Best kitty Alternatives in 2026
The top kitty alternatives are Tabby, Windows Terminal and iTerm2: 15 terminal emulators our editors would look at instead of kitty, in our ranking order.
kitty: A programmable terminal with strong SSH workflows, graphics, layouts, and session control. Where it falls short: documented directory support is limited to linux and macOS.
Switching from kitty? For most terminal emulators buyers the best kitty alternative is Tabby, built for power users needing SSH and extensive automation. On a budget, Warp starts at $18/mo.
Why People Look for a kitty Alternative
- Documented directory support is limited to Linux and macOS
- Its extensive controls and extensions may require configuration effort
- No cross-device session synchronization is documented
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallTabby9.4
Power users needing SSH and extensive automation
Visit Tabby - Lowest priceWarp8.7
Paid plans from $18/mo
Visit Warp - Best free optionTabby9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Tabby
All 15 kitty Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forPower users needing SSH and extensive automation
- Better than kitty:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.0
A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems.
- Session sync
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Tabby -
Best forWindows users with multiple shell environments
- Better than kitty:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.0
A free, open-source Windows terminal with tabs, panes, profiles, and automation.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft -
Best forMac users wanting automation and rich session management
- Better than kitty:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 9.0
A capable Mac terminal with advanced panes, profiles, session restoration, and automation.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
9.2/10★★★★★Visit iTerm2 -
Best forFree SSH and network-session management
A free, open-source terminal client with broad SSH and network-session coverage.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit PuTTY -
Best forTeams wanting collaboration and AI terminal workflows
A broad terminal workspace for developers who want AI, collaboration, and session sync.
- Session sync
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Warp -
Best forWindows administrators managing many protocols
A broad Windows terminal suite with free personal use and paid team features.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit MobaXterm -
Best forMinimalist cross-platform users prioritizing fast rendering
A focused, open-source terminal with GPU rendering and strong configuration options.
- GPU acceleration
- Scripting API
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Alacritty -
Best forUsers wanting structured panes and terminal monitoring
A free, open-source terminal with panes, saved layouts, monitoring, and scripting.
- Split panes
- SSH support
- Scripting API
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best formacOS and Linux users wanting a modern GPU terminal
A free, open-source GPU terminal with strong macOS and Linux workflows.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Ghostty -
Best forWindows users needing configurable panes and automation
A free, open-source Windows terminal for configurable layouts and command automation.
- Split panes
- SSH support
- Scripting API
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit ConEmu -
Best forLinux users wanting a mature standard desktop terminal
A free, configurable Linux terminal with tabs, profiles, SSH, and GNU Screen support.
- SSH support
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit GNOME Terminal -
Best forLinux users wanting a straightforward tabbed terminal
A focused, free Linux terminal with tabs and practical session visibility.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit GNOME Console -
Best forLinux users who prefer a lightweight drop-down terminal
A focused, free Linux terminal with drop-down access, tabs, panes, and automation.
- Split panes
- Scripting API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forLinux users wanting a simple configurable terminal
A focused, configurable Linux terminal with tabs, search, and unlimited scrollback.
- Scripting API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Xfce Terminal -
Best forDevelopers wanting a programmable cross-platform terminal
A deep, programmable terminal for developers who need panes, remote sessions, and graphics support.
- GPU acceleration
- Split panes
- SSH support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit WezTerm
kitty Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to kitty?
Tabby: #1 in our Terminal Emulators ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A versatile open-source terminal for power users who automate across systems.
Is there a free alternative to kitty?
Yes. Tabby, Windows Terminal, iTerm2, PuTTY and Warp have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for kitty alternatives?
Documented directory support is limited to Linux and macOS; Its extensive controls and extensions may require configuration effort; No cross-device session synchronization is documented.
How do I switch from kitty?
Export your data from kitty (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel kitty.
How to Switch from kitty
- Export your data from kitty (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel kitty.
kitty vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Split panes | GPU acceleration | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | kitty | Free | Linux, macOS | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 1 | Tabby | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Windows Terminal | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | iTerm2 | Yes | Free | macos | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | PuTTY | Yes | Free | Windows and Unix | 8.8 | ||
| 5 | Warp | Yes | $18/mo | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | MobaXterm | Yes | Windows | 8.6 | |||
| 7 | Alacritty | Yes | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD | No | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | Konsole | Yes | Free | Linux, Windows, macOS | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Ghostty | Yes | Free | macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 10 | ConEmu | Yes | Free | Windows | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | GNOME Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 8.1 | ||
| 12 | GNOME Console | Yes | Free | linux | 8.0 | ||
| 13 | Yakuake | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Xfce Terminal | Yes | Free | linux | 7.9 | ||
| 15 | WezTerm | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update