--- title: GitHub Desktop canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/github-desktop/ category: Git Clients points: 68 rank: 5 of 11 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # GitHub Desktop Free, open-source Git client for Windows and macOS that is built around GitHub. 68 points out of 100. #5 of 11 Git clients. Vendor: GitHub. Website: https://desktop.github.com/ - Free, with MIT-licensed source code on GitHub [3][6]. - Runs on Windows 10 64-bit or later and macOS 12 or later; Linux is not supported [2][3]. - Docs cover Git LFS, worktrees, squashing, reordering, and viewing pull requests in the app [14][16][17]. - Sign-in is for GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise only [6]. - Latest stable build, 3.6.6, is dated 21 September [4]. Verdict: GitHub Desktop suits developers who work on GitHub and want a free client with no licence limits on private or commercial work [3][6]. It handles LFS, worktrees and viewing pull requests in the app [14][16][17]. The catch: it connects only to GitHub, does not document commit signing, opens the browser to create a pull request, and leaves merge conflicts to an outside editor [6][13][15]. Best for: Developers who host their code on GitHub and want a free client. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Git features | Core Git features | Interactive rebase, Git LFS, Submodules, Stage single lines or hunks | 12/15 | Drag-and-drop reorder and squash [9][10]; LFS installed with the app [16]; submodule diffs and updates in release notes [5]; line selection [11]. No in-app conflict editor [13]. | | Git features | Undo for Git actions | No | 0/6 | The Undo button reverses the last commit; reset, revert and cherry-pick undo are separate commands [8][12]. | | Git features | Worktrees | Yes | 4/4 | Docs have a page on managing worktrees; release 3.6.0 added worktree support [17][5]. | | Git features | Git-flow built in | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's docs index, commit-options page or release notes [7][8][5]. | | Hosts and review | Hosts with built-in sign-in | GitHub | 3/12 | Sign-in buttons are for GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise; no other host is listed for sign-in [6]. | | Hosts and review | Pull requests in the app | Yes | 8/8 | Docs show the pull request list, commit history, diffs and re-running checks in the app; creating one opens the browser [14][15]. | | Hosts and review | Signed commits | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's docs pages for commits and Git setup, or in release notes [8][11][5]. | | Systems and upkeep | Other systems | macOS | 4/8 | Docs list macOS 12 or later and Windows 10 64-bit or later; Linux is not supported [2][3]. | | Systems and upkeep | Release in the last 12 months | Yes | 8/8 | Release 3.6.6 is marked stable and Latest, dated 21 Sep; the page shows no year for current-year releases [4]. | | Licence | Open source | Yes | 7/7 | Repository is under the MIT licence [3]. | | Licence | Free for commercial work on private repos | Yes | 8/8 | Described as a free, open-source application; the MIT licence sets no commercial limit [3][6]. | | Price | Cheapest way to use it for work | $0 | 14/14 | No paid plan; the app is free [6]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | GitHub Desktop | Free [3][6] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free to use, with the full source under the MIT licence [3][6]. - Docs cover Git LFS, worktrees and viewing pull requests, with checks, inside the app [14][16][17]. - Squash and reorder commits by dragging them in the history list [9][10]. - Select single lines to include in a commit [11]. - Stable releases appear every few weeks [4]. ## Limits - No Linux build; the repository says Linux is not officially supported [3]. - Sign-in covers only GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise [6]. - Merge conflicts are resolved in a text editor or another tool, not in an in-app editor [13]. - Creating a pull request opens GitHub in the browser; commenting, reviewing and merging also happen there [14][15]. - Undo covers the last commit; other actions use separate commands [12]. ## Sources 1. [GitHub Desktop](https://github.com/apps/desktop), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Installing GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/installing-and-authenticating-to-github-desktop/installing-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [desktop/desktop](https://github.com/desktop/desktop), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Releases, desktop/desktop](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [GitHub Desktop changelog](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/desktop/desktop/development/changelog.json), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Getting started with GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/overview/getting-started-with-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [GitHub Desktop documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Options for managing commits in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/managing-commits/options-for-managing-commits-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Reordering commits in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/managing-commits/reordering-commits-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Squashing commits in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/managing-commits/squashing-commits-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Committing and reviewing changes in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/making-changes-in-a-branch/committing-and-reviewing-changes-to-your-project-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Undoing a commit in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/managing-commits/undoing-a-commit-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Syncing your branch in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/working-with-your-remote-repository-on-github-or-github-enterprise/syncing-your-branch-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [Viewing a pull request in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/working-with-your-remote-repository-on-github-or-github-enterprise/viewing-a-pull-request-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 15. [Creating an issue or pull request from GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/working-with-your-remote-repository-on-github-or-github-enterprise/creating-an-issue-or-pull-request-from-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 16. [About Git Large File Storage and GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/configuring-and-customizing-github-desktop/about-git-large-file-storage-and-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08 17. [Managing worktrees in GitHub Desktop](https://docs.github.com/en/desktop/making-changes-in-a-branch/managing-worktrees-in-github-desktop), GitHub Docs, accessed 2026-10-08