Pick the terminal
that fits your workflow.
Every terminal on this page is good. They solve different problems for different people. Here's where Chau7 differs, where it wins, and where it doesn't.
Chau7 is a beta built by one person. We respect what every terminal on this list has built. If another one fits better, use it.
Feature comparison table
| Feature | Chau7 | iTerm2 | Warp | Alacritty | Kitty | Terminal.app | VSCode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Server | 20 tools | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AI Detection | 7+ CLIs | — | Partial | — | — | — | — |
| Built-in AI Features | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | Copilot |
| Context Token Optimization | ~40% saved | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Token/Cost Tracking | Per call | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GPU Rendering | Metal | Metal | Metal | OpenGL | OpenGL | — | — |
| Cross-Platform | macOS only | macOS only | macOS + Linux | All 3 | All 3 | macOS only | All 3 |
| Split Panes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes |
| Extensions / Plugins | — | Triggers | Workflows | — | Kittens | — | Full |
| SSH Manager | Yes | Yes | — | — | SSH kitten | — | Yes |
| Session Recording | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Command Safety Guard | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Maturity | Beta | 15+ years | Stable | Stable | Stable | Ships with macOS | Stable |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free | Free + Paid | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → |
What Chau7 doesn't do (yet)
We can't do everything. One day, perhaps. For now, here's where we are.
No plugin system
Kitty has kittens, VSCode has extensions. Chau7 has the MCP API and JSON-RPC, but no way to add custom UI or behavior through plugins.
macOS only
Alacritty, Kitty, and VSCode run on Linux and Windows. Chau7 is a native macOS app. If you use multiple operating systems, Chau7 can't follow you.
Beta
iTerm2 has 15 years of stability. Chau7 is new. It has 1528 tests and a Rust backend, but it hasn't seen every edge case yet. Expect rough edges.
No built-in AI
Warp has AI command suggestions, natural language queries, and completions built in. Chau7 does not. It provides tools for external AI agents to use, not its own AI.
Frequently asked questions
Should I switch from iTerm2?
It depends. If you use AI coding tools daily and want MCP control, AI detection, and cost tracking, Chau7 adds things iTerm2 can't do. If you rely on iTerm2's triggers, tmux integration, or just trust its 15 years of stability, there's no shame in staying. Chau7 imports your iTerm2 profiles if you want to try both side by side.
Is Warp's AI better than Chau7's MCP?
Different tools for different philosophies. Warp integrates its own AI directly. Chau7 lets your existing AI tools drive the terminal via MCP. If you want one integrated AI experience, Warp. If you use Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor and want them to have terminal access through an open standard, Chau7.
Why not just use Alacritty?
Alacritty is excellent at what it does: fast, minimal, cross-platform. If that's what you want, use it. Chau7 is the opposite bet: macOS-only, feature-rich, AI-oriented. Both care about performance. They disagree on everything else.
Is Chau7 stable enough for daily use?
It's in beta. It has 1528 tests, a Rust parsing backend, and is used daily by its developer. But it hasn't been battle-tested by thousands of users over years. If you need absolute stability for production workflows, iTerm2 or Kitty are safer bets today. If you're comfortable with beta software and want to be early on the AI-native terminal idea, Chau7 is ready for that.