Pure vs Spaceship Prompt
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A minimal, fast zsh prompt that shows git status and command timing.
Open source · MIT
A minimal, customizable Zsh prompt that shows git status, runtimes, and other useful info.
The short answer
Choose Pure if you need…
- Developers who use zsh and want a simple, readable prompt
- People who work with git branches and want to see status at a glance
- Users who want a prompt they can extend with their own segments
- Anyone who prefers a minimal look over a heavily decorated prompt
Choose Spaceship Prompt if you need…
- Zsh users who want useful information in their prompt without much setup
- People who work in Git repositories and want to see branch and status at a glance
- Developers using languages such as Node.js, Python, Rust or Go who want runtime versions shown in the prompt
- Users of Oh-My-Zsh, prezto, zim, zinit or similar Zsh managers who want a ready-made theme
Side-by-side
| Pure | Spaceship Prompt | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.5k | 20.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Shell | Shell |
| Last code update | 30 days ago | 10 days ago |
What each one is
Pure
Pure is a prompt for the zsh shell, the command line used on many Macs and Linux systems. It shows your current folder, your git branch with a marker when there are uncommitted changes, and arrows when local commits are not yet pushed or pulled. It is designed to look clean and stay out of your way.
Spaceship Prompt
Spaceship is a prompt for the Zsh shell, the command line used on many Mac and Linux systems. The prompt line is the text you see before each command, and Spaceship uses it to show details such as your Git repository status, the version of languages or packages in the current folder, Docker or Kubernetes context, and battery level. It is designed to be simple by default and can be configured section by section.
Best for
Pure
- Developers who use zsh and want a simple, readable prompt
- People who work with git branches and want to see status at a glance
- Users who want a prompt they can extend with their own segments
- Anyone who prefers a minimal look over a heavily decorated prompt
Spaceship Prompt
- Zsh users who want useful information in their prompt without much setup
- People who work in Git repositories and want to see branch and status at a glance
- Developers using languages such as Node.js, Python, Rust or Go who want runtime versions shown in the prompt
- Users of Oh-My-Zsh, prezto, zim, zinit or similar Zsh managers who want a ready-made theme
Strengths
Pure
- Installs and enables with a few lines and has a documented npm and Homebrew route
- Git status checks run asynchronously and many options are configurable via environment variables and zstyle
- The README offers a documented hook (prompt_pure_precustom) for adding custom content
Spaceship Prompt
- Installs through many common Zsh plugin managers and Homebrew, npm, and the AUR
- Works well out of the box and can be customized in detail through its configuration docs
- Large, long-running open-source project with an MIT license and an active community on Discord
Not ideal for
Pure
- People who do not use zsh (the README describes a zsh-only prompt), since it will not work in bash or fish
- Users who want many built-in segments by default, because several extras such as Node.js version display are off unless enabled
- Users on very old zsh versions, since the README recommends zsh 5.2+ and says older versions are not recommended
Spaceship Prompt
- Users of shells other than Zsh, such as Bash or Fish, because the project requires Zsh (v5.2 or newer)
- Anyone who does not want to install a Nerd Font or Powerline Font, since the README says one is required for icons to display correctly
- People who want a fully static prompt with no extra background checks, since the README describes many sections that show live information
Trade-offs
Pure
- Configuration is done through zstyle and environment variables, which takes some reading of the README to learn
- Some useful features such as detailed dirty indicators and stash display are opt-in rather than on by default
- The README does not describe compatibility beyond the listed minimum versions of Git and zsh
Spaceship Prompt
- Requires Zsh 5.2 or newer and a Powerline or Nerd Font, so setup is not zero-effort for beginners
- Shows many sections, so users who want a very sparse prompt will need to turn options off
- The README is truncated in this analysis, so some details of the configuration system could not be verified here
Getting started
Pure
Install with npm
npm install --global pure-promptInstall with Homebrew
brew install pureSpaceship Prompt
Install with Homebrew
brew install spaceshipInstall with npm
npm install -g spaceship-promptFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Pure and Spaceship Prompt?
Pure: A minimal, fast zsh prompt that shows git status and command timing. Spaceship Prompt: A minimal, customizable Zsh prompt that shows git status, runtimes, and other useful info. Pure suits developers who use zsh and want a simple, readable prompt, while Spaceship Prompt suits zsh users who want useful information in their prompt without much setup.
Are Pure and Spaceship Prompt free?
Pure: Free and open source. Spaceship Prompt: Free and open source.
Is Pure or Spaceship Prompt more popular?
Spaceship Prompt has more GitHub stars (20.6k) than Pure (14.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Pure and Spaceship Prompt?
Other options people compare them with include Powerlevel10k, Oh My Zsh, Oh My Posh.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.