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 |
| linktui | Manage Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and WireGuard VPN connections |
| Gazelle | Minimal NetworkManager TUI |
| connex | Modern Wi-Fi manager |
| nettui | Unified interface for managing Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
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