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Ghostty vs iTerm2
Which is the better terminals for Mac in 2026?
We compared Ghostty and iTerm2 across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Both Ghostty and iTerm2 are excellent terminals. Read our full breakdown below.
Ghostty
GPU-accelerated terminal emulator written in Zig
FreeOpen Source
VS
iTerm2
Replacement for macOS Terminal
FreeOpen Source
Visual Comparison
Ghostty
Ghostty — Official Website
iTerm2
iTerm2 — Official Website
Our Verdict
Both Ghostty and iTerm2 are excellent terminals. Ghostty is better for users who prefer open source solutions, while iTerm2 excels for those who value transparency.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ghostty | iTerm2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Quick Install
Ghostty
brew install --cask ghosttyiTerm2
brew install --cask iterm2Learn More
Video Tutorials
How to Make Your Mac Terminal Look Beautiful (Ghostty Setup Guide)
Ksk Royal • 9.8K views
Ghostty Terminal: A Complete Setup Guide for Modern Mac Development
WEBdoze • 27.4K views
My New Terminal for 2025 — setup, neovim, and TMUX, oh my!
chantastic • 35.3K views
Ghostty - The BEST Terminal!?
Better Stack • 112.2K views
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are excellent terminals. Ghostty is open source and is free. iTerm2 is also open source and is free. The best choice depends on your specific needs.
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