Working Copy alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Working Copy: pushing requires the paid unlock, and iOS and iPadOS only for now. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Working Copy, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PuppyGit currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	PuppyGit	Open source	Yes	Android	3 of 3	66.5
2	GitHub Desktop	Free	Yes	Windows, macOS	4 of 4	62.6

1. PuppyGitTop pick
Best for: Android users who want to commit and sync code or notes from their phone
Open sourceAndroid
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Working Copy
A free, open-source Git client for Android users.
Pros
Free and open source with no ads
Covers commit, merge, rebase, stash and push on Android
Handy for syncing note folders through Git
Cons
Android only
Cannot generate SSH keys itself
Interface is functional rather than polished
Visit PuppyGit 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 PuppyGit a good Working Copy alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platform
Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free, no ads
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. GitHub Desktop
Best for: Beginners and GitHub users who want a friendly client for routine commits and pull requests
FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Working Copy
A free desktop client for when you are back at a computer.
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 ×0.387
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 GitHub Desktop a good Working Copy 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)

The best Working Copy alternative for…

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

Best Working Copy alternative for most people

PuppyGit

A free, open-source Git client for Android users.

Best Working Copy alternative for a free option

GitHub Desktop

A free desktop client for when you are back at a computer.

Best Working Copy alternative for open source

PuppyGit

A free, open-source Git client for Android users.

Best Working Copy alternative for Mac

Fork

A fast Mac and Windows client with a one-time licence, similar in spirit.

Best Working Copy alternative for Windows

Tower

A full desktop client for Mac and Windows with deep Git features.

Working Copy alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Working Copy?

PuppyGit ranks first right now. A free, open-source Git client for Android users. GitHub Desktop and Fork follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Working Copy?

Yes. PuppyGit (open source) and GitHub Desktop (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Working Copy?

Yes: PuppyGit and GitHub Desktop.

Why do people switch from Working Copy?

The complaints we hear most: pushing requires the paid unlock; iOS and iPadOS only for now; pro features added after 12 months need a new purchase.

How is this list ranked?

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