carbonyl vs neko
Terminal browsing and shared remote desktops compared
carbonyl renders Chromium-based web pages directly in a terminal, including over SSH and without a window server. neko streams a containerized browser or other desktop application over WebRTC for remote, shared use.
carbonyl: Browse the Web from a Terminal
Carbonyl runs Chromium in a terminal, rendering modern web pages without a window server and supporting JavaScript and media. It suits terminal users who need a full browser, but its development has been inactive and releases have stalled.
neko: Share a Virtual Browser Over WebRTC
Neko streams a browser or Linux desktop from a self-hosted Docker environment to multiple people over WebRTC. It suits watch parties, collaborative browsing, and remote access when participants need to interact with the same session.
| carbonyl | neko | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Rust | Go |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache-2.0 |
| Stars | 19.5k | 22.5k |
| Forks | 584 | 1.6k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 |
Key differences
- carbonyl focuses on rendering web pages locally in a terminal; neko streams a live containerized desktop to connected users.
- carbonyl supports modern web features and media in a console; neko supports shared sessions with multiple participants, audio, and control.
- carbonyl is written in Rust and licensed under BSD-3-Clause; neko is written in Go and licensed under Apache-2.0.
- carbonyl can be installed through npm, Docker, or a binary; neko requires deploying a containerized application and configuring network access for WebRTC.
- carbonyl is aimed at terminal use where a graphical browser is unavailable; neko supports watch parties, collaboration, and remote access to applications beyond browsers.
- carbonyl's Chromium-based runtime can require a substantial build; neko's setup and deployment details vary by application and image.
Choose carbonyl if you…
- need Chromium-based pages in a terminal, including over SSH or without a window server.
- want modern web pages, JavaScript, or media in a console environment.
- prefer terminal browsing over streaming a shared desktop.
Choose neko if you…
- want multiple people to view and control the same browser or desktop session.
- need WebRTC streaming for watch parties, teaching, support, or collaborative work.
- want to make a containerized application or desktop environment remotely accessible.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.