{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "ghostty",
            "name": "Ghostty",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://ghostty.org/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/ghostty",
            "tagline": "Fast, native terminal emulator with GPU acceleration and free MIT license",
            "summary": "Ghostty is a free, MIT-licensed terminal emulator for macOS and Linux that uses platform-native interfaces and GPU acceleration. Its source is published on GitHub.",
            "platforms": [
                "macos",
                "linux"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free under the MIT license; source code published on GitHub",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "MIT",
            "source": "https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under the MIT license",
                "Uses native interfaces and GPU acceleration"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Download page lists only macOS and Linux",
                "Younger project than iTerm2 or kitty"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Ghostty is a terminal emulator that uses the native user interface of each platform and GPU acceleration for drawing text. The project publishes builds for macOS, as a universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel, and for Linux through packages or source. Its release notes describe search through scrollback on both platforms.\n\nGhostty fits people who want a fast native terminal on macOS or Linux and a permissive license. Its download page lists only macOS and Linux, so Windows users need another option such as Windows Terminal or WezTerm. The project is young next to iTerm2, and its versions move quickly, so check the release notes before upgrading."
        },
        {
            "slug": "iterm2",
            "name": "iTerm2",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://iterm2.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/iterm2",
            "tagline": "Free macOS terminal emulator with split panes and a long history of features",
            "summary": "iTerm2 is a free terminal emulator for macOS, made by George Nachman and released under the GPL v2. It replaces the built-in Terminal app with split panes, profiles and shell integration.",
            "developer": "George Nachman",
            "platforms": [
                "macos"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free software under the GPL v2; source code published on GitHub",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "GPL-2.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/gnachman/iTerm2",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under GPL v2",
                "Split panes, tabs and profiles"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Runs only on macOS"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "iTerm2 is a terminal emulator for Macs running macOS 10.14 or newer. It works as a replacement for the built-in Terminal app and adds split panes, tabs, profiles and shell integration. Its source code is on GitHub, and the project is free software.\n\nThe main trade-off is platform reach: iTerm2 runs only on macOS, so people who use several operating systems will need another terminal for the rest. It suits developers who want deep control of the terminal on a Mac. The GPL v2 license means changes you distribute must also be shared as source."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Only Ghostty runs on Linux."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "terminal-emulators",
            "name": "Terminal emulators",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/terminal-emulators",
            "of": 10,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "ghostty",
                    "rank": 3,
                    "score": 88,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "macOS, Linux",
                        "multiplexing": true,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "cost": "Free"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "iterm2",
                    "rank": 2,
                    "score": 89.5,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "macOS",
                        "multiplexing": true,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "cost": "Free"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "iterm2",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/ghostty-vs-iterm2",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/ghostty-vs-iterm2.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}