Windows Terminal vs Windows Console vs Windows Powershell vs Powershell Core vs Command Prompt - What are the differences?

Terminal Emulator

Windows Terminal vs Windows Console

Windows Console is a previous version of Windows Terminal

• It is used to run console apps inside a window or in hardware text mode.
• ALT + Enter to switch between modes.
• Not recommended anymore

Windows Terminal is a terminal emulator to replace Windows Console.

• It’s is meant to run any command-line ie. Command Prompt, Powershell, WSL, SSH, etc.
• Have many more modern features, like tabs, themes, modules, etc.
• Open source Github
• Recommended

Shell

Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is the command-line interpreter sometimes refered to Command Processor Shell.

• The first shell built into Windows
• Used to automate IT operations
• It’s not recommend by Microsoft anymore. Should use Powershell instead referece
• Not recommended anymore

Windows Powershell

Windows Powershell is the first Microsoft attempt to modernize the Command Prompt and introduce more functionalities.

• Uses .NET Framework 4.5
• Only runs on Windows
• Not recommended anymore

Powershell Core

Powershell Core is the latest Microsoft attempt to modernize the previouw Windows Powershell and introduce cross-platform support and make it open source

• Uses .NET Core
• renamed from powershell(.exe) to pwsh(.exe)
• Works on Linux, Windows, MacOS
• Github
• Recommended

What to use?

It’s recommended to use Windows Terminal with Powershell Core for new applications. You can check the LTS version by yourself or check here

Why Microsoft keep all this versions?

There’re many enterprise applications and automations built on top of each one of them. If Microsoft would retire any of them that would mean hours sent translating to newer versions, testing compatilibity issues, etc. May take a few years before we see the end of life for all previous versions.

Command prompt

The Windows Cmd / Command-Line shell is NOT being removed from Windows in the near or distant future! devblog.microsoft

Windows Powershell

This one ships with Windows. So it will continue to be support for as long as the OS is supported.

Powershell Core

PowerShell follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy.

• https://endoflife.date/powershell provides a good summary.