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GitKraken is a visual Git workflow suite with IDE and AI-agent tools. Its alternatives split into desktop clients, code-review tools and Git hosting platforms, so the right replacement depends on the role it fills in your stack. For local Git work, compare Fork and Tower; for self-hosted repositories, consider Gitea, Forgejo or Gerrit. Starting prices are only a baseline: check seat costs, hosting work, API and SDK support, and data export before migrating.
01Why people leave GitKraken
Performance complaints
One Reddit user reports freezes and slow operations. That is an individual report, but recurring hangs can make a desktop Git client hard to rely on.
Prefer command-line workflows
Some developers prefer the CLI or Magit, and say GUIs can hide the commands behind an operation when troubleshooting.
Avoid paid or shared tooling
One developer built an open-source client for personal use; other commenters argue teams should choose tools individually rather than enforce one GUI.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best desktop Git GUI
ForkForkChoose Fork if the job is visual Git work on an individual desktop, not hosted collaboration. It supports visual interactive rebase and is listed at a $59.99 one-time license, avoiding an ongoing per-user subscription. The trade is a narrower product: no API layer is documented, and Fork is not presented as a hosting or team-review platform. Check operating-system support and workflow migration needs before standardizing.
Trade-off: No documented API layer or hosted collaboration platform.
7.5/10from
Custom - Best visual workflow
TowerTowerTower is a desktop Git client for Mac and Windows, with interactive rebase and conflict tools. Its listed starting price is $5.75 per user, making seat count a cost to model for a team. It fits developers who want visual Git workflows without adopting a broader hosting suite. Confirm the current API, SDK and export options in Tower's documentation before building automation around it.
Trade-off: Per-user pricing and desktop-focused workflows.
7.7/10from
$5.75/mo - Best self-hosted platform
GiteaGitea
Gitea suits teams replacing more than a desktop client: it is an MIT-licensed Git platform with issues and reviews, and can be self-hosted for free. The listed managed option starts at $9.50 and has a free plan. Self-hosting avoids making the hosted service a requirement, but your team takes on instance operations. Check API and migration compatibility against your existing workflows.
Trade-off: Self-hosting means owning server operations.
8.0/10from
$9.50/mofree plan - Best private Git forge
ForgejoForgejoForgejo is a free, open-source forge for teams that want to run Git hosting themselves and prioritize code privacy. It is a lightweight alternative to GitKraken's visual workflow suite, rather than a direct desktop-client replacement. There is no listed license fee for self-hosting, but your team handles server operations. Validate migration, integrations and API needs before moving repositories.
Trade-off: You own hosting and migration checks.
7.7/10from
Freefree plan - Best gated code review
Gerrit Code ReviewGerrit Code ReviewGerrit is an open-source, self-hostable code-review system for teams that need configurable patch reviews and detailed permissions. It has no listed license fee, but hosting and operations remain your responsibility. Choose it when review gates matter more than a visual Git client; it is not a one-for-one replacement for local Git workflows. Check how its review process fits your repositories and automation.
Trade-off: Plan for hosting and operational work.
7.5/10from
Freefree plan - Best for Jira teams
BitbucketBitbucketBitbucket fits teams already using Jira that want private repositories and code workflows in the same platform. Pricing starts at $3.65 with a free plan, while organizations can also consider self-managed deployment. Compare the cost at your expected usage and verify hosting requirements before moving repositories. It replaces more of the collaboration stack than a standalone Git client, so review API and export needs too.
Trade-off: Check usage costs and deployment requirements.
7.5/10from
$3.65/mofree plan - Best for on-prem reviews
Review BoardReview BoardReview Board is a code-review tool that also handles documents and images, with hosted, on-prem and air-gapped deployment options. Its listed pricing starts at $6 with a free plan. It can replace a review workflow, not GitKraken's local visual Git functions. Check its supported version-control integrations and how reviews, repositories and automation would move from your current setup.
Trade-off: It is a review system, not a desktop Git client.
7.1/10from
$6/mofree plan - Best for stacked PRs
GraphiteGraphiteGraphite is a GitHub-focused review layer for teams adopting stacked pull requests, standardizing reviews or adding AI review in PRs. Pricing starts at $20 with a free plan, so check seat costs at your expected team size. It is not a local Git GUI or a self-hosted forge. Verify hosted-service constraints and API support before making it part of your review pipeline.
Trade-off: GitHub-focused hosted review, not a local Git client.
7.3/10from
$20/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 GitKraken GitKraken (current) | 7.2 | €4/mo | Yes | Developers who prefer visual Git workflows |
| Fork Fork | 7.5 | Custom | No | Developers who prefer a Git GUI |
| Tower Tower | 7.7 | $5.75/mo | No | Developers who prefer visual Git workflows |
| Gitea Gitea | 8.0 | $9.50/mo | Yes | Teams that want self-hosted Git |
| Forgejo Forgejo | 7.7 | Free | Yes | Teams running their own Git forge |
| Gerrit Code Review Gerrit Code Review | 7.5 | Free | Yes | Teams that self-host Git services |
| Bitbucket Bitbucket | 7.5 | $3.65/mo | Yes | Teams already using Jira |
| Review Board Review Board | 7.1 | $6/mo | Yes | Teams reviewing code and documents together |
| Graphite Graphite | 7.3 | $20/mo | Yes | GitHub teams adopting stacked PRs |
Questions people ask
Which GitKraken alternative is cheapest?
It depends on what you replace. Fork is listed at a $59.99 one-time license. Gitea can be self-hosted for free, and Forgejo is a free self-hosted forge, but both require operational work. Compare total cost—including seats, hosting and maintenance—not just the starting price.
Which GitKraken alternatives are open source?
Gitea is MIT-licensed, while Forgejo and Gerrit are listed as open source. Gitea and Forgejo are self-hostable Git platforms; Gerrit focuses on code review. Self-hosting avoids a managed-service dependency, but your team is responsible for server operations and should check migration and integration requirements.
Can I migrate GitKraken workflows to another tool?
Treat repository migration and client-workflow migration as separate tasks. Check whether the replacement supports your current integrations, review process and automation, then verify its API, SDK and export options in the vendor documentation. A desktop Git client, review layer and hosted forge do not provide the same functions.