When comparing Screen vs mtm, the Slant community recommends Screen for most people. In the question“What are the best terminal multiplexers?” Screen is ranked 2nd while mtm is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Screen is:
Screen allows multiple terminals (screens) within a single screen number, so when you reconnect they will all be there.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Preserve your session
Screen allows multiple terminals (screens) within a single screen number, so when you reconnect they will all be there.
Pro It is installed by default on a lot of systems including macOS
Pro Supports shared sessions
More than one user can be connected to a single screen session.
Pro Also works as serial port terminal
This is actually very valuable for embedded or networking work.
Pro Easy to use
There are three commands (change focus, split, close). There are no modes, no dozens of commands, no crazy feature list.
Pro Compatible with multiple systems
mtm emulates a classic ANSI text terminal. That means it should work out of the box on essentially all terminfo/termcap-based systems (even pretty old ones), without needing to install a new termcap entry.
Pro Very lightweight
mtm is small. The entire project is around 1000 lines of code.
Pro Very stable
mtm is "finished" as it is now. You don't need to worry about it changing on you unexpectedly.
Cons
Con Scrolling becomes tricky
You can no longer scroll with your mouse wheel, unless you do Ctra-a + Escape first
Con Doesn't work too well with ssh X connections
If you have an X connection over ssh within screen, it likely won't reconnect when you reconnect your screen.
Con Not widely available in repos
You'll probably have to compile it yourself.