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Atlassian SourceTree vs GitHub comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Atlassian SourceTree
Ranking in Version Control
6th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
8
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
GitHub
Ranking in Version Control
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
93
Ranking in other categories
Application Security Tools (6th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Version Control category, the mindshare of Atlassian SourceTree is 5.6%, down from 7.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub is 5.9%, down from 7.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Version Control
 

Featured Reviews

PrinceKumar1 - PeerSpot reviewer
Utilize Agile methodologies with efficient project management, yet seek improvements in resolving merge conflicts
SourceTree is one of the best tools from a UI perspective. However, I would prefer if SourceTree could address merge conflicts more easily. Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, providing a comprehensive tool for both development and code management, is favored because it can serve as both a development tool and a client for pushing or pulling code, resolving conflicts efficiently. It would be beneficial if SourceTree could offer similar integrated functionalities.
Pervez Roy - PeerSpot reviewer
Very good for collaboration on software projects
We use GitHub for code repository alongside Bitbucket GitHub is very good for collaboration on software projects. We prefer Bitbucket for commercial use, while GitHub is used for open source. You can get the differences, history of changes, and version control for various pull requests. You can…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"For me, the branches ' graph was the most valuable feature of Atlassian SourceTree. I often used the terminal, but during a demo, my boss preferred I not switch to the terminal view. SourceTree's graphical interface for managing branches was handy for that. The demo involved making changes, committing them, pushing to the CI/CD tool, running the pipeline, and seeing the integration, all within about twenty minutes."
"Atlassian SourceTree is a very stable product."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to fix a broken repository merge."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The solution's initial setup process is straightforward."
"The tool's UI is good."
"The interface is very good and is easy to use. It tells you when you've committed, when you've uploaded, and gives you the differences."
"The solution can scale."
"It's beneficial for managing multiple tasks and controlling versions of your product."
"All the features are valuable, but the most important feature is that GitHub has advanced security. The second important feature is the capability to create custom GitHub actions and the capability to deploy in different types of architectural infrastructures, such as hybrid, private, or public."
"The most valuable features are the speed, low latency, and the clear, concise set of commands."
"The most valuable features are GitHub Actions for triggering workflows, GitHub Secrets for saving credentials without needing a third-party service, and the UI for identifying errors in the code when we commit."
"GitHub have a built-in software application development environment and this has been most useful."
"The most valuable features are GitHub are the standard features, they are very useful."
"The technical support of the solution is good, and our company has used it for GitHub upgrades."
 

Cons

"Its interface could be easy to understand for a programmer."
"For everyday use, I am more comfortable using the command line interface, rather than using SourceTree."
"The product's UI needs improvement."
"I have had a food experience with Atlassian SourceTree but it might not be for everyone."
"People think that Visual Studio Code is more intuitive and can serve dual purposes for development and as a client to push or pull code."
"The visuals, including the UI and UX, have simple fonts, making it an area where certain enhancements can be done."
"The ticketing system is not working."
"In complex cases, we have to use the terminal for conflict resolution. If those conflicts could be resolved visually in the editor, that would be much better."
"The merging features can be improved."
"If it had all of the end-to-end integration, then we probably wouldn't have any doubts about what we have installed. However, at this point, we're still trying to figure out how to use it end-to-end."
"GitHub could automate the setup process more, such as creating YAML files for GitHub Actions."
"I would like a more graphical, user-friendly UI, to avoid writing so much code on cmd."
"Github needs more storage."
"It is currently only from the development perspective. It doesn't have features related to project management and testing. It is not like Azure. So, there is a lot of room for improvement. It is a version control product, and it would be good if they can come up with a complete DevOps product."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I do not recall the exact pricing details for SourceTree, but generally, Atlassian products are affordable, and SourceTree typically comes as part of a suite."
"There is a fee for using SourceTree."
"Atlassian SourceTree is a free solution."
"If I consider the market standards, the product's price is pocket-friendly."
"I use the free version of the tool."
"There are no licensing fees for the features that we use."
"It's cheaper than Bitbucket."
"GitHub is an open-source product, but when using the free-to-use version, anyone can see the code we're working on."
"The price of this solution is reasonable."
"We pay a licensing fee for GitHub, which could be cheaper."
"GitHub is a cost-effective solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
17%
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
14%
University
8%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
University
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Atlassian SourceTree?
Both SourceTree and primary alternatives like Visual Studio Code are open-source, so there are no costs involved.
What needs improvement with Atlassian SourceTree?
SourceTree is one of the best tools from a UI perspective. However, I would prefer if SourceTree could address merge conflicts more easily. Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, providing a comprehe...
What do you like most about GitHub?
The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub?
The pricing of GitHub depends on the choice of solutions, such as building one's own GitHub Runners to save money or using GitHub's Runners with extra costs. The pricing is considered reasonable an...
What needs improvement with GitHub?
There are still areas for improvement with GitHub Actions and their deployment workflows, as they have made significant progress but are not yet polished. Occasionally, stability can be an issue, t...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Facebook, NASA, Cisco, eBay, Redfin, Toyota, Kaiser Permanente, Gilt, CSIRO, Autodesk, The Daily Telegraph, CODE, Illumnia,
Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent
Find out what your peers are saying about Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.