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GitUI

github.com

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidSelf-hosted
Visit github.com
Spec score 8.7 #4 of 62 in Version Control Software

What it is

GitUI provides a Git GUI-style workflow inside a terminal, controlled with the keyboard and supported by context-based help. Users can inspect changes and commit, amend, stage, unstage, revert, or reset at file, hunk, or line level. It also supports saving, applying, popping, dropping, and inspecting stashes. Branch tools cover creation, renaming, deletion, checkout, and remote branches, alongside pushing and fetching. Users can browse or search the commit log, inspect committed diffs, and work with submodules. Commit workflows support several Git hooks; GPG commit signing is listed with shortcomings. GitUI is free under the MIT License, which includes an as-is warranty disclaimer. Listed platforms are Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with desktop platform support listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The project README describes GitUI as beta and notes that bugs or missing features may occur, while also describing it as reasonably stable for personal use. It does not fully replace the Git shell, lacks sparse repository support, and requires explicit configuration of an HTTPS credential helper.

Spec sheet

What it does
GitUI is a Rust terminal interface intended to provide GUI-like Git workflows inside a terminal.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platforms
The README lists release binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and package installation through Termux on Android.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The README welcomes support and sponsors and invites people to become co-maintainers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository and Cargo metadata identify the software as MIT licensed, permitting use, modification, distribution and sale subject to notice requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Async API
The project uses an asynchronous Git API to keep the terminal interface responsive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Beta status
The project describes GitUI as beta software that may contain bugs and missing features.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Branches
Its branch list supports creating, renaming, deleting and checking out branches, including remote branches.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Branches and remotes
It supports branch creation, renaming, deletion, checkout, and remote branches, as well as pushing and fetching.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Build requirements
Building requires Rust/Cargo 1.88 or newer, Perl 5.12 or newer, a C compiler and Python for the full test suite.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Changes
Users can inspect, commit, amend, stage, unstage, revert, and reset changes at file, hunk, or line level.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Commit workflow
GitUI can inspect, create, amend and hook commits, including pre-commit and commit-message hooks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Context help
Context-sensitive help is built in so users do not need to memorize every shortcut.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Controls
It offers keyboard-only controls and context-based help.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Customization
Themes and key bindings can be customized, including Vim-like bindings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Developer structure
The Cargo workspace includes asyncgit, filetreelist, git2-hooks, git2-testing and scopetime components.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Diagnostics
Logging is enabled with gitui -l and writes platform-specific log files under the user cache directories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
GPG signing
GPG commit signing exists but the project documents shortcomings with that feature.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
History and diffs
Users can browse and search commit history and inspect diffs for committed changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
History and submodules
Users can browse or search the commit log, inspect committed diffs, and work with submodules.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hooks and signing
Commit workflows support several Git hooks, and GPG commit signing is listed with shortcomings.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Independent adoption
In the same Reddit discussion, a user said they used GitUI because it was Rust-based and avoided the slowness they experienced with graphical tools over SSH.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Independent view: creator motivation
The creator's launch article says GitUI was started as a side project for terminal users who found existing GUIs slow, resource-heavy or cumbersome.Read 15 Oct 2026 · extrawurst.medium.com
Independent view: not a full replacement
A 2022 independent review describes GitUI as useful beside the Git CLI rather than as a complete replacement for it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zolmok.org
Installation channels
Official instructions cover package managers including Homebrew, MacPorts, Winget, Scoop, Chocolatey, Nix, Termux and Cargo.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Keyboard control
The interface is designed for keyboard-only navigation and operation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Large-repository benchmark
In the project's Linux-repository benchmark, GitUI processed more than 900,000 commits in 24 seconds using about 0.17 GB of memory and reported no freezes or crashes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Latest release changes
Version 0.28.1 added proper pre-push-hook support, improved the version message, raised the Rust minimum version to 1.88 and fixed slow status loading in large repositories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: binary size and interface density
Hacker News commenters criticized the comparatively large Rust binary and said the default screen presents a lot of information with many borders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · news.ycombinator.com
Limit: feature gaps reported by users
A Reddit discussion described GitUI as still lacking features compared with alternatives at the time of that discussion.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: Git LFS
Git LFS support is listed as missing on the roadmap.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: incomplete Git coverage
The README says GitUI does not fully replace the Git shell and is intended to work alongside it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: interactive rebase
Interactive rebase remains a stated roadmap goal rather than a completed feature.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: missing features
Toolradar lists incomplete interactive rebase support, no Git LFS support and incomplete replacement of the Git shell as shortcomings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · toolradar.com
Limit: sparse repositories
Sparse-repository support is listed as unavailable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limitations
The README lists no sparse repository support, requires HTTPS credential.helper to be configured explicitly, and says GitUI does not fully replace the Git shell.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker identity
The GitHub author profile identifies extrawurst as the creator of GitUI and founder of Rustunit.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Praise: customization and support
KAD highlights custom themes, configurable key bindings and GitHub-based issue reporting, discussion and contribution channels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kad8.com
Praise: performance
Toolradar's editorial summary praises GitUI's performance on large repositories and its GUI-like terminal workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · toolradar.com
Praise: staging workflow
A Hacker News commenter says GitUI's file, hunk and line staging made it useful mainly for staging and then continuing with the Git CLI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · news.ycombinator.com
Pricing coverage
Toolradar lists GitUI as free with no paid tier and reports zero reviews tracked on its listing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · toolradar.com
Project activity
The gitui-org organization page lists the GitUI repository with MIT licensing, more than 22,000 stars and an update dated October 6, 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Project status
The README says GitUI is in beta and may contain bugs or missing features, while describing it as reasonably stable for personal use.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Release binaries
Prebuilt archives or installers are provided for Linux, macOS and 64-bit Windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Remote operations
GitUI provides push and fetch actions for remote repositories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Staging
Users can stage, unstage, revert and reset complete files, hunks or individual lines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Stashing
The stash interface supports saving, popping, applying, dropping and inspecting stashes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Submodules
Submodule repositories are supported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Open-source terminal Git client Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
GitUI Free full source code · terminal Git workflow · community support · self-hosted Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every GitUI plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Keyboard-only controls with context-based help.
  • Changes can be handled at file, hunk, or line level.
  • Supports stash and branch workflows.
  • Can browse or search commit history.
  • Free under the MIT License.

Limits

  • The project is in beta and may have bugs or missing features.
  • It does not fully replace the Git shell.
  • Sparse repository support is absent.
  • HTTPS credential.helper must be configured explicitly.

Who it suits

GitUI suits people who prefer keyboard-driven Git work in a terminal and want file-, hunk-, or line-level change controls. Its README characterizes it as reasonably stable for personal use, while noting beta status.

Verdict

GitUI covers many everyday Git operations in a keyboard-driven terminal interface, at no listed cost. Its beta status and stated limitations matter for anyone expecting a complete replacement for the Git shell.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to GitUIAll alternatives →