Guake alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Guake: hotkeys can be awkward on Wayland, and linux only. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Guake, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Yakuake currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	kitty	Open source	Yes	Linux, macOS	4 of 4	59.6
2	Ghostty	Open source	Yes	macOS, Linux	5 of 5	57.2

1. kittyTop pick
Best for: Linux and Mac users who want a fast, scriptable terminal with built-in tiling
Open sourceLinux, macOS
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Guake
Fast terminal that can run as a quick-access panel.
Pros
Very fast GPU rendering with low latency
Built-in tabs, splits and layouts reduce the need for tmux
Kittens and remote control make it highly scriptable
Cons
No Windows support
Config file only, no settings UI
Opinionated defaults and design decisions
Visit kitty Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is kitty a good Guake alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Rendering
GPU with SIMD instructions
Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Linux, macOS, BSDs
Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
Extensions
Kittens written in Python
Checked Oct 25, 2026sw.kovidgoyal.net(opens source in a new tab)
2. Ghostty
Best for: Mac and Linux users who want a fast terminal that feels native with little setup
Open sourcemacOS, Linux
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Guake
Includes a quick terminal drop-down along with full windows.
Pros
Native UI on each platform with GPU rendering
Good defaults and a simple config file
Supports modern protocols like Kitty graphics
Cons
No Windows version yet
No built-in multiplexer or scripting API
Younger project with fewer niche features than iTerm2
Visit Ghostty Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Ghostty a good Guake alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
macOS and Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostty.org(opens source in a new tab)
Windows
Planned
Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostty.org(opens source in a new tab)
Rendering
Metal on macOS, OpenGL on Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostty.org(opens source in a new tab)
Creator
Mitchell Hashimoto
Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostty.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Guake alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Guake alternative for most people

Yakuake

The KDE equivalent, built on Konsole.

Best Guake alternative for a free option

Tilix

Tiling terminal that also has a Quake-style mode.

Best Guake alternative for open source

kitty

Fast terminal that can run as a quick-access panel.

Best Guake alternative for Mac

Ghostty

Includes a quick terminal drop-down along with full windows.

Best Guake alternative for Linux

Yakuake

The KDE equivalent, built on Konsole.

Guake alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Guake?

Yakuake ranks first right now. The KDE equivalent, built on Konsole. Tilix and kitty follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Guake?

Yes. Yakuake (open source), Tilix (open source), kitty (open source) and Ghostty (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Guake?

Yes: Yakuake, Tilix, kitty and Ghostty.

Which Guake alternatives work on Linux?

Yakuake, Tilix, kitty and Ghostty run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Guake?

The complaints we hear most: hotkeys can be awkward on Wayland; linux only; many terminals now include a similar quick mode.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Guake, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.