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GitLens alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GitLens: commit Graph and worktrees are paid features, and many views and prompts can clutter the editor. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GitLens, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GitKraken Desktop currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1GitKraken Desktop logoGitKraken DesktopFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2lazygit logolazygitOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
3GitHub Desktop logoGitHub DesktopFreeYesWindows, macOS4 of 457.2
4Magit logoMagitOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 455.3
  1. GitKraken Desktop logo

    1. GitKraken DesktopTop pick

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

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitLens

    The standalone desktop client from the same company, included in the same paid plan.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 GitKraken Desktop a good GitLens 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)
  2. lazygit logo

    2. lazygit

    Best for: Terminal users who want fast Git workflows without leaving the keyboard

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitLens

    Free terminal UI that runs in VS Code's integrated terminal with no paid tier.

    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 ×0.377
    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 lazygit a good GitLens 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. GitHub Desktop logo

    3. GitHub Desktop

    Best for: Beginners and GitHub users who want a friendly client for routine commits and pull requests

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitLens

    A free standalone client for simple commit and pull-request workflows.

    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 ×0.369
    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 GitHub Desktop a good GitLens 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)
  4. Magit logo

    4. Magit

    Best for: Emacs users who want the fastest, most complete keyboard-driven Git workflow

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitLens

    The deep editor-integrated alternative for those working in Emacs.

    Pros

    • Covers almost all of Git through discoverable key menus
    • Line-level staging and painless interactive rebase
    • Free software with a long, stable history

    Cons

    • Requires Emacs, which is a big learning investment
    • Can be slow on Windows and huge repositories
    • No graphical commit graph
    Visit Magit 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 Magit a good GitLens alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Runs in
    Emacs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Interface
    Text-based UI with mnemonic keys
    Checked Oct 25, 2026magit.vc(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintainers
    Jonas Bernoulli, Kyle Meyer, Noam Postavsky
    Checked Oct 25, 2026magit.vc(opens source in a new tab)

The best GitLens alternative for…

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

GitKraken Desktop logo

Best GitLens alternative for most people

GitKraken Desktop

The standalone desktop client from the same company, included in the same paid plan.

lazygit logo

Best GitLens alternative for a free option

lazygit

Free terminal UI that runs in VS Code's integrated terminal with no paid tier.

GitKraken Desktop logo

Best GitLens alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

The standalone desktop client from the same company, included in the same paid plan.

GitHub Desktop logo

Best GitLens alternative for open source

GitHub Desktop

A free standalone client for simple commit and pull-request workflows.

Sublime Merge logo

Best GitLens alternative for Mac

Sublime Merge

A separate, very fast Git app for people who want history and diffs outside the editor.

Magit logo

Best GitLens alternative for Windows

Magit

The deep editor-integrated alternative for those working in Emacs.

GitKraken Desktop logo

Best GitLens alternative for Linux

GitKraken Desktop

The standalone desktop client from the same company, included in the same paid plan.

GitLens alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GitLens?

GitKraken Desktop ranks first right now. The standalone desktop client from the same company, included in the same paid plan. Sublime Merge and lazygit follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GitLens?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to GitLens?

Yes: lazygit, GitHub Desktop and Magit.

Which GitLens alternatives work on Linux?

GitKraken Desktop, Sublime Merge, lazygit and Magit run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GitLens?

The complaints we hear most: commit Graph and worktrees are paid features; many views and prompts can clutter the editor; only useful inside VS Code-style editors.

How is this list ranked?

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