Software · head to head
GitHub vs GitHub Desktop
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GitHub acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy; GitHub Desktop available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
- They diverge on capability: GitHub covers Git repositories, GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GitHub and GitHub Desktop actually diverge.
| Attribute | GitHub | GitHub Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile | Windows, Macos |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), 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
- Git repositories
- Pull requests
- Code review
- Issues & projects
- GitHub Actions CI/CD
- GitHub Pages
- Security scanning
- Dependency management
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.
GitHub
- Version control
- Code collaboration
- CI/CD pipelinesnot GitHub Desktop
- Project managementnot GitHub Desktop
- Documentation hostingnot GitHub Desktop
GitHub Desktop
- Git repository managementnot GitHub
- Open source contributionsnot GitHub
- Code collaboration
- Version control
- Team developmentnot GitHub
Both are used for version control, code collaboration, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GitHub
- Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy
- Primary focus on source control differs from purpose-built project management tools like Jira
- Pricing for enterprise features and private repositories adds up compared to some self-hosted alternatives
GitHub Desktop
- Available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
Pricing, plan by plan
GitHub
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited public/private repos
- 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 500MB package storage
- Team$4/month
- Everything in Free
- 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 2GB package storage
- Enterprise$21/month
- Everything in Team
- 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 50GB package storage
GitHub Desktop
Free- FreeFree
- Git repository management
- GitHub integration
- Visual diff tools
Which should you pick?
Choose GitHub if
- You need git repositories.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want pull requests.
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 GitHub or GitHub Desktop better?
- Neither clearly leads. GitHub 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, GitHub or GitHub Desktop?
- GitHub starts at Free and GitHub Desktop at Free.
- Does GitHub or GitHub Desktop run on more platforms?
- GitHub runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. GitHub Desktop runs on Windows, Macos.
- Can I use GitHub for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GitHub best used for?
- GitHub is most often used for version control, code collaboration, ci/cd pipelines, project management. Of those, ci/cd pipelines and project management are not what GitHub Desktop is typically brought in for.
- What can GitHub do that GitHub Desktop cannot?
- GitHub covers Git repositories, Pull requests, Code review, Issues & projects. GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, GitHub integration, Branch management, Pull request workflow.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GitHub: What is a Git repository and how does GitHub use it?
A repository is the centralized database that stores the complete collection of files and folders for a codebase, along with the revision history. GitHub uses Git to provide distributed version control access to repositories with version tracking, branching, and collaboration features.
SourceGitHub: How does GitHub authentication work?
When you connect to a GitHub repository from Git, you need to authenticate with GitHub using either HTTPS or SSH. GitHub supports multiple authentication methods including passwords, personal access tokens, SSH keys, and GitHub Apps.
SourceGitHub: How long has GitHub been operating?
GitHub was founded in 2008 and launched publicly on April 10, 2008, making it the dominant git hosting platform for nearly two decades.
SourceGitHub: Who owns GitHub and when did the acquisition occur?
Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion USD, with the deal announced June 4, 2018 and completed October 26, 2018. GitHub operates as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft.
Source