Ghostty vs Kitty: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Ghostty and Kitty side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Ghostty
A GPU-accelerated terminal emulator designed for speed and modern features.
Best for you if:
- • You want exceptional performance due to GPU rendering
Kitty
The fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users.
Best for you if:
- • You want fast GPU-accelerated terminal
| At a Glance | Ghostty | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Terminal Tools Developer Tools | Terminal Tools Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.1/5 G2 4.1 39 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Ghostty or Kitty?
Choose Ghostty if
- You want exceptional performance due to GPU rendering
- You want smooth and responsive user experience
Choose Kitty if
- You want fast GPU-accelerated terminal
- You want built-in tabs, splits, multiplexing
In-Depth Analysis
Ghostty
A GPU-accelerated terminal emulator designed for speed and modern features.
Strengths
- Pro: Exceptional performance due to GPU rendering
- Pro: Smooth and responsive user experience
- Pro: Modern design and underlying architecture
- Pro: Potentially better handling of complex terminal outputs
Weaknesses
- Con: May require a capable GPU for optimal performance
- Con: Newer project, so feature set might be less mature than established emulators
Key features
Kitty
The fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users.
Kitty's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Fast GPU-accelerated terminal
- Pro: Built-in tabs, splits, multiplexing
- Pro: Image rendering support
- Pro: Highly configurable
- Pro: Cross-platform
Weaknesses
- Con: Configuration file-based only
- Con: Documentation can be dense
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Some compatibility issues
- Con: Font rendering varies
Key features
Plans and prices: Ghostty vs Kitty
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ghostty | No plan prices on file | ghostty.org |
| Kitty |
| sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty read Sep 30, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Ghostty pricing and Kitty pricing.
Key Takeaways
Ghostty
- Choose if you want a GPU-accelerated terminal emulator designed for speed and modern features
Kitty
- Choose if you want the fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Ghostty has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 39 reviews); Kitty has none we can show.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Ghostty and Kitty compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Ghostty has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 39 reviews); Kitty has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are Ghostty and Kitty used for?
Ghostty: A GPU-accelerated terminal emulator designed for speed and modern features. Kitty: The fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users.
What does Ghostty cost vs Kitty?
Ghostty is free. Kitty is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between Ghostty and Kitty?
Ghostty's main strength: exceptional performance due to GPU rendering. Kitty's main strength: fast GPU-accelerated terminal.