Agents UI
Two fast, GPU-accelerated, open-source terminals. Kitty offers a richer remote-control protocol and kittens; Ghostty prioritizes native feel and zero-config speed.
At a glance
| Feature | Ghostty | Kitty |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Built for AI agents | No | No |
| Multi-agent orchestration | No | No |
| Built-in SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Splits / panes | Yes | Yes |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes |
| Persistent sessions | No | No |
| MCP support | No | No |
| Scripting SDK / API | No | No |
When to choose Ghostty
You want the fastest path to a great-looking, native terminal with minimal setup.
Ghostty strengths
- Very fast GPU-accelerated, native rendering
- Sensible defaults with minimal configuration
- Native splits and tabs
When to choose Kitty
You want scriptability, a remote-control protocol, and extensions (kittens).
Kitty strengths
- GPU-accelerated with a rich remote-control protocol
- Kittens extend functionality (image preview, SSH, diffing)
- Native splits, tabs, and layouts
How Agents UI compares
If your work centers on AI coding agents, it's worth weighing a third option. Agents UI is an open-source macOS terminal built specifically to run agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI — with multi-agent orchestration, SSH, and a Python SDK in one workspace. Explore the best terminals for multi-agent workflows to see where it fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ghostty better than Kitty?
Two fast, GPU-accelerated, open-source terminals. Kitty offers a richer remote-control protocol and kittens; Ghostty prioritizes native feel and zero-config speed.
When should I choose Ghostty?
You want the fastest path to a great-looking, native terminal with minimal setup.
When should I choose Kitty?
You want scriptability, a remote-control protocol, and extensions (kittens).