Skip to content
Fish Shell logo

Fish Shell

Unclaimed

A smart and user-friendly command line shell for Linux, macOS, and more.

Visit Website
Reviews onSourceForge
1 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

User-friendly and intuitive for beginners

Biggest con

Syntax is different from Bash/Zsh, requiring a learning curve for existing users

TL;DR - Fish Shell

  • User-friendly command line shell with smart features.
  • Offers out-of-the-box tab completions and syntax highlighting.
  • Features sensible scripting and web-based configuration.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

What is Fish Shell?

Editorial review
fish (friendly interactive shell) is a command line shell designed for ease of use and powerful features. It aims to provide a more intuitive and helpful experience compared to traditional shells, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users on Linux, macOS, and other Unix-like systems. The shell comes with out-of-the-box features like intelligent tab completions and syntax highlighting, which simplify command entry and reduce errors. Its scripting language is designed to be simple, clean, and consistent, offering a more approachable way to automate tasks. Additionally, fish includes smart auto-suggestions based on history and completions, and supports modern terminal features like 24-bit true color. For users who prefer a graphical interface, fish offers web-based configuration for settings like colors, functions, variables, and history. It's an open-source project with active development and a supportive community, providing a modern and efficient alternative for command-line interaction.

Available on: Linux, macOS, Windows

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • User-friendly and intuitive for beginners
  • Powerful features work out of the box
  • Clean and consistent scripting syntax
  • Modern terminal features like true color support
  • Web-based configuration for ease of use

Cons

  • Syntax is different from Bash/Zsh, requiring a learning curve for existing users
  • May require some effort to migrate existing shell scripts

Ratings Across the Web

5(1 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Smart auto-suggestions based on history and completionsSyntax highlightingTab completionsSimple, clean, and consistent scripting languageSupport for 24-bit true color (Glorious VGA Color)Web-based configuration interfaceAbbreviations for commands

Pricing Plans

Free

Free

  • Tab completions
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Scriptable
  • Command suggestions
  • Abbreviations
  • 24 bit true color support
  • Web based configuration

Reviews

Be the first to review Fish Shell

Your take helps the next buyer. Verified LinkedIn reviewers get a badge.

Write a review

Best Fish Shell Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Explore More

Fish Shell FAQ

How does fish shell enhance command line interaction for users?

Fish shell improves command line interaction with features like automatic tab completions and syntax highlighting that function immediately upon installation. It also provides command suggestions as you type, drawing from your history and available completions, similar to a web browser's autocomplete functionality.

What options are available for configuring fish shell settings?

Fish shell offers a web-based configuration interface for users with graphical computers, allowing them to set colors and view functions, variables, and history through a web page. Alternatively, all configurations can also be managed directly within the terminal environment.

Can fish shell be used on macOS without a full installation?

Yes, for macOS 10.9 and newer (Intel or Apple silicon), a fish.app is available that bundles the fish shell with an AppleScript. This application launches fish in Terminal without requiring any files to be installed on the system.

What is the scripting experience like in fish shell?

Fish shell is fully scriptable, featuring a syntax that is designed to be simple, clean, and consistent. This design aims to streamline scripting and eliminate the need for complex constructs often found in other shells.

How does fish shell handle color display in the terminal?

Fish shell supports 24-bit true color, which is a modern standard for terminal technology. This allows for a rich and vibrant display of colors within the command line interface.

What is the most recent stable release of fish shell?

The most recent stable release of fish shell is version 4.5.0, which was released on February 17, 2026. This version is available as a tarball for download.

Guides & Articles