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GitKraken

719
909
+ 1
279
SourceTree

10.4K
7.9K
+ 1
727
Tower

207
359
+ 1
80

GitKraken vs SourceTree vs Tower: What are the differences?

Introduction:

GitKraken, SourceTree, and Tower are all popular Git clients that provide user-friendly interfaces for working with Git repositories. While they have similar basic functionalities, there are key differences between them.

  1. Integration with Version Control Platforms: GitKraken is not only compatible with Git, but also with GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab. It provides seamless integration with these version control platforms, allowing users to easily manage their repositories. In contrast, SourceTree primarily focuses on Git and Bitbucket, while Tower supports Git and Subversion.

  2. User Interface: GitKraken boasts a sleek and intuitive user interface, with a graph-like visualization of the repository tree. This visual representation makes it easier to understand branches, merges, and commits. SourceTree also offers a user-friendly interface, but it lacks the same level of visual clarity. Tower, on the other hand, provides a powerful interface with a clean and organized layout, emphasizing efficiency and productivity.

  3. Pricing Model: GitKraken follows a subscription-based pricing model, with different plans available for individuals, teams, and enterprises. It also offers a free version with limited features. SourceTree, on the other hand, is completely free to use for both personal and commercial purposes. Tower offers a one-time purchase license, with separate pricing for individuals and teams.

  4. Platform Compatibility: GitKraken is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of operating systems. SourceTree is primarily designed for macOS and Windows, with limited support for Linux. Tower, likewise, supports macOS and Windows, but it does not have native Linux support.

  5. Advanced Features: GitKraken provides advanced features such as Git history, code review, pull request management, and built-in merge conflict resolution. SourceTree also offers pull request management and merge conflict resolution, but it does not include Git history or code review functionality. Tower, on the other hand, provides an extensive set of features including Git history, visual conflict resolution, and a powerful interactive rebase tool.

In summary, GitKraken offers seamless integration with popular version control platforms, a visually appealing interface, and advanced features. SourceTree is free to use, works well with Git and Bitbucket, and provides basic features. Tower emphasizes productivity and efficiency with a powerful interface and a comprehensive set of features.

Decisions about GitKraken, SourceTree, and Tower

I explored many Git Desktop tools for the Mac and my final decision was to use Fork. What I love about for that it contains three features, I like about a Git Client tool.

It allows * to handle day to day git operations (least important for me as I am cli junkie) * it helps to investigate the history * most important of all, it has a repo manager which many other tools are missing.

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Pros of GitKraken
Pros of SourceTree
Pros of Tower
  • 59
    Dark theme
  • 34
    Best linux git client
  • 29
    Great overview
  • 21
    Full featured client
  • 20
    Gitflow support
  • 19
    Beautiful UI
  • 18
    Very easy to use
  • 16
    Graph
  • 13
    Works great on both linux and windows
  • 13
    Effortless
  • 6
    Easy Merge Conflict Tool
  • 5
    Amazing Github and Bitbucket integration
  • 4
    Great UX
  • 3
    Integration with GitHub
  • 3
    Automatic Repo Discovery
  • 3
    Submodule support
  • 3
    Easy to Learn and Setup
  • 3
    Super fast
  • 2
    Fuzzy find (CTRL P)
  • 1
    Very user friendly
  • 1
    Much more stable than source tree
  • 1
    Great for non-dev users
  • 1
    Because it has Linux client
  • 1
    Command palette (CTRL Shift P)
  • 205
    Visual history and branch view
  • 164
    Beautiful UI
  • 134
    Easy repository browsing
  • 87
    Gitflow support
  • 75
    Interactive stage or discard by hunks or lines
  • 22
    Great branch visualization
  • 18
    Ui/ux and user-friendliness
  • 8
    Best Git Client UI/Features
  • 7
    Search commit messages
  • 5
    Available for Windows and macOS
  • 1
    Log only one file
  • 1
    Search file content
  • 19
    Git
  • 16
    Just works
  • 10
    Version control
  • 6
    Awesome
  • 6
    Simple layout
  • 4
    Multiple windows
  • 3
    Automatic repo discovery
  • 3
    Multiple tabs
  • 2
    Submodule support
  • 2
    Github integration
  • 2
    Full featured client
  • 2
    Uses standard git terminology and methods
  • 2
    Gitflow support
  • 2
    Interactive stage or discard by hunks or lines
  • 1
    SAS

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Cons of GitKraken
Cons of SourceTree
Cons of Tower
  • 3
    Extremely slow when working with large repositories
  • 3
    No edit/fixup in interactive rebase
  • 3
    Hangs occasionally (not as bad as sourcetree)
  • 2
    Not as many features as sourcetree
  • 2
    Do not allow to directly edit staging area
  • 2
    Does not work like a Mac app
  • 12
    Crashes often
  • 8
    So many bugs
  • 7
    Fetching is slow sometimes
  • 5
    No dark theme (Windows)
  • 5
    Extremely slow
  • 5
    Very unstable
  • 4
    Can't select text in diff (windows)
  • 3
    Freezes quite frequently
  • 3
    Can't scale window from top corners
  • 2
    UI blinking
  • 2
    Windows version worse than mac version
  • 2
    Installs to AppData folder (windows)
  • 2
    Diff makes tab indentation look like spaces
  • 2
    Windows and Mac versions are very different
  • 2
    Diff appears as if space indented even if its tabs
  • 2
    Doesn't have an option for git init
  • 2
    Useless for merge conflict resolution
  • 2
    Doesn't differentiate submodules from parent repos
  • 2
    Requires bitbucket account
  • 1
    Generally hard to like
  • 1
    No reflog support
  • 1
    Bases binary check on filesize
  • 1
    Can't add remotes by right clicking remotes (windows)
  • 5
    Expensive
  • 4
    Subscription based
  • 1
    No side by side diff
  • 0
    Merge conflict resolution impossible/unclear

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What is GitKraken?

The downright luxurious Git client for Windows, Mac and Linux. Cross-platform, 100% standalone, and free.

What is SourceTree?

Use the full capability of Git and Mercurial in the SourceTree desktop app. Manage all your repositories, hosted or local, through SourceTree's simple interface.

What is Tower?

Use all of Git's powerful feature set - in a GUI that makes you more productive.

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Why do developers choose SourceTree vs GitKraken vs Tower?

  • Fans of SourceTree love its visual history and branch view, citing its beautiful UI and easy repository browsing.
  • GitKraken users love that it works with Linux and Windows as well as Mac, and call it a full featured client that’s very easy to use.
  • Tower fans say it “just works.” They love its simple layout and GitHub integration.
What companies use GitKraken?
What companies use SourceTree?
What companies use Tower?

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What tools integrate with GitKraken?
What tools integrate with SourceTree?
What tools integrate with Tower?

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What are some alternatives to GitKraken, SourceTree, and Tower?
GitKraken Glo
A more productive way for developers to track tasks and issues from inside GitKraken, VS Code, Atom or a browser! Glo Boards sync in real-time with GitHub Issues, support markdown and offer lots of time-saving features for devs.
GitHub
GitHub is the best place to share code with friends, co-workers, classmates, and complete strangers. Over three million people use GitHub to build amazing things together.
SmartGit
It is a graphical Git client with support for SVN and Pull Requests for GitHub and Bitbucket. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Fork
Manage your repositories without leaving the application. Organize the repositores into categories. Fork's Diff Viewer provides a clear view to spot the changes in your source code quickly.
Sublime Merge
A snappy UI, three-way merge tool, side-by-side diffs, syntax highlighting, and more. Evaluate for free – no account, tracking, or time limits.
See all alternatives