GitHub Desktop vs GitKraken Desktop

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

GitHub Desktop

GitHub's free, open-source Git client that keeps everyday commits, branches and pull requests simple.

FreeOpen source

Visit GitHub Desktop GitHub Desktop profile

GitKraken Desktop

A visual, cross-platform Git client built around a colourful commit graph, with paid plans for private repos.

Free plan + paid

Visit GitKraken Desktop GitKraken Desktop profile

The short answer

Pick GitHub Desktop if you are learning Git or mainly do everyday commits and pull requests on GitHub, and want a free, simple app. Pick GitKraken if you need a full commit graph, interactive rebase, a merge-conflict editor and support for GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps, including on Linux. The biggest difference is depth: GitHub Desktop keeps things minimal, GitKraken shows and handles much more.

GitHub Desktop or GitKraken Desktop: our take

GitHub Desktop is GitHub's official client and covers the everyday loop well: clone, review changes, stage files or individual lines, commit, push and open a pull request in one click. Drag and drop handles cherry-picking, squashing and reordering commits without a terminal rebase. It works with any Git remote, but sign-in, cloning and pull-request features are built around GitHub and GitHub Enterprise. GitKraken Desktop centres on a colourful commit graph that makes branches and merges easy to follow, and adds drag-and-drop interactive rebase, a built-in merge-conflict editor, a built-in terminal, issue-tracker links, AI commit messages and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps.

The pricing models differ. GitHub Desktop is free and open source under the MIT licence. GitKraken's free Community tier works only with public repositories, so private work usually needs a paid per-seat plan; a 14-day trial covers the top features.

Platforms are a deciding factor for some. GitHub Desktop runs on Windows and macOS only, with Linux users relying on community forks. GitKraken runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from a single codebase. Both are Electron apps; GitKraken can feel heavy on very large repositories. GitHub Desktop's limit is its simplicity: there is no full commit graph across branches, no interactive rebase view, and fewer tools for complex merges, so many users drop to the command line for unusual tasks.

For beginners, students and anyone whose work is mostly routine commits and pull requests on GitHub, GitHub Desktop does the job for free. For developers who regularly untangle branches, resolve conflicts, rewrite history, work across several hosting services or use Linux, GitKraken is worth its subscription.

Choose GitHub Desktop if…

Beginners and GitHub users who want a friendly client for routine commits and pull requests
You want open-source software
Free and MIT-licensed, maintained by GitHub
Very easy to learn, with line-level staging

Choose GitKraken Desktop if…

Visual learners and mixed Windows, Mac and Linux teams that want one polished client
You need Linux, which GitHub Desktop doesn't list
Clear, colourful commit graph that makes history easy to read
Same app and licence on Windows, macOS and Linux

What is GitHub Desktop?

GitHub Desktop is the official desktop client from GitHub. It covers the everyday loop well: clone a repository, see what changed, stage files or individual lines, write a commit, push, and open a pull request on GitHub in one click. History editing is handled with drag and drop, so cherry-picking, squashing and reordering commits does not need an interactive rebase in the terminal. It works with any Git remote, but signing in, cloning and pull-request features are clearly built around GitHub and GitHub Enterprise. The app is free and the code is open source under the MIT licence, built on Electron. It runs on Windows and macOS only; Linux users rely on community forks. Its strength is how little it asks of beginners, which is also its limit: there is no full commit graph across branches, no interactive rebase view and fewer tools for complex merges than paid clients. Many developers keep it for routine work and drop to the command line for anything unusual.

What is GitKraken Desktop?

GitKraken Desktop is one of the best-known graphical Git clients, recognisable by its colourful commit graph that makes branches and merges easy to follow. It handles the usual tasks plus interactive rebase by drag and drop, a built-in merge-conflict editor, integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps, issue-tracker links, and a built-in terminal. Recent versions add AI commit messages and views for supervising coding agents. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from one codebase. GitKraken is sold as part of a wider developer platform that also includes the GitLens extension and a CLI. The free Community tier only works with public repositories, so most professional use needs a paid per-seat plan, with higher tiers for teams and enterprises and a time-limited trial of the top features. It is a good fit for visual thinkers and mixed-OS teams. Some users find the Electron app heavy on large repositories and the upsell to paid tiers frequent.

Side by side

Attribute	GitHub Desktop	GitKraken Desktop
Pricing	Free	Free plan + paid
Open source	Yes	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Best for	Beginners and GitHub users who want a friendly client for routine commits and pull requests	Visual learners and mixed Windows, Mac and Linux teams that want one polished client
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	GitHub Desktop	GitKraken Desktop
Platforms	Windows and macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux