gitui vs GitKraken: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between gitui and GitKraken comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
gitui
Blazing fast terminal-ui for Git, offering a GUI-like experience directly in your terminal.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need version control features specifically
- • Provides a fast and intuitive terminal UI for Git.
- • Offers GUI-like comfort for Git operations within the terminal.
GitKraken
Visual Git client with intuitive interface
Best for you if:
- • You need developer tools features specifically
- • GitKraken is a powerful Git GUI client with visual commit history and merge tools
- • It provides intuitive branch management, conflict resolution, and team collaboration
| At a Glance |  gitui |  GitKraken |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Version Control | Developer Tools |
Rating | - | 4.5/5 |
Choose gitui or GitKraken?
Choose gitui if
Blazing fast terminal-ui for Git, offering a GUI-like experience directly in your terminal.
- Extremely fast and performant, even with large repositories
- Offers a comfortable GUI-like experience in the terminal
- Keyboard-only control enhances efficiency
- You want a fully free tool (GitKraken requires payment)
- Your work is version control-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
Choose GitKraken if
Visual Git client with intuitive interface
- Beautiful visual Git interface
- Built-in merge conflict editor
- Gist and repository management
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not version control-shaped
| Feature | gitui | GitKraken |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.5/5 198 reviews |
| Categories | Version ControlTerminal Tools | Developer ToolsVersion Control |
In-Depth Analysis
gitui
Blazing fast terminal-ui for Git, offering a GUI-like experience directly in your terminal.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast and performant, even with large repositories
- +Offers a comfortable GUI-like experience in the terminal
- +Keyboard-only control enhances efficiency
- +Free and open-source
- +Cross-platform availability via various package managers and binaries
Weaknesses
- -Currently lacks full interactive rebase support
- -No Git LFS support
- -Does not fully substitute the git shell for all operations
Key features
GitKraken
Visual Git client with intuitive interface
Strengths
- +Beautiful visual Git interface
- +Built-in merge conflict editor
- +Gist and repository management
- +Integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- +Cross-platform
Weaknesses
- -Free version limited features
- -Pro expensive ($5/month)
- -Can be resource-heavy
- -Some advanced Git features missing
- -Occasional sync issues
Key features
Pricing: gitui vs GitKraken
| Plan | gitui | GitKraken |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Open Source | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $4.95 month per user Pro |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $8.95 month per user Teams |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $24 month per user On-Premise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on gitui pricing and GitKraken pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
gitui is free. GitKraken is freemium.
Go with: gitui
Want the highest-rated option?
GitKraken is rated 4.5/5. gitui has no ratings yet.
Go with: GitKraken
Value user reviews?
gitui: no ratings yet. GitKraken: 198 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: GitKraken
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
gitui is free. GitKraken is freemium. Go with gitui if free matters most.
What's your use case?
gitui is a version control tool. GitKraken is in developer tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
GitKraken is rated 4.5/5; gitui has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
GitKraken
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
gitui
- Completely free
- Better fit for version control
The Bottom Line
GitKraken is our pick. That said, gitui is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gitui or GitKraken better?
GitKraken is rated in our evaluation. gitui is free and GitKraken is freemium.
What are gitui and GitKraken used for?
gitui: Blazing fast terminal-ui for Git, offering a GUI-like experience directly in your terminal.. GitKraken: Visual Git client with intuitive interface.
What does gitui cost vs GitKraken?
gitui is completely free. GitKraken is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.