Quil vs Zellij.
Modern Rust terminal multiplexer with a friendly UX, WASM plugins, and sane defaults. Released in 2021.
Modern UX, clean WASM plugin model, excellent defaults, discoverable status bar.
Modern UX, clean WASM plugin model, excellent defaults, discoverable status bar. Zellij users rarely need to read a manual.
Reboot survival. AI continuity. Typed panes.
No concept of reboot-proof workflows or AI session continuity. Zellij sessions are runtime-only; a host reboot is final.
Zellij is the closest competitor on UX — both tools prioritise gentle defaults and a modern feel. Where they diverge: Zellij is a multiplexer first, Quil is a workflow orchestrator first. Quil's typed panes, AI session resume, and reboot persistence address a problem Zellij considers out of scope.
Feature by feature.
| capability | quil | Zellij |
|---|---|---|
| Session persistence while the multiplexer server is running | ✓ | ✓ |
| Survives a full host reboot | ✓ | ✕ |
| └── Quil's defining capability. Everyone else loses the session on reboot. | ||
| AI session auto-resume (Claude Code, Cursor) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Typed panes (Terminal / AI / SSH / Webhook) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Plugin system | ✓ | ✓ |
| └── Quil uses declarative TOML. Zellij uses WASM. WezTerm uses Lua. tmux uses shell scripts. | ||
| Mouse support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ghost buffers (last 500 lines instant on reconnect) | ✓ | ✕ |
| MCP server for AI agents | ✓ | ✕ |
| Notification center + idle analysis | ✓ | ✕ |
| Pane notes editor (Alt+E) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Windows native (no WSL) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Declarative keybindings (config file) | ✓ | ✓ |
Coming from Zellij?
Zellij users will feel at home in Quil — both tools use Alt-based keys and avoid prefix chords by default. The main adjustment is Quil's typed panes (Terminal / AI / SSH / etc.), which Zellij doesn't have.
▸ Is Quil just Zellij with AI support?
It's more than that. Quil's core bet is that a workflow orchestrator is a different tool from a multiplexer. Typed panes, ghost buffers, the MCP server, and the pane notes editor all follow from that bet. Zellij has chosen a different scope.
▸ Can Quil use Zellij plugins?
No. Zellij plugins are WASM modules using Zellij's host API. Quil plugins are TOML declarations. The two models are intentionally different — Quil's is simpler but less dynamic, Zellij's is more powerful but harder to write.
▸ Both tools are in Rust, right?
Zellij is Rust. Quil is Go — specifically Go 1.25, with Bubble Tea v2 for the TUI. Different ecosystems, same aesthetic goals.
Try them both. Pick a side.
Quil installs side-by-side with Zellij. Nothing to uninstall first.