Jujutsu (jj)

Git-compatible command-line version control system with automatic commits, first-class conflicts and undo.

Open sourceVersion control systems

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux

Visit Jujutsu (jj)See 5 alternatives

Is Jujutsu (jj) free?

Yes, free and open source

License:: Apache-2.0

Checked on Jujutsu (jj)'s site Nov 2, 2026

Switch from Jujutsu (jj) to

All 5

Fo
Fossil
Open source
Mercurial
Open source
Unity Version Control
Free plan + paid

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Jujutsu (jj)

Jujutsu, run as the jj command, is an open-source distributed version control system that stores its history in a normal Git repository. That means you can use it on any existing Git project and push to GitHub or GitLab while teammates keep using Git. It rethinks the workflow: the working copy is itself a commit that updates automatically, so there is no staging area; conflicts can be committed and resolved later; rebasing descendants happens automatically when you edit an earlier change; and an operation log lets you undo any command. Revsets give a small query language for selecting commits. It is aimed at developers who find Git's interface awkward, and at people coming from Mercurial or Fossil who like a cleaner model but need Git compatibility. It is free under the Apache 2.0 licence, written in Rust, and ships as a command-line tool for Windows, Mac and Linux. Some Git features, such as submodules and LFS, are not supported yet.

Best for: Developers who want a simpler, safer workflow while still pushing to Git hosts.

What works

Works on existing Git repos, so teammates don't have to switch
Operation log makes any command undoable
Conflicts can be recorded and resolved later instead of blocking a rebase
Free and Apache 2.0 licensed

Why people leave

Command-line only, with GUI support coming from third-party tools
No Git submodule or Git LFS support yet
New concepts take time to learn for long-time Git users

Jujutsu (jj) vs Fossil, Mercurial and Unity Version Control

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	Jujutsu (jj)	Fossil	Mercurial	Unity Version Control
Pricing	Open source	Open source	Open source	Free plan + paid
Verified price	—	—	—	—
Free plan	Free app	Free app	Free app	3 seats and 5 GB-hour storage
Open source	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Self-hostable	No	Yes	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

Top Jujutsu (jj) alternatives

See all 5

1Fo
Fossil
Single-binary DVCS that bundles a wiki, tickets and web UI, if you don't need Git compatibility.
79.8
2
Mercurial
Mature distributed VCS with a similarly friendly command set and extensions like changeset evolution.
68.8
3
Unity Version Control
Graphical VCS for game teams with big binary assets and file locking, which jj doesn't handle.
61.8
4Pi
Pijul
Patch-based model where conflicts are first-class and resolutions never need redoing.
42.3
5
Sapling SCM
Another Git-compatible client focused on stacked commits and easy undo, from Meta.
42.3

Why people left Jujutsu (jj)

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

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Jujutsu (jj): common questions

What is Jujutsu (jj)?

Jujutsu (jj): Git-compatible command-line version control system with automatic commits, first-class conflicts and undo. Best for developers who want a simpler, safer workflow while still pushing to Git hosts. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Is Jujutsu (jj) free?

Yes. Jujutsu (jj) is free, open-source software.

Is Jujutsu (jj) open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at jj-vcs/jj.

What platforms does Jujutsu (jj) run on?

Jujutsu (jj) is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Jujutsu (jj)?

The highest-ranked Jujutsu (jj) alternatives right now are Fossil, Mercurial and Unity Version Control. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Jujutsu (jj) vs Fossil: what's the difference?

Both Jujutsu (jj) and Fossil are free and open source. Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux.

See all 5 Jujutsu (jj) alternatives

Jujutsu (jj) facts

5 of 5 verified

License: Apache-2.0; Checked Nov 2, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: Apache-2.0 (Apache License 2.0).”
Git compatible: Yes, uses a Git repo backend; Checked Nov 8, 2026jj-vcs.github.io(opens source in a new tab); “One of them uses a regular Git repo, which means that you can collaborate with Git users without them even knowing that you're not using the git CLI.”
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux; Checked Nov 8, 2026jj-vcs.github.io(opens source in a new tab); “pre-built binaries of the last released version of jj for Windows, Mac, or Linux (the "musl" version should work on all distributions).”
Git LFS: Not supported; Checked Nov 8, 2026jj-vcs.github.io(opens source in a new tab); “Git LFS: No.”
Submodules: Not supported; Checked Nov 8, 2026jj-vcs.github.io(opens source in a new tab); “Submodules: No.”