Ghostty review
A fast, native, GPU-powered terminal for Mac and Linux
- Mitchell Hashimoto and contributors
- Free
- Mac, Linux
Does it deserve #2?
Is Ghostty worth it?
Yes. Ghostty scores 9.1/10 and ranks #2 in Developer Tools. It's best for developers on Mac or Linux who live in the terminal. Skip it if you work on Windows or want built-in AI and team features in your terminal. Price: Free and open source; optional donations go through the non-profit Hack Club.
The verdict
Ghostty is a terminal emulator that refuses to choose between speed and polish. It renders on the GPU, uses real native tabs and splits on Mac and Linux, ships hundreds of themes that follow light and dark mode, and supports the Kitty graphics protocol and ligatures. Version 1.3 added scrollback search. It's free, MIT-licensed and run as a non-profit project. There's no Windows version, and remote SSH hosts may need its terminfo installed.
- GPU rendering
- Native tabs and splits
- Hundreds of built-in themes
- Kitty graphics protocol
- Quick Terminal on macOS
- Scrollback search
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Mar 2026Ghostty 1.3 adds scrollback search, native scrollbars and click-to-move cursor
- Dec 2025The project moved under the non-profit Hack Club
- Sep 2025Ghostty 1.2 brought a command palette and background images
Privacy 9.8/10
No account needed. Crash reports are saved locally and never sent anywhere automatically; you can share them yourself if you choose.
What we like
- Fast GPU rendering with a native look
- Free, open source and run as a non-profit
- Hundreds of themes that follow light and dark mode
What could be better
- No Windows app planned
- SSH hosts may need its terminfo installed
- AppleScript support is still a preview
Developers on Mac or Linux who live in the terminal
you work on Windows or want built-in AI and team features in your terminal
Questions about Ghostty
Is Ghostty worth it in 2026?
Yes. Ghostty scores 9.1/10 and ranks #2 in Developer Tools. It's best for developers on Mac or Linux who live in the terminal. Skip it if you work on Windows or want built-in AI and team features in your terminal. Price: Free and open source; optional donations go through the non-profit Hack Club.
Is Ghostty free?
Yes. Ghostty is free and open source under the MIT licence, and US donations to the project are tax-deductible.
Does Ghostty run on Windows?
No. Ghostty supports Mac and Linux, and a Windows app is not planned.
What are the best alternatives to Ghostty?
The closest alternatives are Warp, Zed and Visual Studio Code. See all of them ranked on our Ghostty alternatives page.
Where does Ghostty rank?
Ghostty ranks #2 of 10 in our Developer Tools ranking, with an overall score of 9.1 out of 10.