Comparison · Git clients

GitUI vs Lazygit: which is better in 2026?

Lazygit ranks higher in our list of git clients (#2 against #4, score 89.0 against 87.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

  • 87.0
    Editorial score
    89.0
  • 4
    Platforms
    4
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • Yes
    Open source
    Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose GitUI if you want

Fast Git work in a terminal window.

MIT-licensed terminal UI for Git, written in Rust, with a graphical-style workflow in a terminal. It is free and fast, and it ranks just below lazygit here, with a speed benchmark the author published.

Choose Lazygit if you want

Terminal users who want a visual layer over Git.

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.

Side by side

GitUILazygit
Score87.089.0
Rank in list#4 of 10#2 of 10
PriceFree and open sourceMIT-licensed and free to installFree and open sourceFree and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHub
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesYes
PlatformsWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineWindows, macOS, Linux, Command lineLinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineLinux, macOS, Windows, Command line
Made byGitUI projectNot stated
InterfaceTerminal UITerminal
Linux supportYesYes
Best forFast Git work in a terminal windowTerminal users who want a visual layer over Git
Strengths
  • MIT-licensed and free
  • Fast, written in Rust
  • Packages for many Linux distributions
  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Stages individual hunks or lines
Limits
  • Key bindings need learning before use
  • Benchmarks are the author's own
  • Terminal only, with no graphical window
  • Keyboard-driven, so there is a learning curve
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about GitUI vs Lazygit

Is Lazygit better than GitUI?
Lazygit ranks higher in our list of git clients (#2 against #4, score 89.0 against 87.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. GitUI is best for: fast Git work in a terminal window. Lazygit is best for: terminal users who want a visual layer over Git.
Which is cheaper, GitUI or Lazygit?
GitUI: MIT-licensed and free to install. Lazygit: Free and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHub.
Do GitUI and Lazygit run on the same platforms?
GitUI supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line. Lazygit supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line.