Technology · head to head
GitHub Desktop vs Asana
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GitHub Desktop available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build; Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- They diverge on capability: GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, Asana covers Multiple project views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GitHub Desktop and Asana actually diverge.
| Attribute | GitHub Desktop | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos | Web, iOS, Android |
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 GitHub Desktop
- Visual Git interface
- GitHub integration
- Branch management
- Pull request workflow
- Commit history
- Merge conflict resolution
- Repository cloning
- Collaboration tools
Only in Asana
- Multiple project views
- Task dependencies
- Milestones
- Portfolios
- Goals & OKRs
- Workflow automation
- Resource management
- Reporting dashboards
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GitHub Desktop
- Git repository managementnot Asana
- Open source contributionsnot Asana
- Code collaborationnot Asana
- Version controlnot Asana
- Team developmentnot Asana
Asana
- Project planning & trackingnot GitHub Desktop
- Campaign managementnot GitHub Desktop
- Product launchesnot GitHub Desktop
- Event planningnot GitHub Desktop
- Agile & Scrum managementnot GitHub Desktop
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GitHub Desktop
- Available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
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
Pricing, plan by plan
GitHub Desktop
Free- FreeFree
- Git repository management
- GitHub integration
- Visual diff tools
Asana
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is GitHub Desktop or Asana better?
- Neither clearly leads. GitHub Desktop starts at Free and Asana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GitHub Desktop or Asana?
- GitHub Desktop starts at Free and Asana at Free.
- Does GitHub Desktop or Asana run on more platforms?
- GitHub Desktop runs on Windows, Macos. Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use GitHub Desktop for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GitHub Desktop best used for?
- GitHub Desktop is most often used for git repository management, open source contributions, code collaboration, version control. Of those, git repository management and open source contributions are not what Asana is typically brought in for.
- What can GitHub Desktop do that Asana cannot?
- GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, GitHub integration, Branch management, Pull request workflow. Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios.
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