Ghostty vs Devin Desktop (Windsurf)
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Ghostty is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.4. Ghostty wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Devin Desktop (Windsurf) on 1.
Developers on Mac or Linux who live in the terminal
Developers who want an AI-first code editor with a free plan
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Ghostty | Devin Desktop (Windsurf) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Category rank | #2 of 18 | #12 of 18 |
| Developer | Mitchell Hashimoto and contributors | Cognition |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Ghostty better than Devin Desktop (Windsurf)?
Ghostty is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.4. Ghostty wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Devin Desktop (Windsurf) on 1.
Which is cheaper, Ghostty or Devin Desktop (Windsurf)?
Ghostty: Free and open source; optional donations go through the non-profit Hack Club. Devin Desktop (Windsurf): Free plan with unlimited Tab completions; Pro is $20 a month, Max is $200. On value for money, Ghostty scores higher.
Do Ghostty and Devin Desktop (Windsurf) work on the same devices?
Only Devin Desktop (Windsurf) runs on Windows.
Which is more private, Ghostty or Devin Desktop (Windsurf)?
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
Devin Desktop (Windsurf)
- Free plan includes unlimited Tab completions
- Your code stays in files on your own computer
- Runs several AI agents on one board
- Free agent quota is light, and its size isn't published
- Your data may train models; only paid users can opt out
- Made for coders, not complete beginners
Windsurf got a new name in June 2026: Devin Desktop. It's still a full code editor that takes VS Code extensions, but it now opens on a board for running AI agents. Type what you want and the built-in agent, Devin Local, edits files and runs commands once you approve. The free plan has unlimited Tab completions and a light agent quota. It suits people who are comfortable around code, and your files stay on your computer.
Full Devin Desktop (Windsurf) review
