GitButler alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GitButler: different mental model takes time to learn, and source-available licence, not OSI open source. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GitButler, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Tower currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	lazygit	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	62.6
2	GitHub Desktop	Free	Yes	Windows, macOS	4 of 4	55.3

1. lazygitTop pick
Best for: Terminal users who want fast Git workflows without leaving the keyboard
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from GitButler
A fast terminal client with undo, if you prefer the normal one-branch-at-a-time model.
Pros
Single-key actions for staging, rebasing and cherry-picking
Works anywhere a terminal does, including over SSH
Free, MIT-licensed and very actively maintained
Cons
Keybindings take a while to learn
Simpler history view than graphical clients
No built-in pull-request integration
Visit lazygit Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is lazygit a good GitButler alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Type
Terminal UI
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Features
Worktrees, custom patches, undo
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Windows install
Scoop, Chocolatey, winget
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. GitHub Desktop
Best for: Beginners and GitHub users who want a friendly client for routine commits and pull requests
FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from GitButler
Simpler free client with the standard branch model, for less complex work.
Pros
Free and MIT-licensed, maintained by GitHub
Very easy to learn, with line-level staging
Drag and drop to cherry-pick, squash and reorder commits
Cons
No official Linux build
Lacks a full branch graph and advanced rebase tools
Account and pull-request features are GitHub-centric
Visit GitHub Desktop Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is GitHub Desktop a good GitButler alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
Free
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.github.com(opens source in a new tab)
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows and macOS
Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.github.com(opens source in a new tab)
History editing
Drag and drop cherry-pick, squash and reorder
Checked Oct 25, 2026desktop.github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best GitButler alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best GitButler alternative for most people

Tower

Supports stacked branches inside a conventional, mature client with paid support.

Best GitButler alternative for a free option

lazygit

A fast terminal client with undo, if you prefer the normal one-branch-at-a-time model.

Best GitButler alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

A familiar graph-first client with AI features and agent session views.

Best GitButler alternative for open source

GitHub Desktop

Simpler free client with the standard branch model, for less complex work.

Best GitButler alternative for Mac

Retcon

Mac-only tool that matches GitButler's easy commit rewriting and undo.

Best GitButler alternative for Windows

Tower

Supports stacked branches inside a conventional, mature client with paid support.

Best GitButler alternative for Linux

lazygit

A fast terminal client with undo, if you prefer the normal one-branch-at-a-time model.

GitButler alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GitButler?

Tower ranks first right now. Supports stacked branches inside a conventional, mature client with paid support. lazygit and GitKraken Desktop follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GitButler?

Yes. lazygit (open source), GitKraken Desktop (free plan + paid) and GitHub Desktop (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to GitButler?

Yes: lazygit and GitHub Desktop.

Which GitButler alternatives work on Linux?

lazygit and GitKraken Desktop run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GitButler?

The complaints we hear most: different mental model takes time to learn; source-available licence, not OSI open source; younger product, still changing quickly.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces GitButler, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.