Atlassian SourceTree vs GitHub comparison

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Atlassian SourceTree

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 5, 2025

GitHub and Atlassian SourceTree are both prominent players in version control and management. GitHub appears to have the upper hand with its robust online collaboration tools and extensive community support, whereas SourceTree distinguishes itself with its superior desktop client experience for managing local Git repositories.

Features: GitHub's valuable features include advanced security, extensive code hosting capabilities, and seamless integration with numerous tools, which enhances collaboration. SourceTree offers a visually appealing interface for branch management, convenient undo options for specific changes, and powerful conflict resolution tools like KDiff3.

Room for Improvement: GitHub could enhance its user experience by offering more intuitive navigation and better integration with IDEs. SourceTree might benefit from improved performance speeds, expanded third-party integrations, and a more modernized interface to compete with other Git clients. Both could bolster user support channels for better real-time assistance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: GitHub's cloud-based nature means it requires no installation, offering instant setup, making it ideal for remote teams seeking easy collaboration. Its extensive documentation and community resources are pivotal. SourceTree requires desktop installation, appealing more to those who prefer offline access, with detailed guides and troubleshooting support enhancing the user experience.

Pricing and ROI: GitHub operates on a tiered pricing model, starting with free public repositories and scaling to paid private repositories, maximizing ROI through collaboration tools and integrated features. SourceTree is free for individual developers, attracting those requiring a strong local Git client without incurring costs. GitHub’s ROI is augmented by its integration capabilities, while SourceTree offers value through its cost-free setup.

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

Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub

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Helped 845,040 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

7.5

Number of Reviews

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

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.

Read full review

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

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

"Atlassian SourceTree is a very stable product."

"The solution's initial setup process is straightforward."

"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 tool's UI is good."

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"I have found GitHub stable."

"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."

"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 deployment is fast since we just have to run the script, and once it's done, it takes a few minutes."

"Even if I'm not in the office, I can access and work on my code from anywhere with my account credentials."

"I find GitHub very user friendly."

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

"The features that I have found most valuable are that it can support you for most of the road map and it can automate some tasks which works really well with collaboration with the teams. They are really interested in how they organize the history of the code itself which is good."

More GitHub pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

"The product's UI needs improvement."

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

"It would be useful to have tutorial videos within the GitHub dashboard."

"I think it would be valuable to have more security. Some of the data is very open to everyone."

"From the recruiting standpoint, I would like to see email IDs and phone numbers and a brief introduction about their profile."

"The security point should be addressed in the next release and scaling is also an issue."

"The only thing I see missing in GitHub is that it isn't very user friendly for key personnel who don't have in-depth, technical knowledge. In Jira, there are many functions to upload our test cases, and in GitHub we can only do it manually. There are functions which can be used to upload different files, but that still requires some technical knowledge. A layman cannot do it."

"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 should work on enhancing its search capability. The tool should add some more features and functionalities."

"The solution's cost is high and should be reduced."

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."

"Atlassian SourceTree is a free solution."

"There is a fee for using SourceTree."

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

"We have an enterprise licensing agreement, and I am not part of the finance department so I can't say how much it costs."

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

"Regarding pricing, I'd rate it eight out of ten. It's decent and not too expensive, and small businesses can also afford it. With AWS taking CodeCommit out of the market, I don't see many competitors for small companies in terms of GitHub."

"We pay a licensing fee for GitHub, which could be cheaper."

"GitHub is a cost-effective solution."

"The licensing model for GitHub is user-based. Whenever the new developer joins we have to get a new license and register their ID. The overall price of the solution is reasonable."

"We are currently paying nothing for GitHub."

More GitHub pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Version Control solutions are best for your needs.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

13%

University

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

University

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?

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...

Bitbucket vs Atlassian SourceTree

Comparisons

Compared 33% of the time

Git vs Atlassian SourceTree

Compared 27% of the time

Bitbucket Server vs Atlassian SourceTree

Compared 20% of the time

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Bitbucket vs GitHub

Compared 17% of the time

Fortify on Demand vs GitHub

Compared 15% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub

Compared 12% of the time

AWS CodeCommit vs GitHub

Compared 11% of the time

Mend.io vs GitHub

Compared 7% 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