The best git clients, according to hackers
18 git clients recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
All git clients
- MagitA keyboard-driven Git interface inside Emacs that makes Git discoverable and makes hunk/line staging and history editing easy; critics find it slow, UI-blocking and quirky.120recommend
- Sublime MergePeople recommend it as a fast, clean visual Git client that makes line-by-line staging and diff review easy. The most common caveat is slow development.22recommend
- GitButlerRecommended for parallel and stacked branches with less Git hassle. Critics most often raise concerns about funding, premium upsells and whether it truly replaces Git.21recommend
- Fork git clientClear Git GUI that people switch to from SourceTree and Tower, with a one-time paid license, free updates and no subscription. Some find branches easier to get lost in.17recommend
- SourceTreeFree Git GUI that people like for branch views, staging and history, though many find it slow and crash-prone on Windows.12recommend
- Git TowerNative Mac Git client people prefer over Fork and SourceTree for its friendly interface, though critics note newer versions need a paid subscription.12recommend
- GitKrakenA visual Git client that people recommend for making Git operations quick and easy, and for reliability over many years. Critics most often say it is slow and cluttered, and that it works poorly under WSL.9recommend
- SourceGitFree Git client with a clean, conventional interface that doesn't change your workflow, often recommended as a substitute for other Git UIs.8recommend
- Better HubA GitHub client with a slick interface and VS Code theme import, open source and early-stage. Critics say it asks for too many GitHub permissions.8recommend
- Working CopyGit app for iPad that syncs folders and version-controls files with Git, and lets other apps use those synced folders.7recommend
- git guiPeople recommend it for visually crafting commits and staging hunks or single lines, since it is bundled with git. Critics call its diff tools frustrating.7recommend
- GitClassicA fast, lightweight, no-JavaScript view of GitHub repositories that people find pleasant to use. Common caveat: errors and broken pages on some repos and organizations.7recommend
- GitHub MobileLets developers review code, check merge status and push small changes from a phone, and some find it faster than the browser. Common caveat: it feels weaker than the website and has login problems.6recommend
- TortoiseGitPower users praise its rebase and blame tools in a free Windows Git GUI. Common caveat: slow with shell integration enabled.6recommend
- Git ExtensionsFree Windows Git GUI that people prefer to TortoiseGit; it maps closely to git commands and stays easy to discover.6recommend
- GitUpFree Mac Git client that people recommend for powerful operations and undo.5recommend
- IngitPeople recommend it as a visual Git client, especially for newcomers, and some use it daily; one user reported it failed for them.5recommend
- GitHub DesktopA simple graphical front end for git that eases beginners in and keeps what is happening easy to follow. Critics most often warn about background helpers it installs, sometimes running with admin privileges.5recommend