Kitty vs Tabby: 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 Kitty and Tabby 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:
Kitty
The fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Tabby requires payment)
Tabby
A customizable terminal with built-in SSH and plugins
Best for you if:
- • You want modern terminal experience
| At a Glance | Tabby | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $19/user/mo, billed monthly Team plan |
Category | Terminal Tools Developer Tools | Terminal Tools Developer Tools |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Kitty or Tabby?
Choose Kitty if
- You want a fully free tool (Tabby requires payment)
- You want fast GPU-accelerated terminal
- You want built-in tabs, splits, multiplexing
Choose Tabby if
- You want modern terminal experience
- You want cross-platform support
In-Depth Analysis
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
Tabby
A customizable terminal with built-in SSH and plugins
Tabby's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust free Community tier supporting up to 5 users and local-first operation.
Strengths
- Pro: Modern terminal experience
- Pro: Cross-platform support
- Pro: Highly customizable
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be resource-heavy
- Con: Some features require setup
- Con: Less lightweight than alternatives
Key features
Plans and prices: Kitty vs Tabby
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kitty |
| sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty read Sep 30, 2026 |
| Tabby |
| tabbyml.com/pricing read Oct 21, 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 Kitty pricing and Tabby pricing.
Key Takeaways
Kitty
- Choose if you want the fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users
Tabby
- Choose if you want a customizable terminal with built-in SSH and plugins
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.
- Tabby starts at $19/user/mo, billed monthly; Kitty has no public paid plan price on file.
- 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 Kitty and Tabby 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. Tabby starts at $19/user/mo, billed monthly; Kitty has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Kitty and Tabby used for?
Kitty: The fast, feature-rich, GPU-based terminal emulator for power users. Tabby: A customizable terminal with built-in SSH and plugins.
What does Kitty cost vs Tabby?
Kitty is free. Tabby's cheapest paid plan is Team at $19/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 21, 2026.
What's the main difference between Kitty and Tabby?
Kitty's main strength: fast GPU-accelerated terminal. Tabby's main strength: modern terminal experience.