!
LargeCupApril 4, 2009
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. I only occasionally need to use terminal to get to a couple remote servers and manually cd-ing to everything is tedious and error-prone. This is a great tool that makes the task much easier. Thank you.
Gotta love it
fluttercorkNovember 2, 2006
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. OpenTerminal is one of my all-time favourite programs. I can't even say how often I use it each day. Just installed v2.0 and no problems whatsoever. Fixed the problem where it would get confused if the Get Info window was open and also seems to be a lot snappier than 1.3.1. Great stuff!
fluttercorkMarch 7, 2003
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. Great program. Does exactly what it's supposed to and a real timesaver -- why hasn't Apple implemented this? One small bug to report, however: whenever
Ã–lbaumFebruary 28, 2003
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. I can't make it reuse terminal wondows. It always opens a new one and I set the prefs correctly. It would be nice if it
TyphoonFebruary 16, 2003
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. Very cool
maelcumOctober 19, 2002
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com. just changed from another product - that i was used to - to this one. most elegantly inserted in the os. works flawlessly.

Developer’s Description

By Thomas Wiesehoefer

Open terminal for a specific location directly from the Finder.

When you are working in the Finder and you discover that you need a terminal window you have to open "Terminal" and "cd" to the folder you were working on. With OpenTerminal you just click its icon or use the Finder's contextual menu and a terminal with the correct path shows up.

The advantage of OpenTerminal over other available tools is that it can run in the background (without using processor time) and react instantly because it doesn't have to start up first. It's also much more refined than the other tools I know of: it includes workarounds for several Finder and Terminal bugs, supports Spaces, and it doesn't open superfluous terminal windows.

The sourcecode is also available.

OpenTerminal for Mac

OpenTerminal Analysis

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OpenTerminal for Mac

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User Reviews

I use it all the time.

essential for command-line work

Great time saver!

Gotta love it

Developer’s Description