Brandwave

Fork vs GitHub Desktop:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Desktop had more branded searches than Fork among git clients worldwide. GitHub Desktop had about 301,000 branded searches, while Fork had 18,100. GitHub Desktop made up 65.9% of all git client searches we track, and Fork accounted for 4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about git clients, both Fork and GitHub Desktop appeared in all five answers. GitHub Desktop was mentioned before Fork in three out of five answers.

Among git clients worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Desktop, about 17 searches for every 1 for Fork

GitHub Desktop 301K searchesFork 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Fork in 5 of 5GitHub Desktop in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Desktop, named ahead of Fork in 3 of 5 answers

GitHub Desktop first in 3Fork first in 2

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Top git clients in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Fork and GitHub Desktop showed up in all five answers. GitHub Desktop was listed before Fork in three of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. GitHub Desktop1st
  2. Fork2nd
  3. GitKraken3rd
  4. Sublime Merge4th
  5. Sourcetree5th
  6. lazygit6th
  7. Tower7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • GitHub Desktop5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitKraken5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Fork5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sublime Merge5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sourcetree3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • lazygit3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Tower1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about git clients

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Fork or GitHub Desktop more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Fork and GitHub Desktop by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven git clients we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Fork and GitHub Desktop among git clients worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitHub Desktop, Fork. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitHub DesktopSourcetreeGitKrakenlazygitForkSublime MergeTower
Oct 202558.2%17.5%11.7%6.4%4.3%1.6%0.37%
Nov 202561.5%15.1%10.1%6.8%4.5%1.7%0.39%
Dec 202558.1%17.5%11.7%6.4%4.3%1.6%0.45%
Jan 202656.6%17%11.4%7.6%5.1%1.9%0.44%
Feb 202660.5%14.9%10%8.1%4.5%1.6%0.38%
Mar 202661.4%15.1%10.1%6.8%4.5%1.7%0.4%
Apr 202659.5%17.9%9.8%6.5%4.4%1.6%0.38%
May 202661.5%15.1%10.1%6.8%4.5%1.7%0.39%
Jun 202662.3%15.3%10.2%5.6%4.6%1.7%0.33%
Jul 202664.2%15.8%8.6%5.8%3.9%1.4%0.34%
Aug 202666.1%13.3%8.9%6%4%1.4%0.35%
Sep 202665.9%13.2%8.9%5.9%4%1.8%0.35%

How has the Fork and GitHub Desktop comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • GitHub Desktop was ahead of Fork in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fork’s share of searches among git clients worldwide moved from 4.3% to 4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Desktop’s share of searches among git clients worldwide moved from 58.2% to 65.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 301K.

How did search popularity change for git clients worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Fork worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fork’s and GitHub Desktop’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Fork

1 branded search term

  • fork git

GitHub Desktop

1 branded search term

  • github desktop

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among git clients

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