Alternatives

Best kitty alternatives in 2026

kitty is gPU-based terminal for Linux and macOS with layouts and remote control. These 6 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.

6 alternatives From best terminal emulators How we rank

Ranked alternatives

  1. 1

    WezTerm

    Also runs on Windows. A cross-platform terminal and multiplexer with SSH, serial ports and copy mode built in, under the MIT license. Its configuration surface is large, so the first setup takes time.

    Best for One cross-platform terminal with multiplexing

    WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

  2. 2

    iTerm2

    A long-standing macOS terminal with split panes, profiles and shell integration, free under the GPL v2. It runs only on macOS, so it cannot cover a mixed set of computers.

    Best for Power features on a Mac

    macOSFree and open sourceOpen source

  3. 3

    Ghostty

    A fast, native terminal for macOS and Linux with GPU acceleration and search through scrollback, under the MIT license. Its download page lists no Windows build, and it is a younger project.

    Best for Fast native terminal on macOS and Linux

    macOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

  4. 4

    Windows Terminal

    Also runs on Windows. Microsoft's MIT-licensed terminal for Windows, free from the Microsoft Store and built to host cmd, PowerShell and WSL sessions. It runs only on Windows.

    Best for Windows, WSL and command-line work

    WindowsFree and open sourceOpen source

  5. 5

    Warp

    Also runs on Windows. A modern terminal with built-in AI agents, available for macOS, Linux and Windows, with a Free plan. Paid plans bill extra agent usage, and its focus on agents differs from a plain terminal.

    Best for Terminal work with built-in AI agents

    macOSLinuxWindowsFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source

  6. 6

    Alacritty

    Also runs on Windows. A fast, minimal OpenGL terminal for BSD, Linux, macOS and Windows under Apache-2.0 or MIT. It has no built-in tabs or splits, and the project describes itself as beta-level software.

    Best for Minimal, fast terminal with a multiplexer

    LinuxmacOSWindowsFree and open sourceOpen source

About kitty alternatives

What is the best alternative to kitty?
On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is WezTerm, followed by iTerm2. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
Is there a free alternative to kitty?
Yes. Free options include WezTerm, iTerm2, Ghostty.