Pick iTerm2 if
mac users who will stay on the GPL binary at $0 while they split a first vim + compile pane — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent, and not a Linux-only build (there isn’t one).
Read the iTerm2 pageiTerm2 vs kitty
Our take
Pick iTerm2 if mac users who will stay on the GPL binary at $0 while they split a first vim + compile pane — not Warp Build $20 first unless they want a hosted agent, and not a Linux-only build (there isn’t one). Pick kitty if developers who will stay on OSS at $0 while they open a first vim + git split, then keep kitty beside WezTerm rather than paying Warp for a hosted prompt.
Best for
iTerm2 A local Mac terminal you start at a public $
kitty A local terminal you run at $0
Free plan
iTerm2 $0 · download from the site. Optional donation button on iterm2.com
kitty $0 · binary / source from the docs and GitHub
Lowest paid
iTerm2 Not published by the vendor
kitty Not published by the vendor
Runs where
iTerm2 Terminal; models hosted
kitty Terminal; models hosted
Watch out
iTerm2 macOS-only
kitty There is no hosted team SKU
Last checked
iTerm2 2026-10-23 · iterm2.com
kitty 2026-10-23 · sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty
Which one, then?
Pick kitty if
developers who will stay on OSS at $0 while they open a first vim + git split, then keep kitty beside WezTerm rather than paying Warp for a hosted prompt.
Read the kitty page