AppBreakup

ungit alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave ungit: requires Node.js and npm, and graph gets crowded on large repositories. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ungit, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. lazygit currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1lazygit logolazygitOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2GitKraken Desktop logoGitKraken DesktopFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3SourceGit logoSourceGitOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
4Tig logoTigOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 457.2
  1. lazygit logo

    1. lazygitTop pick

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from ungit

    Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed.

    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
    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 lazygit a good ungit 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)
  2. GitKraken Desktop logo

    2. GitKraken Desktop

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

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ungit

    A polished desktop client with a similar visual graph.

    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
    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 GitKraken Desktop a good ungit 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)
  3. SourceGit logo

    3. SourceGit

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ungit

    A free desktop GUI with more Git operations and a clear graph.

    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
    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 SourceGit a good ungit 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)
  4. Tig logo

    4. Tig

    Best for: Command-line users who want a quick way to browse history, diffs and blame

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from ungit

    Lightweight terminal history browser that is usually already installed on servers.

    Pros

    • Tiny, fast and widely packaged
    • Excellent log, diff and blame browsing
    • Works as a pager for other Git commands

    Cons

    • Limited write operations; no interactive rebase UI
    • Dated look and Vim-style keys
    • Needs the Git command line for most changes
    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 Tig a good ungit alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Type
    ncurses text-mode interface
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jonas.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Staging
    Chunk-level staging
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jonas.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pager mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jonas.github.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best ungit alternative for…

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

lazygit logo

Best ungit alternative for most people

lazygit

Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed.

SourceGit logo

Best ungit alternative for a free option

SourceGit

A free desktop GUI with more Git operations and a clear graph.

GitKraken Desktop logo

Best ungit alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

GitKraken Desktop

A polished desktop client with a similar visual graph.

Tig logo

Best ungit alternative for open source

Tig

Lightweight terminal history browser that is usually already installed on servers.

lazygit logo

Best ungit alternative for Mac

lazygit

Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed.

lazygit logo

Best ungit alternative for Windows

lazygit

Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed.

lazygit logo

Best ungit alternative for Linux

lazygit

Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed.

ungit alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ungit?

lazygit ranks first right now. Works over SSH in the terminal with no server or open port needed. GitKraken Desktop and SourceGit follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to ungit?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to ungit?

Yes: lazygit, SourceGit and Tig.

Which ungit alternatives work on Linux?

lazygit, GitKraken Desktop, SourceGit and Tig run on Linux.

Why do people switch from ungit?

The complaints we hear most: requires Node.js and npm; graph gets crowded on large repositories; exposing it on a network needs care.

How is this list ranked?

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