kitty
What kitty is
kitty is a free, open-source terminal emulator for Linux and macOS, built for keyboard users and accelerated with a GPU. It uses OpenGL to display Unicode and true-color text, including bold, italic, and other formatting. Programs can be organized into tabs, windows, split panes, and layouts. Session files can preserve a chosen arrangement along with its working directory and startup programs, making it possible to define how a terminal workspace opens.
Settings are kept in a human-editable configuration file. The kittens framework extends the terminal with tools for image viewing, file diffing, remote file editing, and Unicode input. From a shell prompt, users can control kitty locally or over SSH, changing settings and managing windows and tabs. Documented integrations for zsh, fish, and bash support prompt navigation and viewing command output. Scrollback can be read in a pager with color and formatting preserved, or piped to another command. The official installer provides pre-built binaries for both supported platforms, with manual installation options for macOS and Linux.
Who it suits
kitty suits keyboard-focused users on Linux or macOS who want a configurable terminal with tabs, windows, and split panes. Its session files, shell integrations, and SSH-based remote control also suit users who want to manage repeatable terminal layouts and command-line workflows.
What it does well
- Free and open source, with pre-built Linux and macOS binaries.
- GPU acceleration and OpenGL rendering support Unicode and true color.
- Tabs, windows, split panes, layouts, and saved sessions organize programs.
- Shell-based remote control works over SSH.
- Kittens add tools for image viewing, file diffing, and remote editing.
What to know first
- Available platforms are limited to Linux and macOS.
- The official installer describes manual DMG and tarball installation routes.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| kitty | Pre-built binaries for macOS and Linux | Free |
As sw.kovidgoyal.net lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the official kitty website.
- Choose the pre-built installer for Linux or macOS.
- For manual installation, use the macOS DMG or Linux tarball instructions.
- On Linux, install the desktop file to add kitty to desktop menus and taskbars.
Verdict
Choose kitty if you use Linux or macOS and want a keyboard-oriented terminal that combines configurable layouts with session files and shell control. Its GPU rendering and extension framework add further options for terminal workflows. Look elsewhere if you need a platform beyond Linux or macOS.
Questions
Is kitty free?
Yes. kitty is free and open source.
Which platforms does kitty support?
kitty is available for Linux and macOS.
How can I install kitty?
The official installer provides pre-built binaries. Manual installation instructions cover a macOS DMG and Linux tarball.
Can kitty be controlled over SSH?
Yes. Users can control kitty from a shell prompt, including over SSH, to change settings and manage windows and tabs.
Can kitty save a terminal layout?
Yes. Session files can define tabs, window layout, working directory, and startup programs.
Facts from kitty's own pages
- Configuration
- Its settings are stored in a human-editable configuration file and the program is highly configurable. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Fonts
- Font settings can specify separate families for regular, bold, italic, and bold italic text, including families for particular Unicode ranges. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- GPU acceleration
- Yes · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 20 Sept 2026
- Installation
- The official installer provides pre-built binaries for macOS and Linux; the page describes macOS DMG and Linux tarball manual installation. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Linux desktop integration
- The installation guide says Linux users can add kitty to desktop menus and taskbars by installing its desktop file. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Its interface supports multiple programs arranged in tabs, windows, and layouts. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- kitty is a GPU-based terminal emulator designed for keyboard users. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Remote control
- Users can control kitty from a shell prompt, including over SSH, to change settings and manage windows and tabs. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- kitty uses OpenGL for rendering and supports Unicode, true color, bold and italic fonts, and text formatting. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- The kittens framework lets users add terminal tools such as image viewing, file diffing, remote file editing, and Unicode input. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Scripting API
- Yes · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 20 Sept 2026
- Scrollback
- Users can browse scrollback in a pager with colors and text formatting preserved, or pipe it to another command. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Sessions
- Session files can specify tabs, window layout, working directory, and startup programs. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Shell integrations
- The documentation describes integrations with zsh, fish, and bash for features such as navigating prompts and viewing command output. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Split panes
- Yes · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 20 Sept 2026
- SSH support
- Yes · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 20 Sept 2026
- Support
- The official documentation includes a frequently asked questions page covering usage and troubleshooting topics. · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 9 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Linux,macOS · sw.kovidgoyal.net, 20 Sept 2026
Where kitty stands on Freedom251
- Terminal apps#7 of 41
- Terminal Emulators#13 of 40