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kitty vs iTerm2

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

kitty

8.0
Developer Tools

GPU-based terminal emulator

iTerm2

8.5
Developer Tools

Terminal emulator as alternative to Apple's Terminal app

Metric kitty iTerm2
Category Developer Tools Developer Tools
AI Score 8.0 8.5
30-day Installs 4.1K 32.6K
90-day Installs 14.3K 100.8K
365-day Installs 58.7K 320.2K
Version 0.46.2 3.6.10
Auto-updates No Yes
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 31.8K 17.1K
GitHub Forks 1.3K 1.3K
Open Issues 20 54
License GPL-3.0 GPL-2.0
Language Python Objective-C
Last GitHub Commit 1mo ago 1mo ago
First Seen Aug 9, 2023 Mar 10, 2012

Reviews

kitty

kitty is a high-performance, GPU-based terminal emulator designed for developers who demand speed and features. It offers cross-platform support, advanced customization, and efficient rendering, making it ideal for power users and those who spend significant time in the terminal.

kitty serves as a terminal emulator that leverages GPU acceleration for enhanced performance and rendering capabilities.

Pros

  • + GPU acceleration for fast and smooth rendering
  • + Feature-rich with extensive customization options
  • + Active development and strong community support

Cons

  • - No auto-updates feature
  • - Some competition from alternatives like Alacritty

iTerm2

iTerm2 is a highly customizable and powerful terminal emulator for macOS, offering features like split panes, hotkeys, and integration with macOS utilities. It's favored by developers and power users for its advanced customization options and performance.

iTerm2 provides a terminal emulation environment with enhanced features compared to Apple's built-in Terminal app.

Pros

  • + Highly customizable interface
  • + Advanced features including split panes and hotkeys
  • + Regular updates and active development

Cons

  • - Steep learning curve for new users
  • - Occasional security vulnerabilities, though promptly addressed