# GitHub Desktop review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/github-desktop
Website: https://desktop.github.com/

Free, open-source Git client from GitHub for macOS and Windows

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.

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.

The 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.

- Free and open source | macOS, Windows | open source (MIT)
- Price: Free and open source under the MIT license; source on GitHub
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## 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

## Rankings

- #1 of 10 in [best Git clients](https://listme.name/best/git-clients), score 90.0: 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.

## Alternatives

- [Lazygit](https://listme.name/software/lazygit), score 89.0
- [GitKraken Desktop](https://listme.name/software/gitkraken), score 88.5
- [GitUI](https://listme.name/software/gitui), score 87.0
- [Sublime Merge](https://listme.name/software/sublime-merge), score 85.5
- [Sourcetree](https://listme.name/software/sourcetree), score 84.0
- [Tower](https://listme.name/software/tower), score 82.5
- [SmartGit](https://listme.name/software/smartgit), score 82.0
- [Fork](https://listme.name/software/fork), score 80.0