Comparison · Git clients

Lazygit vs Sourcetree: which is better in 2026?

Lazygit ranks higher in our list of git clients (#2 against #5, score 89.0 against 84.0).

  • 89.0
    Editorial score
    84.0
  • 4
    Platforms
    2
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • Yes
    Open source
    No

Which should you choose?

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.

Choose Sourcetree if you want

Windows and Mac teams on Atlassian tools.

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.

The main differences

  • Only Lazygit runs on Linux.
  • Lazygit is open source; Sourcetree is not.

Side by side

LazygitSourcetree
Score89.084.0
Rank in list#2 of 7#5 of 7
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHubFreeFree download for Windows and Mac; Windows Enterprise for managed deployments
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesNo
PlatformsLinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineLinux, macOS, Windows, Command lineWindowsmacOSWindows, macOS
Made byNot statedAtlassian
InterfaceTerminalGraphical
Linux supportYesNo
Best forTerminal users who want a visual layer over GitWindows and Mac teams on Atlassian tools
Strengths
  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Stages individual hunks or lines
  • Free to download on Windows and Mac
  • Branching diagrams show team history
Limits
  • Terminal only, with no graphical window
  • Keyboard-driven, so there is a learning curve
  • No Linux version
  • Best suited to teams that use Atlassian tools
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Lazygit vs Sourcetree

Is Lazygit better than Sourcetree?
Lazygit ranks higher in our list of git clients (#2 against #5, score 89.0 against 84.0). Lazygit is best for: terminal users who want a visual layer over Git. Sourcetree is best for: windows and Mac teams on Atlassian tools.
Which is cheaper, Lazygit or Sourcetree?
Lazygit: Free and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHub. Sourcetree: Free download for Windows and Mac; Windows Enterprise for managed deployments.
Do Lazygit and Sourcetree run on the same platforms?
Lazygit supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line. Sourcetree supports Windows, macOS.