Commit+ vs GitButler
Virtual branches and multi-provider AI. Here is an honest look at how Commit+ and GitButler compare for macOS developers.
Commit+
Quick overview
GitButler, created by GitHub co-founder Scott Chacon, is one of the most opinionated clients available. Its signature feature is Virtual Branches (also called parallel branches), which lets you work on several branches at once from a single working directory.
It supports drag-and-drop rebasing, Undo, AI commit messages and branch names across OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, and local models via Ollama or LM Studio, plus a companion CLI called but. The cost is a steeper learning curve: it introduces its own synthetic branch and hooks, and its model differs enough from plain Git that it can take time to adjust.
Commit+ vs GitButler at a glance
| Feature | Commit+ | GitButler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (open source) | Free and open source |
| Platform | macOS | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Native app | Yes (Swift & SwiftUI) | No (Tauri-based) |
| Undo any action | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop | Yes (cherry-pick, merge, rebase) | Yes |
| Open source | Yes (AGPLv3) | Yes |
| In-app pull requests | Yes | Yes |
| Worktrees | Yes | No |
Where GitButler wins
- Virtual Branches for juggling multiple lines of work at once
- Multi-provider AI, including fully local models
- Companion but CLI for terminal workflows
- Free and open source with strong cross-platform support
- Drag-and-drop rebasing and Undo
Best for: Developers who like to juggle multiple lines of work simultaneously and want a genuinely different branching model with flexible AI.
Where Commit+ wins
- Classic Git model with no synthetic branches or injected hooks
- Native macOS performance (GitButler is Tauri-based)
- Native Git LFS and worktree support
- In-app pull request management across GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
- Shorter learning curve for developers who want standard Git
Best for: Developers who want a fast, native, free client that stays close to standard Git while still adding Undo and Drag & Drop.
Verdict
GitButler and Commit+ are both capable clients, but they aim at different priorities. GitButler is a strong choice if you need virtual branches for juggling multiple lines of work at once. If you work on a Mac and want the fastest path to Undo, Drag & Drop, Git Flow, and pull request management without paying, download Commit+ and give it a try on a real repository.
Frequently asked questions
Is GitButler or Commit+ better for standard Git workflows?+
Commit+ stays closer to standard Git. GitButler introduces Virtual Branches and its own synthetic branch and hooks, which is powerful but requires a different mental model.
Does Commit+ support parallel branches like GitButler?+
Commit+ uses native Git worktrees for parallel development instead of GitButler's Virtual Branches. Worktrees are a standard Git feature and set up no extra branches in your repository.
Are both clients free?+
Yes. Both Commit+ and GitButler are free and open source. Commit+ is licensed under AGPLv3 and is macOS-only.
Try Commit+ for free
A native Git client for macOS with Undo, Drag & Drop, Git Flow, and pull request management. Free and open source.
Download Commit+
