GitHub Desktop vs Sourcetree:Which is more popular?

Name: GitHub Desktop vs Sourcetree: Which is searched more?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, GitHub Desktop had more branded searches than Sourcetree among git clients worldwide. GitHub Desktop had about 301,000 branded searches, while Sourcetree had 60,500. GitHub Desktop made up 65.9% of all git client searches we track, and Sourcetree accounted for 13.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about git clients, GitHub Desktop appeared in all five answers and Sourcetree in three. GitHub Desktop was mentioned before Sourcetree in every answer.

Among git clients worldwide in September 2026

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Top git clients in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitHub Desktop appeared in all five answers. Sourcetree was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. GitHub Desktop was listed before Sourcetree in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

Mentioned by AI

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

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
GitHub Desktop	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
GitKraken	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Fork	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Sublime Merge	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Sourcetree	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
lazygit	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Tower	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5

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

Asked ChatGPT
“Which git client should I use?”
1. 1GitHub Desktop
2. 2Fork
3. 3Sublime Merge
4. 4lazygit
5. 5GitKraken
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best git clients?”
1. 1Fork
2. 2GitKraken
3. 3GitHub Desktop
4. 4Sublime Merge
5. 5Sourcetree
6. 6lazygit
7. 7Tower
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best git client for developers?”
1. 1Fork
2. 2GitKraken
3. 3Sublime Merge
4. 4GitHub Desktop
5. 5lazygit
Searched Google, AI Overview
“git client”
1. 1GitHub Desktop
2. 2Sourcetree
3. 3GitKraken
4. 4Fork
5. 5Sublime Merge
Searched Google, AI Overview
“git gui client”
1. 1GitHub Desktop
2. 2GitKraken
3. 3Sourcetree
4. 4Fork
5. 5Sublime Merge

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

Is GitHub Desktop or Sourcetree more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Desktop and Sourcetree 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.

GitHub Desktop and Sourcetree among git clients worldwide, by month

Month	GitHub Desktop	Sourcetree	GitKraken	lazygit	Fork	Sublime Merge	Tower
Oct 2025	58.2%	17.5%	11.7%	6.4%	4.3%	1.6%	0.37%
Nov 2025	61.5%	15.1%	10.1%	6.8%	4.5%	1.7%	0.39%
Dec 2025	58.1%	17.5%	11.7%	6.4%	4.3%	1.6%	0.45%
Jan 2026	56.6%	17%	11.4%	7.6%	5.1%	1.9%	0.44%
Feb 2026	60.5%	14.9%	10%	8.1%	4.5%	1.6%	0.38%
Mar 2026	61.4%	15.1%	10.1%	6.8%	4.5%	1.7%	0.4%
Apr 2026	59.5%	17.9%	9.8%	6.5%	4.4%	1.6%	0.38%
May 2026	61.5%	15.1%	10.1%	6.8%	4.5%	1.7%	0.39%
Jun 2026	62.3%	15.3%	10.2%	5.6%	4.6%	1.7%	0.33%
Jul 2026	64.2%	15.8%	8.6%	5.8%	3.9%	1.4%	0.34%
Aug 2026	66.1%	13.3%	8.9%	6%	4%	1.4%	0.35%
Sep 2026	65.9%	13.2%	8.9%	5.9%	4%	1.8%	0.35%

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

3 findings

GitHub Desktop was ahead of Sourcetree in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
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.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sourcetree’s share of searches among git clients worldwide moved from 17.5% to 13.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 60.5K.

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

1 change

Estimated monthly branded searches for Sourcetree worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 90.5K to 60.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub Desktop’s and Sourcetree’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.