GitHub Desktop Alternatives for Linux

GitHub Desktop is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is SmartGit, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to GitHub Desktop and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to GitHub Desktop are GitKraken, Gittyup, RelaGit and Gitnuro.

filter to find the best alternatives

GitHub Desktop alternatives are mainly Git Clients, but if you're looking for Version Control Systems you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to GitHub Desktop.
GitHub Desktop iconGitHub Desktop
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GitHub Desktop is a native Git client for Mac OS X and Windows with a graphical user interface.

More about GitHub Desktop
More about GitHub Desktop
GitHub Desktop alternatives page was last updated May 2, 2025
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  1. SmartGit icon

    SmartGit

     361 likes
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    SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. SmartGit is intended for developers who prefer a graphical user interface over a command line client, to be even more productive with Git.

    70 SmartGit alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    SmartGit screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Conflict resolver
    2.  Interactive Rebase
    3.  Side-by-Side Comparison
    4.  Git-flow integration
    5.  Indexed search
    6. Git icon  Git Support
    7.  Merge code
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  File Versioning
    12.  Hg hosting

    SmartGit VS GitHub Desktop

     
    Comments about SmartGit as an Alternative to GitHub Desktop
    Guest
    Positive Sep 8, 2020
    0

    very complete, it has many more functions than github desktop, for example conflict solver and commit search. customizable and fast interface. definetly one of the best

    GitHub Desktop Icon
    SmartGit icon

    • Most users think SmartGit is a great GitHub Desktop alternative.

    • SmartGit is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to GitHub Desktop.

    • SmartGit is the most popular free alternative to GitHub Desktop.

    • SmartGit is Freemium and ProprietaryGitHub Desktop is Free and Open Source
    • SmartGit is LightweightGitHub Desktop is not according to our users
  2. GitKraken icon

    GitKraken

     172 likes
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    Millions of developers and teams around the world choose GitKraken Client to make Git more visual and accessible with an intuitive UI, the flexibility to switch between a GUI or a terminal, and a seamless experience across operating systems.

    70 GitKraken alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Online
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge
    GitKraken screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    2.  File Versioning
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6. Git icon  Git Support
    7.  Tree view
    8.  GUI Designer
    9.  Git-flow integration
    10. Bitbucket icon  Bitbucket Integration
    11.  Interactive Rebase

    GitKraken VS GitHub Desktop

     

    • Most users think GitKraken is a great GitHub Desktop alternative.

    • GitKraken is the most popular Web-based alternative to GitHub Desktop.

    • GitKraken is Freemium and ProprietaryGitHub Desktop is Free and Open Source
    • GitKraken is LightweightGitHub Desktop is not according to our users
  4. Gittyup icon

    Gittyup

     33 likes
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    Gittyup is a graphical Git client designed to help you understand and manage your source code history. Gittyup is a continuation of the GitAhead client.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Qt
    Gittyup screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  File Versioning
    5.  Real time collaboration
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Works Offline

    Gittyup VS GitHub Desktop

     
    Comments about Gittyup as an Alternative to GitHub Desktop
    very_unfortunate
    Positive May 2, 2025
    0

    Works well, many features, good interface

    GitHub Desktop Icon
    Gittyup icon
    • Gittyup is Free and Open SourceGitHub Desktop is also Free and Open Source
    • Gittyup is Privacy focused and LightweightGitHub Desktop is not according to our users
  5. RelaGit icon

    RelaGit

     10 likes
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    The elegant solution to graphical version control.

    39 RelaGit alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    RelaGit screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  No Tracking
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9. Git icon  Git integration
    10. GitLab icon  Gitlab integration

    RelaGit VS GitHub Desktop

     
    Comments about RelaGit as an Alternative to GitHub Desktop
    Stzyxh
    Positive Mar 29, 2025
    0

    I searched for a github desktop alternative for a long time. I think I found it, its the best Git GUI Client I've ever used!

    GitHub Desktop Icon
    RelaGit icon
    • RelaGit is Free and Open SourceGitHub Desktop is also Free and Open Source
    • RelaGit is Privacy focusedGitHub Desktop is not according to our users
  6. Gitnuro icon

    Gitnuro

     15 likes
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    A FOSS Git multiplatform client for newbies and pros.

    29 Gitnuro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Gitnuro screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Multiplatform
    2.  Dark Mode
    3. Git icon  Git Support
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  File Versioning
    6.  Portable
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No Tracking

    Gitnuro VS GitHub Desktop

     
  7. GitAhead icon

    GitAhead

     58 likes
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    GitAhead lets you filter results and performs advanced searches. It shows you exactly what you need to see and makes navigating through thousands of commits a piece of cake.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main window
    Discontinued

    No longer under active development, per info in repo at https://github.com/gitahead/gitahead#please-note but there's a fork called Gittyup icon Gittyup that you can try.

    Properties

    1.  Optimal performance
    2.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Dark Mode

    GitAhead VS GitHub Desktop

     
  9. Sublime Merge icon

    Sublime Merge

     28 likes
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    Sublime Merge is a fast and intuitive git client built on the same performant platform as Sublime Text.

    63 Sublime Merge alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Merge screenshot 1

    Sublime Merge Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Git-flow integration
    3.  Diff detection
    4.  Merge code
    5. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration

    Sublime Merge VS GitHub Desktop

     
  10. SourceGit icon

    SourceGit

     3 likes
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    Windows/macOS/Linux GUI client for GIT users.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Screenshot Source Git Staging - Diff - Unstage fragment

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Dark Mode
    3. Git icon  Git Support
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  File Versioning
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Cross-Platform

    SourceGit VS GitHub Desktop

     
  11. GitButler icon

    GitButler

     5 likes
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    GitButler is a new Source Code Management system designed to manage your branches, record and backup your work, be your Git client, help with your code and much more. Our focus is everything after writing code in your editor and before sharing it on GitHub.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Windows
    Screenshot from the repo, shows most available features.

    GitButler Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support

    GitButler VS GitHub Desktop

     
  12. gitg icon

    gitg

     53 likes
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    gitg is a git repository viewer targeting gtk+/GNOME. One of its main objectives is to provide a more unified user experience for git frontends across multiple desktops. It does this not be writing a cross-platform application, but by close collaboration with similar clients for...

    60 gitg alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Main View

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Ad-free
    4. Git icon  Git Support

    gitg VS GitHub Desktop

     
    Comments about gitg as an Alternative to GitHub Desktop
    pablobianchi
    Positive Mar 1, 2019
    0

    Easy, stable and official from Gnome project.

    GitHub Desktop Icon
    gitg icon

    • Most users think gitg is a great GitHub Desktop alternative.

    • gitg is Free and Open SourceGitHub Desktop is also Free and Open Source
    • gitg is LightweightGitHub Desktop is not according to our users
  13. Ungit icon

    Ungit

     18 likes
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    Git GUI (WebUI).

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Node.JS
    • Atom
    • Brackets
    Ungit screenshot 1

    Ungit Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  ARM support

    Ungit VS GitHub Desktop

     
  14. GitUI icon

    GitUI

     3 likes
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    A blazing fast terminal UI for git written in rust.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Terminal
    GitUI screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Dark Mode
    3. Git icon  Git Support

    GitUI VS GitHub Desktop

     
12 of 34 GitHub Desktop alternatives