Ghostty vs Docker Desktop
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Ghostty is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. Ghostty wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Docker Desktop on 1.
Developers on Mac or Linux who live in the terminal
Developers who build and test containerized apps on their own machine
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Ghostty | Docker Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Mitchell Hashimoto and contributors | Docker, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Ghostty better than Docker Desktop?
Ghostty is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. Ghostty wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Docker Desktop on 1.
Which is cheaper, Ghostty or Docker Desktop?
Ghostty: Free and open source; optional donations go through the non-profit Hack Club. Docker Desktop: Free for personal use and small businesses; Pro $9/month, billed yearly. On value for money, Ghostty scores higher.
Do Ghostty and Docker Desktop work on the same devices?
Only Docker Desktop runs on Windows.
Which is more private, Ghostty or Docker Desktop?
Ghostty scores higher on 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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Ghostty
- 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
- No Windows app planned
- SSH hosts may need its terminfo installed
- AppleScript support is still a preview
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.
Full Ghostty review
Docker Desktop
- Easiest way to run containers on any desktop
- Compose makes multi-service apps simple
- Free for personal use and small businesses
- Heavy on memory, CPU and battery
- Companies with 250+ staff or $10M+ revenue must pay
Docker Desktop is the easiest way to run containers on your own machine. It bundles the Docker engine, Compose, a local Kubernetes cluster and a friendly dashboard, and it now adds sandboxes for AI coding agents, an MCP Toolkit and the Gordon AI assistant. The downsides: it uses a lot of memory and battery, and larger companies need a paid subscription. Still essential for most backend developers.
Full Docker Desktop review
