Mel – the agentic terminal
The AI terminal for teams.
Learn · AI terminal for Mac
What is the best AI terminal for Mac?
Updated
An AI terminal for Mac is a terminal app for macOS with AI built in: plain-English requests, error help and agents that run commands, edit files and test the work. The best one keeps your normal zsh workflow and adds agents you control.
Mel – the agentic terminal runs on macOS 11 and later, on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It is a full terminal first, with a team of AI agents in the same window. The Mac already ships with Terminal, and many developers add a faster terminal app. Both are good at running commands; neither does the work for you. An AI terminal is the next step.
What to look for in an AI terminal for Mac
- A real terminal underneath. Your shell, your aliases, your PATH, Homebrew and version managers, all working as before.
- Mac keys. Cmd shortcuts, Cmd-click on paths and links, a command palette.
- Agents that act, not only chat: run commands, edit files, run tests and read the results.
- Approvals. You decide which commands and edits need your yes.
- Model choice, so you are not tied to one AI company.
- Room for the agents you already use, such as Claude Code or Codex.
How Mel works on a Mac
- Native app for Apple Silicon and Intel, macOS 11 or later, as a
.dmgdownload. - Your shell environment. Mel reads your login shell's environment at startup, so tools installed through your shell config (nvm, pyenv, CLI agents) are found even when Mel is opened from the Dock.
- Mac shortcuts. ⌘P opens the command palette; Cmd-click opens a path or link from any output; cmd+shift+= opens the code review panel.
- Command blocks. Each command and its output is a block you can select, filter and copy.
- A team of agents that plans, builds, tests and ships a task in the same window.
- CLI agents fit in. Claude Code, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI run in Mel's panes.
- Coming soon: Mel on iPhone and iPad.
How the options compare
| Terminal (built into macOS) | A fast terminal app | A CLI agent in your terminal | Mel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs your shell | Yes | Yes | Yes, around the tool | Yes |
| Plain English to commands | No | Varies | Yes | Yes |
| Agents that edit files and run tests | No | No | Yes, one agent | Yes, a team of agents |
| Command blocks | No | Varies | No | Yes |
| Model choice | n/a | n/a | Usually the maker's models | Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and more |
| Price | Free | Often free | Paid by its maker's plan | Free with your own key |
Getting started on a Mac
- Download Mel from the download page and open it.
- Open it and run a few normal commands. Nothing about your shell changes.
- Add your own API key for free use, or sign in to Pro or Max for hosted credits.
- Describe a small task in plain English, and read the diff before you commit.
FAQ
What is the best AI terminal for Mac? The best fit keeps your normal shell and adds agents you control. Mel does that on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, free with your own API key.
Does Mel run on Apple Silicon? Yes. Mel runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 11 or later.
Will Mel change my zsh setup? No. Mel runs your own shell and reads its environment, so your aliases and tools work as before.
Is Mel on iPhone or iPad? Not yet. Both are coming soon.
Claude Code, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI are trademarks of their owners. Mel is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them or their makers. Mac, macOS, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Mel – the agentic terminal · openmel.dev. A multi-agent, multi-model AI terminal for Mac, Windows, Linux and VS Code. Free with your own API key.