Technology · head to head
Asana vs GitHub Desktop
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team; GitHub Desktop available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
- They diverge on capability: Asana covers Multiple project views, GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Asana and GitHub Desktop actually diverge.
| Attribute | Asana | GitHub Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, Macos |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology), founded (2008).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Asana
- Multiple project views
- Task dependencies
- Milestones
- Portfolios
- Goals & OKRs
- Workflow automation
- Resource management
- Reporting dashboards
Only in GitHub Desktop
- Visual Git interface
- GitHub integration
- Branch management
- Pull request workflow
- Commit history
- Merge conflict resolution
- Repository cloning
- Collaboration tools
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Asana
- Project planning & trackingnot GitHub Desktop
- Campaign managementnot GitHub Desktop
- Product launchesnot GitHub Desktop
- Event planningnot GitHub Desktop
- Agile & Scrum managementnot GitHub Desktop
GitHub Desktop
- Git repository managementnot Asana
- Open source contributionsnot Asana
- Code collaborationnot Asana
- Version controlnot Asana
- Team developmentnot Asana
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Asana
- The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
- Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
- Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
- Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates
GitHub Desktop
- Available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
Pricing, plan by plan
Asana
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.
GitHub Desktop
Free- FreeFree
- Git repository management
- GitHub integration
- Visual diff tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Asana if
- You need multiple project views.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want task dependencies.
Choose GitHub Desktop if
- You need visual git interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos.
- You also want github integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Asana or GitHub Desktop better?
- Neither clearly leads. Asana starts at Free and GitHub Desktop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Asana or GitHub Desktop?
- Asana starts at Free and GitHub Desktop at Free.
- Does Asana or GitHub Desktop run on more platforms?
- Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android. GitHub Desktop runs on Windows, Macos.
- Can I use Asana for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Asana best used for?
- Asana is most often used for project planning & tracking, campaign management, product launches, event planning. Of those, project planning & tracking and campaign management are not what GitHub Desktop is typically brought in for.
- What can Asana do that GitHub Desktop cannot?
- Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios. GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, GitHub integration, Branch management, Pull request workflow.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Asana: Does Asana have a free tier?
Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.
SourceAsana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?
Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.
SourceAsana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?
Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.
Source