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kitty vs xterm: catalog facts
kitty	xterm
Free Free and open source under the GPL.	Free Free to download as source or from distribution packages.
macOS, Linux	Linux
Inline image display through its own graphics protocol Kittens add diffing, hints, remote control and SSH integration	Very thorough DEC VT and Tektronix emulation Maintained continuously for decades
No Windows build Configuration is a text file with no graphical settings	Configured through X resources, which is dated and awkward No tabs or split panes
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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