Compare software

Elvish vs Xonsh: catalog facts
Elvish	Xonsh
Free Free and open source.	Free Free to use, with optional sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Command line
Readable scripts with lists, maps and functions Catches errors like undefined variables before running	Python code and shell commands mix in one language Access to the full Python library ecosystem from the prompt
Not POSIX compatible, so Bash scripts do not run unchanged Smaller ecosystem than Bash, Zsh or Fish	Syntax differs from POSIX shells, so existing Bash scripts need changes Most useful to people who already know Python
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: BSD-2-Clause	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.