Comparison
Onda vs Ghostty
Ghostty is a fast, zero-config native terminal built by Mitchell Hashimoto. Onda is an AI-native terminal with MCP, session resume, and integrated dev tools. Different philosophies, different target users — here is how they line up.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Onda | Ghostty |
|---|---|---|
Platform | macOS 12+ | macOS, Linux, Windows (beta) |
Rendering | Electron + xterm.js | Native GPU (Metal/OpenGL) |
Startup time Ghostty is significantly lighter | ~1s cold start | ~100ms |
MCP integration | Yes | No |
AI session resume | Yes | No |
AI command generation | Yes | No |
Plugin system Ghostty is intentionally minimal | Yes | No |
Built-in Git panel | Yes | No |
File browser | Yes | No |
Dev server preview | Yes | No |
Split panes | Yes | Yes |
Workspaces | Yes | No |
Config as code Ghostty uses a single config file | Partial | Yes |
Open source | Partial | Yes |
Price | Free / Pro from $3/mo | Free |
Pick Onda when
- You use Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI in your daily workflow
- You need a Git panel and file browser inside the terminal
- You want workspaces, plugins, and dev server preview
- MCP integration with AI agents is core to how you work
Pick Ghostty when
- You want the fastest possible terminal with zero features beyond shell rendering
- You value native GPU rendering and minimal memory footprint
- You are on Linux or prefer cross-platform
- You do not use AI CLIs or want your terminal to stay out of the way
Common questions: Onda vs Ghostty
Is Onda faster than Ghostty?
No. Ghostty is native code with GPU rendering; Onda is Electron-based and starts in about 1 second versus Ghostty's ~100ms. For pure terminal throughput and memory use, Ghostty wins. Onda prioritizes integrated features (AI, Git, file browser) over raw speed. If startup time matters more than AI integration, pick Ghostty.
Why use Onda if Ghostty is lighter?
Because Onda replaces three to four apps: terminal, Git GUI, file manager, and AI CLI launcher. Ghostty only replaces the terminal. If your day involves Claude Code, Git, and dev servers, the integrated workflow saves context switches. If your day is pure shell work, Ghostty is lighter and simpler.
Can Ghostty integrate with Claude Code like Onda?
Not natively. You can run `claude` inside Ghostty as any other CLI, but Ghostty has no MCP server, no session resume detection, and no AI command generation. Onda ships 21 MCP tools so Claude Code can programmatically open panes, run commands, and switch tabs.
Does Onda work on Linux like Ghostty?
Not yet — Onda is macOS Apple Silicon only today. Ghostty supports macOS, Linux, and Windows (beta). If cross-platform is a hard requirement, Ghostty wins today.
Do both support split panes?
Yes. Both offer horizontal and vertical splits with keyboard shortcuts. Onda adds mosaic-style arbitrary splits, per-pane workspaces, and pane-level actions like "split with same cwd". Ghostty keeps splits simple.
How do plugins compare?
Ghostty has no plugin system by design. Onda offers a full plugin API running in Web Workers — themes, commands, panels, status bar widgets, keybindings, HTTP requests, storage. Plugins are managed from Settings and can be installed from the built-in store.
Can I run both?
Yes. Many developers keep Ghostty for quick commands and SSH and use Onda for AI-assisted coding sessions. They share shell and dotfiles, so switching is friction-free.