Brandwave

GitHub Desktop vs Sublime Merge:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Desktop had more branded searches than Sublime Merge among git clients worldwide. GitHub Desktop had about 301,000 branded searches, while Sublime Merge had 8,100. GitHub Desktop made up 65.9% of all git client searches we track, and Sublime Merge accounted for 1.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about git clients, both GitHub Desktop and Sublime Merge appeared in all five answers. GitHub Desktop was mentioned before Sublime Merge in four out of five answers.

Among git clients worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Desktop, about 37 searches for every 1 for Sublime Merge

GitHub Desktop 301K searchesSublime Merge 8.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

GitHub Desktop in 5 of 5Sublime Merge in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Desktop, named ahead of Sublime Merge in 4 of 5 answers

GitHub Desktop first in 4Sublime Merge first in 1

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Top git clients in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both GitHub Desktop and Sublime Merge showed up in all five answers. GitHub Desktop was listed before Sublime Merge in four 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 GitHub Desktop or Sublime Merge more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Desktop and Sublime Merge 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 Sublime Merge among git clients worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitHub Desktop, Sublime Merge. 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 GitHub Desktop and Sublime Merge comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • GitHub Desktop was ahead of Sublime Merge 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, Sublime Merge’s share of searches among git clients worldwide moved from 1.6% to 1.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 8.1K.

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

0 changes

Neither GitHub Desktop nor Sublime Merge moved beyond provider rounding among git clients 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 Sublime Merge’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.

GitHub Desktop

1 branded search term

  • github desktop

Sublime Merge

1 branded search term

  • sublime merge

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among git clients

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