GitKraken — A visual Git client for Windows, macOS and Linux with an interactive commit graph, drag-and-drop actions and workspaces.
What it is
GitKraken is a cross-platform visual Git client built around an interactive commit graph, with workspaces and pull-request, issue-tracker and Jira integrations. A free Community tier covers public repos; private repositories require paid plans.
Editor's review
Long-form introduction by the BetterPicker editors · checked against the official site · Oct 23, 2026
GitKraken is the Git client people reach for when the terminal feels like a minefield and history needs to be seen rather than imagined. The Desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux renders branches and commits as an interactive graph where you check out, merge or rebase by dragging one branch onto another, stage changes file by file or line by line, and undo a bad action from the toolbar. It has grown past a plain client, too: one account connects the commit graph, the GitKraken CLI and the GitLens ecosystem, with pull-request, issue and Jira integration built in. The catch is the pricing model. The free Community tier is limited to local repos and public remotes, so the moment real work moves into a private repository you need Pro at $10 per user per month billed annually, with Advanced and Business tiers above it for self-hosted integrations, SSO and admin controls. Reviewers consistently praise how much cognitive load the visualization removes, especially around merges and rebases; they just as consistently note that the app can feel heavy on very large repositories and that signing in to an account is part of setup. As a benchmark for graph-first Git workflows, walkthroughs still treat it as exactly that.
What it does well
History you can operate on: the commit graph doubles as a control surface - double-click to check out a branch, drag one branch onto another to get merge, rebase or start-a-pull-request options - which reviewers credit with making Git's mental model finally click for visual thinkers.
Guarded everyday Git: changes are staged and reviewed in hunk, inline or split diffs, commits can push in the same click, and an undo button reverses mistakes, so users report fewer destructive slips than in raw command-line sessions.
Work beyond one repo: workspaces group local and cloud repositories for multi-fetch, multi-clone and status views, and a focus view collects assigned pull requests, issues and Jira items; walkthroughs of the issue-to-branch-to-pull-request flow are the standout demonstration.
Who it's for
GitKraken suits developers who think in pictures: newcomers learning Git, and senior engineers untangling shared histories they would rather not read as text. Teams gain the most, since workspaces, focus view and the GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Jira integrations assume collaboration across many repos. It complements rather than replaces the terminal - power users keep both open. If your repositories are private and your budget is zero, check the free tier's limits before adopting it as a daily driver.
Where it falls short
Paywalled private repos: the free tier only handles local and public remote repositories, so everyday commercial work pushes individuals and teams to Pro at $10 per user per month billed annually or higher plans.
Heavier than the terminal: users report slow launches and laggy graph rendering on very large repositories, and the Electron-based app's memory footprint draws recurring criticism.
Account and ecosystem pull: setup requires a GitKraken account, and the collaboration features assume you live inside its workspaces and platform rather than plain Git hosting, which not every team wants as a dependency.
Specs at a glance
Facts from the official site · not editorial opinion
| Editions | Free Community tier; Pro, Advanced and Business paid plans |
|---|---|
| Price | Free for public repos; Pro from $10 per user per month, billed annually |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Open source | No - proprietary, with a free Community tier |
| Core capability | Visual Git client with interactive commit graph, guided conflict resolution and multi-repo workspaces |
| Integrations | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Jira and Azure DevOps; GitLens, GitKraken CLI and GitKraken.dev in the suite |
| Best for | Developers and teams who want visual, lower-risk Git workflows across many repositories |
Frequently asked questions
▸Is GitKraken free?
There is a free Community plan, but it works only with local repos and public remote repos. Private repositories require a paid plan - Pro at $10 per user per month billed annually, with Advanced and Business tiers above it.
▸Do I need a GitKraken account?
Yes, signing in is part of setup. The account ties together your license, workspaces and hosting integrations, which many users find convenient and others treat as a dependency to accept before installing.
▸Can I use it alongside the command line?
Yes. The app detects changes made outside it - in a terminal or editor - and reflects them in the graph automatically, and a GitKraken CLI exists for terminal-first habits, so mixed workflows work fine.
▸How does it compare with GitHub Desktop or GitLens?
GitHub Desktop is simpler and entirely free but centers on GitHub flows. GitLens adds inline history and authorship inside VS Code and other IDEs. GitKraken Desktop is the fuller visual workbench with multi-repo workspaces and pull-request and Jira integration, typically paid for private work.
Video reviews
4 review videos aggregated · praise and criticism included alike · click through to the original video
Channels that covered it
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