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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

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Tower logoTowerPaidNomacOS, Windows5 of 566.5
2lazygit logolazygitOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3GitKraken Desktop logoGitKraken DesktopFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
4GitHub Desktop logoGitHub DesktopFreeYesWindows, macOS4 of 455.3
  1. Tower logo

    1. TowerTop pick

    Best for: Professional developers on Mac or Windows who want a deep, well-supported Git GUI

    PaidmacOS, Windows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitButler

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

    Pros

    • Undo for most actions, including deleted commits and branches
    • Covers advanced Git features like worktrees and stacked branches
    • One licence covers both Mac and Windows

    Cons

    • Subscription only, with no free tier
    • No Linux version
    • Self-hosted server support requires the Pro tier
    Visit Tower Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 Tower a good GitButler alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $69 per user/year (Basic)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026git-tower.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $129 per user/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026git-tower.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026git-tower.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Education
    Free for students and educators
    Checked Oct 25, 2026git-tower.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026git-tower.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. lazygit logo

    2. lazygit

    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)
  3. GitKraken Desktop logo

    3. GitKraken Desktop

    Best for: Visual learners and mixed Windows, Mac and Linux teams that want one polished client

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitButler

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

    Pros

    • Clear, colourful commit graph that makes history easy to read
    • Same app and licence on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Built-in merge tool and hosting-service integrations

    Cons

    • Free tier is limited to public repositories
    • Electron app can feel heavy on very large repos
    • Frequent prompts to upgrade or try paid features
    Visit GitKraken Desktop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 GitKraken Desktop a good GitButler alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Community tier for public repos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitkraken.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan limit
    Public repos only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitkraken.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitkraken.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitkraken.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. GitHub Desktop logo

    4. 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.

Tower logo

Best GitButler alternative for most people

Tower

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

lazygit logo

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.

GitKraken Desktop logo

Best GitButler alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

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

GitHub Desktop logo

Best GitButler alternative for open source

GitHub Desktop

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

Retcon logo

Best GitButler alternative for Mac

Retcon

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

Tower logo

Best GitButler alternative for Windows

Tower

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

lazygit logo

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.