Instead of iTerm2: Ghostty
Use Ghostty as your Mac terminal. It is fast, uses native macOS tabs, splits and windows, and supports modern terminal features such as the Kitty graphics protocol. iTerm2 still has more power-user features, so keep it if you rely on them.
Both are for a terminal emulator on a Mac.
Why Ghostty is better
- Ghostty is a native app. On macOS the interface is written in Swift with AppKit and SwiftUI, so tabs, splits and shortcuts behave like other Mac apps.
- Speed is a design goal. Its author aims for the same class as the fastest terminal emulators, with a shared core written in Zig.
- Newer terminal protocols are supported, including the Kitty graphics protocol, light and dark mode notifications and hyperlinks, which programs like Neovim and Zellij use.
- A Linux version uses GTK4, so one config works on both systems.
When to keep iTerm2
Keep iTerm2 if you depend on its deep tmux integration, its Python scripting API, Instant Replay, triggers or its built-in password manager. It has been the standard Mac terminal for years and has more features than any alternative.
Switching
Install Ghostty and recreate the few settings you care about (font, theme, key bindings) in its config file. Profiles, triggers and iTerm2-specific escape codes do not carry over.
Watch out
Ghostty has no Windows version. Its maintainers describe it as a passion project worked on in free time, now under a non-profit fiscal sponsor. Some iTerm2 features have no equivalent, so check your daily habits before switching.
Also worth a look
- WezTerm A GPU-accelerated terminal configured in Lua with its own multiplexer, running on macOS, Linux and Windows; pick it if you need Windows or scripted configuration.
More newer, better terminal emulators and multiplexers
Sources
Judged on 2026-11-06. See every terminal emulators and multiplexers, or all 66 replacements.