Tower alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Tower: subscription only, with no free tier, and no Linux version. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Tower, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Fork currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	GitKraken Desktop	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	59.6
2	SmartGit	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	57.2

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
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Tower
Comparable feature set with a Linux build and a free tier for public repos.
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 Tower 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. SmartGit
Best for: Professionals on Linux or mixed OS teams, and hobbyists who want a full client for free
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Tower
Cross-platform, including Linux, and free for non-commercial use.
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 ×0.369
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 SmartGit a good Tower 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)

The best Tower alternative for…

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

Best Tower alternative for most people

Fork

Similar depth on the same platforms for a one-time payment instead of a yearly subscription.

Best Tower alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

Comparable feature set with a Linux build and a free tier for public repos.

Best Tower alternative for Mac

Sublime Merge

Very fast and keyboard-friendly, sold as a perpetual licence and also on Linux.

Best Tower alternative for Windows

SmartGit

Cross-platform, including Linux, and free for non-commercial use.

Best Tower alternative for Linux

Sublime Merge

Very fast and keyboard-friendly, sold as a perpetual licence and also on Linux.

Tower alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Tower?

Fork ranks first right now. Similar depth on the same platforms for a one-time payment instead of a yearly subscription. Sublime Merge and GitKraken Desktop follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Tower?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Tower?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Tower alternatives work on Linux?

Sublime Merge, GitKraken Desktop and SmartGit run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Tower?

The complaints we hear most: subscription only, with no free tier; no Linux version; self-hosted server support requires the Pro tier.

How is this list ranked?

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