Self-described 'fastest terminal emulator in existence' — a GPU-accelerated, cross-platform terminal written in Rust focused on simplicity and performance. No tabs, splits, or built-in multiplexer — designed to pair with tmux or Zellij. Configured via YAML with a minimal feature set that prioritizes speed above all else. Supports true color, Vi mode, regex search, and clickable URLs. Available on macOS, Linux, Windows, and BSD. 57K+ GitHub stars.
Alternatives to kitty
2 editor-selected alternatives · kitty overview →
source: tools.alternatives · stored order · active records only; review scores are annotations and never change membership or order
A directional evidence panel appears only when the substitute rationale, trade-offs, sources, and verification date have been recorded. Older selections without that panel remain visible but are unclassified under the new evidence contract.
GPU-accelerated cross-platform terminal emulator written in Rust with configuration in Lua for maximum flexibility. Supports multiplexing (splits, tabs, workspaces), ligatures, true color, sixel/iTerm2/Kitty image protocols, and SSH multiplexer for remote sessions. Extensive keyboard/mouse customization, dynamic color schemes, and a built-in serial port mode. Works on macOS, Linux, Windows, and FreeBSD. Known for deep customizability. 19K+ GitHub stars.
Open-source kitty alternatives
Alacritty, WezTerm — see all open-source developer tools.
More Terminal & CLI Tools tools
same category, not editor-selected alternatives — see how kitty compares →
FAQ
Which kitty alternative is listed first?
Alacritty is first in the editor-selected list of 2 kitty alternatives. The stored order is editorial; review scores do not determine membership or position.
Are there open-source kitty alternatives?
Yes — Alacritty, WezTerm are open source.