A free GitHub Desktop alternative with a commit graph, on Linux too

Why developers look for a GitHub Desktop alternative

GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source Git client from GitHub, with frequent releases and a public beta. Its own design notes say that when it has to choose, it puts beginners ahead of advanced Git workflows. These are the reasons people most often give for trying something else.

• There is no official Linux build

  Official GitHub Desktop builds cover macOS and 64-bit Windows, with no Linux version. The request for one has been open on its repository since 2017 with more than 3,000 thumbs-up, and the team says it has “no immediate plans”. Unofficial community builds exist, but as of October 2026 the newest is based on 3.4.13 from February 2025, while the official app is at 3.6.6.

• No commit graph

  The History tab is a linear list of the commits on the selected branch. There is no branch graph or tree view that shows where branches split and merge, and the request for a history graph is still open.

• Limited history editing

  You can reorder, squash and cherry-pick commits by drag and drop, and amend or undo the last commit. You cannot reword an older commit, fixup, drop or stop to edit, and in June 2026 the maintainers decided against a generic interactive-rebase interface.

• No built-in conflict editor

  A conflicted file is resolved by taking our or their version, by opening it in your editor or, since version 3.6, by letting Copilot propose a resolution. There is no three-way editor where you choose hunks or lines yourself.

• Built around GitHub

  Pull requests, checks and notifications work with GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise. GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps work only as plain Git remotes, creating a pull request opens the browser, and GitHub’s docs say you cannot comment on a pull request from the app.

• Everyday tools that are missing

  No blame or file history, one stash at a time, no GPG or SSH signing setup, no built-in terminal or command palette, one GitHub.com account at a time and an English-only interface. Several of these are long-open requests on its repository.

Why developers choose GitTree

GitTree keeps the clear, visual way of working that GitHub Desktop users like, and adds the history, conflict and hosting tools they ask for.

• The same app on Linux too

  One GitTree, with the same features on macOS, Windows and Linux, so a mixed team learns one tool. Linux gets an official .deb package and a portable AppImage for Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+.

• A real commit graph

  Colour-coded branch lanes, branch and tag labels, search by message, author, hash, file or change, hide, solo or pin branches, and pull request and CI chips on branch tips. Smooth past 100,000 commits.

• Full interactive rebase, with undo

  Pick, reword, edit, squash, fixup and drop, reorder by drag or keyboard, with autosquash and update-refs. Every destructive step is snapshotted first, undo and redo sit in the toolbar, and a reflog view restores lost commits.

• A three-way conflict editor

  Current, incoming and output side by side, with choices per hunk or per line, rerere, and conflict prediction before you merge. Your external merge tool still works.

• Pull requests beyond GitHub

  Create, review, comment on and merge pull requests in the app, re-run CI checks and follow a dashboard across repositories: GitHub and Bitbucket, plus newer support for GitLab and Azure DevOps.

• Private by design, AI on your terms

  No telemetry, analytics or crash upload. Optional AI drafts of commit messages and pull request descriptions run through your own Claude Code, Codex or Antigravity CLI, with no AI credits and no key stored by GitTree.

GitTree vs GitHub Desktop: feature comparison

Both are free, visual desktop Git clients. They differ most in Linux support, history tools, conflict handling and hosting services, while GitHub Desktop is ahead on openness, maturity, bundled Git, deep GitHub integration and Windows deployment. The official sources are linked at the end of the page.

• Included
• Partly, or with limits
• Needs a paid plan
• Not available

This table compares the current public products, not every setting. GitHub Desktop changes often (3.6.6 was the stable version when this page was checked), so the official sources below are the reference. GitTree is in active development; check its features page before moving a critical workflow.

GitHub Desktop pricing vs GitTree

Price does not separate these two: both apps are free as of October 2026. The only paid part on either side is GitHub Copilot, which GitHub Desktop uses for its AI features.

GitHub publishes no price for GitHub Desktop because it is free; downloading it means accepting GitHub’s Open Source Applications Terms. Copilot plans and prices change: see GitHub’s Copilot plans page for current figures. If GitTree adds paid team plans, they will be announced in your account before anything changes.

A GitHub Desktop alternative for Mac, Windows and Linux

The same GitTree on macOS, Windows and Linux, running the Git 2.39 or newer that you already have installed. Linux is where GitHub Desktop has no official build at all.

• GitHub Desktop alternative for Mac

  One universal app, about 20.7 MB, that runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 13 Ventura or later. It is signed and notarized by Apple and uses the Git on your Mac, version 2.39 or newer.

• GitHub Desktop alternative for Windows

  An installer of about 7.5 MB for 64-bit Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11. Install Git for Windows first; the installer asks for admin approval and is not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may ask you to confirm.

• GitHub Desktop alternative for Linux

  What GitHub Desktop does not offer officially: a .deb package or a portable AppImage for 64-bit Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+. Derivatives such as Linux Mint 21+ can run GitTree too, though they are untested. On Ubuntu 22.04 and Linux Mint 21, add the git-core PPA for a newer Git first.

  Read the Linux install guide

Which one should you choose?

Both are free, so choose by the systems you use and the Git work you do, then try the other one on a noncritical repository first.

How to switch from GitHub Desktop to GitTree

Switching takes only a few steps. Your repositories are standard Git, so GitHub Desktop and GitTree can open the same folders side by side while you decide.

1. 1

   Check your Git version

   GitHub Desktop uses the Git bundled with it, while GitTree uses the Git installed on your system. Run git --version and install or upgrade to Git 2.39 or newer: Git for Windows on Windows, the git-core PPA on Ubuntu 22.04 and Linux Mint 21.

2. 2

   Download GitTree

   Get the free installer for macOS, Windows or Linux from the download page and install it.

3. 3

   Sign in with a free account

   Create a free GitTree account on this website with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps, then sign in from the app.

4. 4

   Open your GitHub Desktop repositories

   Choose Open and select each repository folder, or scan the parent folder to add them all at once. History, branches, remotes and stashes live in the repository itself, so there is nothing to import.

5. 5

   Connect GitHub and your other hosts

   Connect your GitHub account in Preferences to browse, clone and review pull requests, and add GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps if you use them. Then set your signing key, external tools, theme and shortcuts.

6. 6

   Try it on a test branch

   Create a branch, stage a few lines, commit and push, then explore the graph, try an interactive rebase and press undo before you move daily work.