Mel – the agentic terminal
The AI terminal for teams.
Learn · AI terminal for Windows
What is the best AI terminal for Windows?
Updated
An AI terminal for Windows is a terminal app with AI built in that runs natively on Windows: plain-English requests, error help and agents that run commands, edit files and test the work. The best one treats Windows as a first-class platform, not a port.
Mel – the agentic terminal runs on Windows 10 and 11 as a native app, with a team of AI agents in the same window as your command line. Many AI coding tools start on Mac and reach Windows later, or only through WSL. On Windows the details matter: how commands are quoted, which shell runs them, and whether agents understand Windows paths.
What to look for in an AI terminal for Windows
- Native Windows support, with an installer, not only a Linux build under WSL.
- Commands passed correctly. Command Prompt has its own quoting rules; a terminal that gets them wrong breaks commands with quotes in them.
- Agents that act: run commands, edit files, run tests and read the results.
- Approvals for the commands and edits you choose, with a person asked before anything that cannot be undone.
- Model choice, so you are not tied to one AI company.
- Room for the CLI agents you use, such as Claude Code, Codex CLI or Gemini CLI.
How Mel works on Windows
- Windows 10 and 11, x64, with a
setup.exeinstaller or a.zip. The x64 build also runs on Windows 11 on ARM. - Command Prompt by default. Mel hands your typed line to
cmd.exeexactly as you typed it, so quotes and special characters behave as they do in Command Prompt. - Command blocks, split panes and tabs, the same as on Mac and Linux.
- A team of agents that plans, builds, tests and ships a task.
- Configurable approvals. A command that cannot be undone asks a person whatever the setting.
- The same plans everywhere: free with your own API key, or Pro and Max with hosted credits.
How the options compare
| Windows Terminal or Command Prompt | A CLI agent in your terminal | Mel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native on Windows | Yes | Varies by tool | Yes, Windows 10 and 11 |
| Plain English to commands | No | Yes | Yes |
| Agents that edit files and run tests | No | Yes, one agent | Yes, a team of agents |
| Command blocks | No | No | Yes |
| Model choice | n/a | Usually the maker's models | Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and more |
| Same app on Mac and Linux | No | Varies | Yes |
Getting started on Windows
- Download the Windows installer from the download page and run it.
- Open Mel and run a few normal commands such as
dirorgit status. - Add your own API key for free use, or sign in to Pro or Max for hosted credits.
- Hand over a small task, and read the diff before you commit.
FAQ
What is the best AI terminal for Windows? One that runs natively on Windows and adds agents you control. Mel does that on Windows 10 and 11, free with your own API key.
Does Mel need WSL? No. Mel is a native Windows app with its own installer.
Which shell does Mel use on Windows? Command Prompt (cmd.exe) by default, with your typed line passed through unchanged.
Does Mel run on Windows on ARM? The x64 build runs on Windows 11 on ARM.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 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.
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.