GitKraken Desktop vs Sourcetree

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

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

Sourcetree

Atlassian's free Git client for Windows and Mac, with a full branch graph and Git-flow support built in.

Free

Visit Sourcetree Sourcetree profile

The short answer

Pick Sourcetree if you want a completely free Git client with a full branch graph, interactive rebase, Git-flow and Git LFS on Windows or Mac, especially in an Atlassian shop. Pick GitKraken if you want a polished, colourful graph, a built-in merge tool and the same app on Windows, macOS and Linux, and can pay for private repositories. The biggest difference is price: Sourcetree is free, GitKraken charges for professional use.

GitKraken Desktop or Sourcetree: our take

Both are graphical Git clients built around a branch graph. GitKraken Desktop is known for its colourful commit graph that makes branches and merges easy to follow, plus drag-and-drop interactive rebase, a built-in merge-conflict editor, a built-in terminal, issue-tracker links and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps. Recent versions add AI commit messages and views for supervising coding agents. Sourcetree, from Atlassian, offers a detailed branch graph, staging by file, hunk or line, interactive rebase, stashes, submodules, Git LFS and a Git-flow helper, and it still supports Mercurial repositories, which few clients do. Its account setup and pull-request shortcuts lean towards Bitbucket.

Pricing is the clearest split. Sourcetree is free with no feature tiers, and an enterprise installer exists for managed Windows fleets. GitKraken's free Community tier works only with public repositories, so most professional use needs a paid per-seat plan; there is a 14-day trial of the top features. GitKraken is sold as part of a wider platform that includes the GitLens extension and a CLI, and some users find its upgrade prompts frequent.

Platforms matter for mixed teams. GitKraken runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from one codebase, so everyone sees the same app. Sourcetree runs on Windows and macOS only, with separate codebases that look and behave a little differently. Performance is a complaint for both: Sourcetree can be slow or freeze on large repositories, and GitKraken's Electron app can feel heavy on very large ones.

For individuals and teams on Windows or Mac who want a capable client at no cost, or who use Bitbucket and Jira, Sourcetree is a sensible default. For teams that include Linux users, or that value a clearer visual history and built-in conflict tools enough to pay per seat, GitKraken is the better fit.

Choose GitKraken Desktop if…

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

Choose Sourcetree if…

Teams on Bitbucket and Jira who want a free, full-featured GUI on Windows or Mac
Free with no feature tiers
Full branch graph, interactive rebase, Git-flow and Git LFS

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.

What is Sourcetree?

Sourcetree is a free desktop Git client from Atlassian, the company behind Bitbucket and Jira. It shows a detailed branch graph, lets you stage by file, hunk or line, and includes interactive rebase, stashes, submodules, Git LFS and a Git-flow helper out of the box. It also still supports Mercurial repositories, which few clients do. Although it connects to any remote, account setup and pull-request shortcuts lean towards Bitbucket. There is no paid tier, and an enterprise installer is offered for managed Windows fleets. It runs on Windows and macOS, with separate codebases that look and behave a little differently. Sourcetree has been around for over a decade and is common in companies on the Atlassian stack. Common complaints are slowness on big repositories, occasional freezes and a release pace that is slower than newer clients.

Side by side

Attribute	GitKraken Desktop	Sourcetree
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Best for	Visual learners and mixed Windows, Mac and Linux teams that want one polished client	Teams on Bitbucket and Jira who want a free, full-featured GUI on Windows or Mac
Status	Active	Active