{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "github-desktop",
            "name": "GitHub Desktop",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://desktop.github.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/github-desktop",
            "tagline": "Free, open-source Git client from GitHub for macOS and Windows",
            "summary": "GitHub Desktop is a free, MIT-licensed Git client from GitHub for macOS and Windows. Linux is not officially supported, and community builds for Linux come from a fork of the project.",
            "developer": "GitHub",
            "platforms": [
                "macos",
                "windows"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHub",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "MIT",
            "source": "https://github.com/desktop/desktop",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under the MIT license",
                "Built around GitHub repositories"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Linux is not officially supported",
                "Some advanced Git operations need the command line"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "GitHub Desktop is a graphical Git client for committing, branching and merging work in repositories hosted on GitHub. The official installers cover macOS, including Apple silicon, and Windows. GitHub states that Linux is not officially supported and points to community builds from a fork.\n\nThe app is built with Electron and TypeScript, and its source is published on GitHub under the MIT license. It suits people who mainly work with GitHub and want a simple visual workflow at no cost. Some advanced Git operations may still need the command line, and Linux users need a community build or a different client."
        },
        {
            "slug": "sourcetree",
            "name": "Sourcetree",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/sourcetree",
            "tagline": "Free visual Git client for Windows and Mac from Atlassian",
            "summary": "Sourcetree is a free Git client for Windows and Mac from Atlassian, with branch diagrams and support for Git and Mercurial repositories. It is free to download, and Atlassian also offers a Windows Enterprise version for managed deployments.",
            "developer": "Atlassian",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos"
            ],
            "pricing": "free",
            "price_note": "Free download for Windows and Mac; Windows Enterprise for managed deployments",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "Free to download on Windows and Mac",
                "Branching diagrams show team history"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "No Linux version",
                "Best suited to teams that use Atlassian tools"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Sourcetree is a visual Git client for Windows and Mac. Its branching diagrams show how a team's work has moved, and it can clone and search remote repositories from its interface. It works with Git and Mercurial repositories, and Atlassian's Bitbucket is the hosting service its site promotes.\n\nSourcetree is free to download. Atlassian also sells a Sourcetree for Windows Enterprise version for installing and managing the app across an organization. Sourcetree has no Linux version, so Linux users need another client such as GitKraken or Lazygit. It suits teams that already use Bitbucket."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "GitHub Desktop is open source; Sourcetree is not.",
        "GitHub Desktop: free and open source. Sourcetree: free."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "git-clients",
            "name": "Git clients",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/git-clients",
            "of": 10,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "github-desktop",
                    "rank": 1,
                    "score": 90,
                    "verdict": "The simplest free client here, MIT-licensed and built for GitHub repositories. Linux has no official build, and advanced Git operations may still need the command line.",
                    "best_for": "GitHub users who want a simple free client",
                    "spec": {
                        "interface": "Graphical",
                        "platforms": "macOS, Windows",
                        "linux": false,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "cost": "Free"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "sourcetree",
                    "rank": 6,
                    "score": 84,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "interface": "Graphical",
                        "platforms": "macOS, Windows",
                        "linux": false,
                        "open_source": false,
                        "cost": "Free"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "github-desktop",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/github-desktop-vs-sourcetree",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/github-desktop-vs-sourcetree.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}