NetworkManager is the standard networking stack on many Linux distributions, especially desktop-oriented systems such as Fedora, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and many others. It handles Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPNs, mobile broadband, and a growing list of network-related tasks through a common service and API.
If you prefer working in a terminal, NetworkManager gives you two main front ends: nmcli and nmtui. But there are many other terminal-based clients available for Linux which focus on managing Wi-Fi. We prefer tools which make Wi-Fi management fast, keyboard-friendly, and much nicer than raw CLI tools.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion here.
Read more about each tool.
| Wi-Fi Terminal-Based Managers | |
|---|---|
| Impala | TUI for managing wifi on Linux |
| wlctl | TUI for managing WiFi using NetworkManager |
| Netpala | Golang based Wi-Fi manager |
| wifitui | Fast featureful friendly wifi terminal UI |
| nmtui-go | TUI to manage NetworkManager Wi-Fi connections |
| Orbit | WiFi and Bluetooth manager for Wayland |
| Gazelle | Minimal NetworkManager TUI |
| connex | Modern Wi-Fi manager |
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |