Ghostty
A fast, native terminal emulator for macOS and Linux with GPU rendering and an embeddable terminal library.
SwiftUI on macOS, GTK on Linux, GPU rendering and the Kitty graphics protocol.
Ghostty is a terminal emulator with a native SwiftUI app on macOS and a GTK app on Linux. It suits developers who want a quick, standards-focused terminal and run their AI agents, if any, as separate command-line tools inside it.
What it is
It renders with Metal on macOS and OpenGL on Linux, supports windows, tabs and splits, and implements modern protocols including the Kitty graphics protocol and synchronized rendering. It also provides libghostty, a C-compatible library for embedding a terminal in other software.
Who it's for
It fits people who want a fast daily-driver terminal and already use agents such as Claude Code in a shell. It does not suit you if you want AI commands or an assistant built into the terminal, since the README mentions none, or if you need a Windows app.
Key features
Native GUI per platform
A SwiftUI app on macOS and a GTK app on Linux rather than one cross-platform toolkit.
GPU rendering
Metal on macOS and OpenGL on Linux draw the terminal.
Windows, tabs and splits
Multi-window support with tab renaming and colouring on macOS and the Linux GTK build.
Modern protocols
Kitty graphics protocol, clipboard sequences, synchronized rendering and light or dark mode notifications.
macOS automation
AppleScript and Apple Shortcuts (AppIntents) integrations.
libghostty
A C-compatible library for embedding a terminal in other projects.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- Native macOS and Linux apps instead of a web-view shell.
- The README says it is stable and in use by millions of people and machines daily.
- A built-in crash reporter saves reports locally and does not send them off the machine.
- Linux integration with systemd allows always-on operation and new windows in a single instance.
Where it falls short
- The README mentions no AI features at all, so assistants come from separate tools.
- The native apps cover macOS and Linux; the README does not say the GUI app runs on Windows.
- libghostty has no version tag yet and the libghostty-vt API signatures are still changing.
- The README gives no install steps and points to ghostty.org/download.
Pricing & license
Ghostty is free under the MIT licence and the README mentions no paid plan. The only cost is whatever AI tools you choose to run inside it.
Open remote AI-training roles
880 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 15, 2026; most pay $20–$175 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.
Alternatives
These reviewed AI tools do the same job instantly — from our scored directory.
Use it, or have us set it up
FAQ
Does Ghostty have AI features?
No. The README lists none; it is a terminal emulator, and AI assistants run as separate programs inside it.
Does Ghostty run on Windows?
The README names native apps for macOS and Linux and says libghostty-vt is compatible with Windows, but it does not say the GUI app runs there.
Is Ghostty free for commercial use?
Yes. It is licensed under MIT, which permits commercial use.
