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GitKraken Desktop alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GitKraken Desktop: free tier is limited to public repositories, and electron app can feel heavy on very large repos. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GitKraken Desktop, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Fork currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1SmartGit logoSmartGitFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
2Gitnuro logoGitnuroOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 455.3
3SourceGit logoSourceGitOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 453.6
  1. SmartGit logo

    1. SmartGitTop pick

    Best for: Professionals on Linux or mixed OS teams, and hobbyists who want a full client for free

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitKraken Desktop

    Another cross-platform client including Linux, free for non-commercial use and cheaper for teams.

    Pros

    • Same full feature set on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Free for non-commercial, open-source and academic use
    • Choice of subscription or perpetual licence

    Cons

    • Dense interface with a learning curve
    • Free licence excludes enterprise hosting integrations
    • Commercial use always needs a paid licence
    Visit SmartGit 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 SmartGit a good GitKraken Desktop alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Free for non-commercial use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syntevo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    From $5 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syntevo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syntevo.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Machines per user
    Up to 5
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syntevo.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Gitnuro logo

    2. Gitnuro

    Best for: People who want a clean, free, private Git GUI on any desktop

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitKraken Desktop

    Free and open source on all three desktop platforms, with no account required.

    Pros

    • Free for personal and commercial use
    • No tracking or account
    • Same experience on all three desktop platforms

    Cons

    • Smaller feature set than commercial clients
    • Mostly maintained by one developer
    • JVM-based, so memory use is higher than native apps
    Visit Gitnuro 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 Gitnuro a good GitKraken Desktop alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free, including commercial use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitnuro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gitnuro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Built with
    Compose and JGit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. SourceGit logo

    3. SourceGit

    Best for: Anyone who wants a full-featured, free Git GUI on any desktop OS

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitKraken Desktop

    Open-source, cross-platform client with a commit graph and private repos at no cost.

    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 ×0.357
    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 GitKraken 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 GitKraken Desktop alternative for…

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

Fo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for most people

Fork

A fast native client for Mac and Windows sold for a one-time price instead of a subscription.

Sourcetree logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for a free option

Sourcetree

Free with private repositories included, if you only need Windows and Mac.

SmartGit logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

SmartGit

Another cross-platform client including Linux, free for non-commercial use and cheaper for teams.

Gitnuro logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for open source

Gitnuro

Free and open source on all three desktop platforms, with no account required.

Tower logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for Mac

Tower

A more native-feeling paid client for Mac and Windows with undo for most actions.

SourceGit logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for Windows

SourceGit

Open-source, cross-platform client with a commit graph and private repos at no cost.

SmartGit logo

Best GitKraken Desktop alternative for Linux

SmartGit

Another cross-platform client including Linux, free for non-commercial use and cheaper for teams.

GitKraken Desktop alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GitKraken Desktop?

Fork ranks first right now. A fast native client for Mac and Windows sold for a one-time price instead of a subscription. SmartGit and Sourcetree follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GitKraken Desktop?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to GitKraken Desktop?

Yes: Gitnuro and SourceGit.

Which GitKraken Desktop alternatives work on Linux?

SmartGit, Gitnuro and SourceGit run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GitKraken Desktop?

The complaints we hear most: free tier is limited to public repositories; electron app can feel heavy on very large repos; frequent prompts to upgrade or try paid features.

How is this list ranked?

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