GitHub Desktop alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GitHub Desktop: no official Linux build, and lacks a full branch graph and advanced rebase tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GitHub Desktop, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Sourcetree currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	SourceGit	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	57.2

1. SourceGitTop pick
Best for: Anyone who wants a full-featured, free Git GUI on any desktop OS
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from GitHub Desktop
Free, open source and cross-platform, including Linux, with a richer set of Git operations.
Pros
Free and MIT-licensed with no account
Broad feature set including worktrees, LFS and bisect
Same app on Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
Limited documentation
Frequent changes from a young project
Less polished than the best paid clients
Visit SourceGit Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
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 SourceGit a good GitHub Desktop alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pull requests
Create PRs on GitHub, GitLab, Gitea
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best GitHub Desktop alternative for…

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

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for most people

Sourcetree

Also free, but shows the full branch graph and adds interactive rebase, Git-flow and Git LFS.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for a free option

SourceGit

Free, open source and cross-platform, including Linux, with a richer set of Git operations.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

Adds a visual commit graph and Linux support while staying approachable for newcomers.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for open source

SourceGit

Free, open source and cross-platform, including Linux, with a richer set of Git operations.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for Mac

Fork

A one-time purchase that keeps things simple but adds interactive rebase and a proper merge tool.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for Windows

GitButler

Free to use and better for juggling several branches at once from one working directory.

Best GitHub Desktop alternative for Linux

GitKraken Desktop

Adds a visual commit graph and Linux support while staying approachable for newcomers.

GitHub Desktop alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GitHub Desktop?

Sourcetree ranks first right now. Also free, but shows the full branch graph and adds interactive rebase, Git-flow and Git LFS. GitKraken Desktop and Fork follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GitHub Desktop?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to GitHub Desktop?

Yes: SourceGit.

Which GitHub Desktop alternatives work on Linux?

GitKraken Desktop, SourceGit and GitButler run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GitHub Desktop?

The complaints we hear most: no official Linux build; lacks a full branch graph and advanced rebase tools; account and pull-request features are GitHub-centric.

How is this list ranked?

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