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GitLens

GitKraken's Git extension for VS Code and its forks, adding inline blame, history and a commit graph.

Free plan + paidGit clients
Visit GitLensSee 5 alternatives
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About GitLens

GitLens is an extension for Visual Studio Code and compatible editors such as Cursor and Windsurf, made by GitKraken. It adds Git context to the code you are reading: inline blame showing who changed a line and when, CodeLens annotations, hover details, file and line history, commit search and side bars for branches, remotes, stashes and contributors. For people who want a full Git client without leaving the editor, the Pro features add a visual Commit Graph, worktree management, a visual file history, a Launchpad view of pull requests and AI-assisted commit messages and explanations. The free Community edition covers the core blame and history tools for public and local repositories; Pro features need a paid GitKraken plan, which also covers GitKraken Desktop. The extension's source is public on GitHub, though not under a standard open-source licence. Its popularity makes it many developers' first Git tool beyond the editor's built-in source control, but the Pro upsell and dense UI can feel intrusive.

Best for: VS Code and Cursor users who want blame, history and a commit graph inside the editor.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Inline blame and history right where you read code
  • Works in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf and other forks
  • Free edition covers the most used features

Why people leave

  • Commit Graph and worktrees are paid features
  • Many views and prompts can clutter the editor
  • Only useful inside VS Code-style editors

Top GitLens alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1GitKraken Desktop logo
    GitKraken Desktop

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

    66.5
  2. 2Sublime Merge logo
    Sublime Merge

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

    62.6
  3. 3lazygit logo
    lazygit

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

    59.6
  4. 4GitHub Desktop logo
    GitHub Desktop

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

    57.2
  5. 5Magit logo
    Magit

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

    55.3

Why people left GitLens

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from GitLens, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

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GitLens: common questions

Is GitLens free?

GitLens has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Community edition (checked on GitLens's own site).

Is GitLens open source?

No, GitLens is not open source. Open-source alternatives include lazygit, GitHub Desktop and Magit.

What platforms does GitLens run on?

GitLens is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to GitLens?

The highest-ranked GitLens alternatives right now are GitKraken Desktop, Sublime Merge and lazygit. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 GitLens alternatives