Atlassian SourceTree vs GitHub comparison

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Atlassian SourceTree

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 13, 2025

GitHub and Atlassian SourceTree compete in the version control and collaboration category for software development. GitHub may have the upper hand due to its broader community engagement and versatile integration capabilities.

Features: GitHub provides seamless integration with multiple developer tools, extensive collaboration functionalities, and a robust version control system, making it ideal for distributed teams. Atlassian SourceTree focuses on ease of management with a visual representation of code branches, intuitive navigation, and a user-friendly interface, simplifying Git workflows.

Room for Improvement: GitHub could enhance by providing more visual management tools for non-technical users, simplifying complex workflows, and offering more beginner-friendly resources. SourceTree might benefit from expanded integration options, a more streamlined user interface for advanced users, and improved documentation for troubleshooting complex issues.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: GitHub offers a straightforward web-based deployment model with comprehensive documentation, enhancing setup and deployment efficiency. Its online support excels due to widespread community use. SourceTree, with its visually oriented desktop client, simplifies deployment for those preferring graphical interfaces and connects users with Atlassian's support network for direct assistance.

Pricing and ROI: GitHub presents tiered pricing, appealing to a range of budgets while delivering significant ROI through enhanced collaboration tools. Atlassian SourceTree is free, offering excellent value with no setup costs, providing immediate ROI particularly beneficial for small teams seeking cost-effective solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub Report (Updated: July 2025).

Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub

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Helped 861,524 peers since 2012

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

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

GitHub

Ranking in Version Control

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Security Tools (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Version Control category, the mindshare of Atlassian SourceTree is 6.2%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub is 6.9%, up from 6.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Version Control

Featured Reviews

PrinceKumar1

Expert Software Engineer at FIS

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.

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Pervez Roy

Solutions Architect at Small Systems LTD

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…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The tool's UI is good."

"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."

"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's initial setup process is straightforward."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to fix a broken repository merge."

"Atlassian SourceTree is a very stable product."

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"You can write the code with AI. But when it comes to implementation, you must upgrade the bits of code that will support this and generate solutions based on that architecture. Then, you need comparable code bits. Therefore, AI can propose how much a specific function can be better optimized. So, AI can help stakeholders reach tasks quicker."

"The most valuable feature of GitHub is version control and continuous integration."

"The tool is valuable because it helps us work in a distributed environment with multiple people across different locations and time zones. We have a common repository that everyone works on, which would be tough to manage manually. GitHub helps us maintain this single source of truth. Everyone can check out their own branches, which is important for our branching strategies. We can fork, check out feature branches, work on our code, and merge back into parent branches for deployment. This is crucial when multiple people are working on the same codebase."

"I appreciate saving from Visual Studio Code that implements changes directly on GitHub."

"The initial setup was straightforward."

"I recommend using GitHub because it is reliable and helpful for developers."

"It has a lot of features from the code development perspective. You get a lot of features such as repo, commit, merge, and branch. You can play around and do things on the fly. It is easy and simple to deploy. It is also easier to use when working from home."

"The Projects Tab, which shows you the todo list and the progress for projects, is very helpful."

More GitHub pros

Cons

"The visuals, including the UI and UX, have simple fonts, making it an area where certain enhancements can be done."

"Its interface could be easy to understand for a programmer."

"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 product's UI needs improvement."

"I have had a food experience with Atlassian SourceTree but it might not be for everyone."

"For everyday use, I am more comfortable using the command line interface, rather than using SourceTree."

"The solution needs some more controls for deleting code."

"There could be more integration into Azure."

"Github needs more storage."

"There is room for improvement in terms of interface."

"I would like to see integration with Slack such that all of the changes made in GitHub are reflected there."

"Sometimes we do not get the exact solution, and the suggested solution does not work, so GitHub could improve in that area."

"Regarding improvements, I preferred the tool's earlier pricing model, which limited storage and the number of repositories instead of the number of users, which was more convenient from a customer perspective. I've also experienced issues with GitHub servers being unable to support moving repositories, which caused problems. For basic plans, no support was available to help resolve these issues. I think GitHub should provide more support for smaller businesses to help with these problems."

"Though I haven't done much research, GitHub lacks in providing more functions like GitLab."

More GitHub cons

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."

"I use the free version of the tool."

"The tool offers a free program. As you go, you can upgrade from the community version to the professional one. I believe it costs about ten dollars per person, per month."

"I am using the free version of the solution. However, there are some costs my organization pays."

