GitButler vs GitUI
GitButler
gitbutler.comGitUI
github.comSide by side
| Figure | GitButler | GitUI |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Version Control Software | 8.5 (#10) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Platforms | Official desktop builds are shipped for Windows, macOS and Linux. | The README lists release binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and package installation through Termux on Android. |
| Support | GitButler provides support through email at [email protected] and through Discord. | The README welcomes support and sponsors and invites people to become co-maintainers. |
Plans
In their own words
GitButler
GitButler is a Git-based version-control interface with a graphical client and command-line tools for AI-powered workflows. It lets developers manage multiple independent branches in one working directory, as well as dependent stacks that can be merged in a chosen order. Commit controls cover creating, changing, squashing, splitting, reordering and undoing commits; project-state snapshots offer a way to reverse major operations. AI can generate commit messages and branch names using OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama or LM Studio. GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket integrations support pull requests and branch workflows, with GitHub Enterprise connections available using an API URL and personal access token. Commits can be signed automatically with GPG or SSH keys. GitButler runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. Linux releases require libwebkit2gtk and can have distribution-specific compatibility limitations. The standalone client is free and open source; the project is described as Fair Source, becoming MIT after two years. A Supporter plan is $5 a month, billed monthly.
GitUI
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.