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Alternatives

Best GitHub Desktop alternatives in 2026

GitHub Desktop is free, open-source Git client from GitHub for macOS and Windows. These 6 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.

6 alternatives From best git clients How we rank

Ranked alternatives

  1. 1

    Lazygit

    Also runs on Linux. A free, MIT-licensed terminal interface that covers staging hunks, interactive rebase, cherry-picking and bisect. It has no graphical window, so newcomers face a learning curve.

    Best for Terminal users who want a visual layer over Git

    LinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source

    89.0score
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  2. 2

    GitKraken Desktop

    Also runs on Linux. A visual client for Linux, Mac and Windows that stays free for local and public repositories. Private repository access needs the paid Pro plan, and team plans are priced per seat.

    Best for Visual Git on Linux, Mac and Windows

    LinuxmacOSWindowsFree plan, paid upgrades

    88.5score
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  3. 3

    Sublime Merge

    Also runs on Linux. A dedicated Git client with line-by-line staging and commit editing on Mac, Windows and Linux. A license is needed for continued use, and business use is billed per user each year.

    Best for Sublime Text users who want line-level staging

    macOSWindowsLinuxPaid

    85.5score
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  4. 4

    Sourcetree

    A free visual client for Windows and Mac with branch diagrams and Mercurial support. It has no Linux version, and its best fit is teams that already use Atlassian tools.

    Best for Windows and Mac teams on Atlassian tools

    WindowsmacOSFree

    84.0score
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  5. 5

    Tower

    A polished visual client for Mac and Windows with a 30-day trial and no free plan. Paid plans start at $69 per user a year for individuals, which costs more than the free clients above.

    Best for Mac and Windows developers and designers

    macOSWindowsSubscription

    82.5score
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  6. 6

    Fork

    A Git client for Mac and Windows listed at $59.99 for each platform, with a free evaluation. It has no free tier and no Linux version, so it ranks below the free clients.

    Best for Mac and Windows users who want a paid client

    macOSWindowsPaid

    80.0score
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Narrow the alternatives

GitHub Desktop alternatives for Linux

About GitHub Desktop alternatives

What is the best alternative to GitHub Desktop?
On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Lazygit, followed by GitKraken Desktop. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
Is there a free alternative to GitHub Desktop?
Yes. Free options include Lazygit, GitKraken Desktop, Sourcetree.