The choice in context
Sourcetree is a free desktop client with official Windows and macOS downloads. Its documented tools include branching diagrams, Git LFS, submodules, interactive rebase, and Git-flow. Linux availability is a practical reason to evaluate another client. [1]
At a glance
Different strengths. Choose by what matters to you.
Consider Git Workbench if…
Git Workbench
- Get official Linux packages alongside macOS and Windows builds.
- Use Git through your installed system Git, with visual history, hunk staging, and a merge editor.
- Keep an MIT-licensed client for personal and commercial work.
Product details: project documentation [2]
Consider Sourcetree if…
Sourcetree
- Stay with a free client that offers official Windows and macOS downloads.
- Use Mercurial as well as Git in the same desktop application.
Product details: official source [1]
Git Workbench vs Sourcetree
| What matters | Git Workbench [source] | Sourcetree [source] |
|---|---|---|
| Official desktop platforms | Linux x86_64 packages, plus macOS and Windows builds. | Official downloads for Windows and macOS. [1] |
| License and cost | MIT licensed and free for personal and commercial use. | Free proprietary desktop client from Atlassian. [6] |
| Version-control systems | Git only, using the system Git installation. | Supports both Git and Mercurial in one desktop application. [1] |
| Repository discovery | Open local repositories directly; clone and fetch with your existing Git remotes and credentials. | Browse and clone remote repositories with a graphical remote-repository manager. [1] |
| History and branch context | Branch lanes, replay, and file archaeology show commit relationships and how a file evolved. | Branching diagrams and commit views make changesets and repository progress visible. [1] |
| Staging and diff detail | Review unified or split diffs and stage a whole file, hunk, or selected lines. | Stage or discard by file, hunk, or line. [1] |
| History editing and recovery | Interactive rebase, split and reword previews, restore points, and reflog access. | Interactive rebase, cherry-pick, stash/shelve, and patch workflows. [4] |
| Merge and pull-request workflow | Resolve conflicts in a three-pane editor and review hosted requests in-app. | Merge and rebase locally; comments and approvals on pull requests are handled by the hosting service. [3] |
| Git-flow and repository extras | Dedicated Git LFS manager, sparse checkout, submodules, and previewable stacked-branch operations. | Git-flow integration, Git LFS, and submodule support are documented features. [1] |
| Git installation choices | Requires system Git; hooks, SSH, credential helpers, and user configuration stay in your environment. | Can use embedded or system Git; Git LFS and Git-flow availability can depend on the selected Git installation. [5] |
Official desktop platforms
- Git Workbench
- Linux x86_64 packages, plus macOS and Windows builds.
- Sourcetree
- Official downloads for Windows and macOS. [1]
License and cost
- Git Workbench
- MIT licensed and free for personal and commercial use.
- Sourcetree
- Free proprietary desktop client from Atlassian. [6]
Version-control systems
- Git Workbench
- Git only, using the system Git installation.
- Sourcetree
- Supports both Git and Mercurial in one desktop application. [1]
Repository discovery
- Git Workbench
- Open local repositories directly; clone and fetch with your existing Git remotes and credentials.
- Sourcetree
- Browse and clone remote repositories with a graphical remote-repository manager. [1]
History and branch context
- Git Workbench
- Branch lanes, replay, and file archaeology show commit relationships and how a file evolved.
- Sourcetree
- Branching diagrams and commit views make changesets and repository progress visible. [1]
Staging and diff detail
- Git Workbench
- Review unified or split diffs and stage a whole file, hunk, or selected lines.
- Sourcetree
- Stage or discard by file, hunk, or line. [1]
History editing and recovery
- Git Workbench
- Interactive rebase, split and reword previews, restore points, and reflog access.
- Sourcetree
- Interactive rebase, cherry-pick, stash/shelve, and patch workflows. [4]
Merge and pull-request workflow
- Git Workbench
- Resolve conflicts in a three-pane editor and review hosted requests in-app.
- Sourcetree
- Merge and rebase locally; comments and approvals on pull requests are handled by the hosting service. [3]
Git-flow and repository extras
- Git Workbench
- Dedicated Git LFS manager, sparse checkout, submodules, and previewable stacked-branch operations.
- Sourcetree
- Git-flow integration, Git LFS, and submodule support are documented features. [1]
Git installation choices
- Git Workbench
- Requires system Git; hooks, SSH, credential helpers, and user configuration stay in your environment.
- Sourcetree
- Can use embedded or system Git; Git LFS and Git-flow availability can depend on the selected Git installation. [5]
Workbench capabilities link to project documentation; competitor details link to official product sources. Platform and plan details can change, so check the sources before deciding.
Where Git Workbench has an edge
The practical edge is official Linux packaging, paired with a commit graph that replays history, investigates file changes over time, and reviews work across several hosts. [project source]
Use a package that fits your Linux system
Choose an x86_64 AppImage or a Debian, RPM, or Arch package. The optional installer selects the format and verifies SHA-512 checksums before handing off to the package manager.
See how it works →Work through a conflict in context
Current and Incoming stay beside an editable Merge result. Preview a remembered text resolution, review it, and explicitly apply the file before continuing the operation.
See how it works →Build more focused commits
Stage individual hunks while preparing a commit, or preview splitting an existing linear commit into smaller ones. A split verifies the final file tree before applying.
See how it works →When Sourcetree may fit better
Sourcetree can remain a good fit for a Windows or macOS workflow that already uses its branching diagrams, Git-flow, or Mercurial support. Moving a working team workflow has a cost; Linux support alone is not a reason to change every teammate’s client. [1]
Before you switch
- Git Workbench is a Git client and does not offer Mercurial support.
- The official Linux release assets currently target x86_64 rather than ARM.
- Do not assume a Sourcetree preference or account setup is imported into Git Workbench. Configure app-specific settings during first run.
Finish any active Git operation in your existing client, keep a backup of work that Git does not track, and open the local repository in Git Workbench. Configure its commit profile and optional providers separately; no repository-format conversion is needed.