"If there are only 10 people using a particular repository, then GitHub is free. But if we increase the number of users, we need to pay the normal charge for GitHub."

"GitHub is an open-source application. It's free to use."

"It is open-source. There is no license for GitHub."

"There are no licensing fees for the features that we use."

"I think, in terms of price, GitHub is okay compared to other tools."

More GitHub pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

18%

Manufacturing Company

15%

Computer Software Company

14%

University

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Atlassian SourceTree?

The initial setup is straightforward.

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?

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?

I am not aware about the pricing, so I will not be able to give feedback.

What needs improvement with GitHub?

Sometimes we do not get the exact solution, and the suggested solution does not work, so GitHub could improve in that area. We have used GitHub mainly for the code generation part. That is the only...

Bitbucket vs Atlassian SourceTree

Comparisons

Compared 35% of the time

Bitbucket Server vs Atlassian SourceTree

Compared 23% of the time

Git vs Atlassian SourceTree

Compared 19% of the time

More Atlassian SourceTree Competitors

Bitbucket vs GitHub

Compared 16% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub

Compared 12% of the time

OpenText Core Application Security vs GitHub

Compared 10% of the time

AWS CodeCommit vs GitHub

Compared 8% of the time

Mend.io vs GitHub

Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Version Control

Download Atlassian SourceTree product report

Download GitHub product report

Overview

Atlassian SourceTree is a graphical user interface (GUI) desktop client that facilitates user interaction with Git repositories. SourceTree provides a visual interface that is easy to use and intuitive. It allows developers to save a lot of command lines when working with Git.

The tool is free and works as a Git client for Windows and Mac OS. You can visualize and manage your repositories via the simple GUI. The client offers an efficient and consistent development process for Git and Mercurial.

Atlassian SourceTree Key Features

Branch management: Typically, managing branches is a time-consuming and tedious process for project managers and developers. With SourceTree, you can switch working copies with a single click. You can also see where you are compared with the version in the repository, alerting you to push or pull.
Working copy: Developers who work using the command line often lack visibility. Access the “working copy” section to see the difference between your local copy and the version in the Git repository. This feature allows you to see exactly what has changed.
Branch history: the History section displays the full history of the branch, displaying each commit and file change. This feature enables smooth version control.
GitFlow: GitFlow organizes the workflow, streamlining parallel code changes and reducing merge conflicts.

Atlassian SourceTree Benefits

Any level user can use SourceTree: beginners and experts benefit from the visibility and streamlined workflows of SourceTree. Beginners benefit from the simplified version control. Experts can review changesets and stash and pick between branches. Senior programmers can customize changeset and stashes, apply patches, rebase or shelve changesets. The tool offers detailed tutorials to help beginners and experts start quickly. Other benefits for beginners include easy access to commands with one click and simplified distributed version control.
Code visibility: the visualization of the Git process enables users to manage large projects with multiple branches and commits. SourceTree automatically tracks the activity of your code. It also features bookmarks where you can see a summarized view of all projects and repositories. Therefore, you can check a specific branch or commit with a single click. Finally, it features detailed branching diagrams that make it easy to follow the process.
Git and Hg support: the fully-featured GUI supports Git and Mercurial, offering a consistent development process from the start. You can also use SourceTree for a project on Github. Start by creating the project on Github, then connect it to the SourceTree software.
Free: the SourceTree tool is free to use, even for commercial uses, without buying a license.
Supports Git LFS: users can track large assets and submit code from a single dashboard.
Subordinated modules: you can use submodules for hand-picked dependencies and manage and group projects.

Atlassian SourceTree Use Cases

Check-in and check-out code using the client-side application.
You can also use SourceTree to repair broken Git repositories because you can easily detect mistakes at a glance.
The simple and intuitive user interface allows users to search for and clone remote repositories.

Reviews from Real Users

A Program Manager/Engineer at a government says, "The most valuable feature is the ability to fix a broken repository merge… This product has helped because we have been able to fix problems when our code repository breaks."

Atlassian

GitHub is a web-based Git repository hosting service. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management (SCM) functionality of Git as well as adding its own features. Unlike Git, which is strictly a command-line tool, GitHub provides a Web-based graphical interface and desktop as well as mobile integration. It also provides access control and several collaboration features such as bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis for every project.

Sample Customers

Facebook, NASA, Cisco, eBay, Redfin, Toyota, Kaiser Permanente, Gilt, CSIRO, Autodesk, The Daily Telegraph, CODE, Illumnia,

Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent

Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub