Skip to content
PullApprove logo

PullApprove

Unclaimed

Streamline human code review and enforce approval policies with configuration as code.

Visit Website
Reviews onG2
3 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Offers more granular control over code review policies than native GitHub CODEOWNERS.

Biggest con

Requires a credit card for private repo trials.

TL;DR - PullApprove

  • Enforces human code review policies using configuration as code (`CODEREVIEW.toml`).
  • Provides advanced ownership and approval rules beyond GitHub CODEOWNERS.
  • Scalable solution for managing code approvals in small teams to large enterprises.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams

What is PullApprove?

Editorial review
PullApprove is a human code review framework designed to manage and enforce code approval policies, particularly for large and complex codebases. It serves as an advanced alternative to GitHub's CODEOWNERS, allowing teams to define granular review requirements using a `CODEREVIEW.toml` file. This configuration-as-code approach ensures review policies are predictable, version-controlled, and auditable. The product is ideal for development teams, from small independent groups to large enterprises and public sector organizations, who need robust control over their code review process. It helps ensure that critical changes receive the necessary human sign-off, especially in environments with high security sensitivity or complex team structures. By integrating directly with GitHub, PullApprove simplifies the 'last mile' of code review, making the human approval process smooth and efficient. PullApprove is not an AI code reviewer or an AI-powered assigner; instead, it focuses on providing the framework for human oversight after automated checks. It has been used in production for over 10 years, demonstrating its reliability and scalability for managing approvals across numerous repositories and thousands of users, including in monorepo environments.

Available on: Web

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Offers more granular control over code review policies than native GitHub CODEOWNERS.
  • Configuration as code ensures review policies are version-controlled and auditable.
  • Highly scalable, proven in production for over a decade with large organizations.
  • Provides flexibility for complex team structures and monorepos with features like overlapping scopes and alternate reviewers.
  • Dedicated support and onboarding for larger plans.

Cons

  • Requires a credit card for private repo trials.
  • Open-source free plan has specific eligibility criteria, excluding projects backed by large companies with paid contributors.

Ratings Across the Web

3.7(3 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Configurable review policies via CODEREVIEW.tomlPath-based and line-based code ownershipOverlapping scopes for complex file structuresPer-scope approval thresholdsReviewed-for confirmationSupport for large-scale changesMultiple configurations per repositoryAliases and reusable reviewer groups

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked May 29, 2026

Public Repos

Free

Private Repos Trial

Free

Reviews

Be the first to review PullApprove

Your take helps the next buyer. Verified LinkedIn reviewers get a badge.

Write a review

Best PullApprove Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

View full list →

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Explore More

PullApprove FAQ

How does PullApprove's `CODEREVIEW.toml` enhance or differ from GitHub's native CODEOWNERS functionality?

PullApprove's CODEREVIEW.toml extends beyond GitHub's CODEOWNERS by combining code ownership with explicit approval requirements. It allows for features like per-scope approval thresholds, reviewed-for confirmation, request limits, and the ability to define overlapping scopes, which are not available in the standard CODEOWNERS file. This provides a more robust and flexible policy enforcement mechanism.

Can PullApprove manage review policies for a monorepo with diverse teams and varying approval needs?

Yes, PullApprove is specifically designed to handle complex scenarios like monorepos. It supports features such as multiple configurations per repository, overlapping scopes, and the ability to define different approval thresholds and reviewer groups for specific paths or types of changes, making it robust enough for large-scale monorepo management.

What is the 'author_value' parameter in the `CODEREVIEW.toml` configuration used for?

The author_value parameter allows you to assign a 'value' to the pull request author's review. For example, setting author_value = 1 means the author's review counts as one approval towards the require threshold, potentially reducing the number of additional reviewers needed for sign-off on their own changes.

Does PullApprove integrate with self-hosted GitHub Enterprise Server instances, or is it limited to GitHub.com?

PullApprove offers integration with both GitHub.com and self-hosted GitHub Enterprise Server instances. The Enterprise plan specifically includes support for GitHub Enterprise Server, along with features like custom legal agreements and static IP for allow-listing, catering to stricter environments.

How does PullApprove handle situations where primary reviewers are unavailable, and what are 'alternates'?

PullApprove addresses reviewer availability through 'alternates' and 'backup/alternate reviewers'. In the CODEREVIEW.toml, you can define alternates for specific scopes. If the primary reviewers are unable to approve, an alternate reviewer can step in to provide the necessary sign-off, ensuring that the review process doesn't get blocked.

Guides & Articles