Fork alternative with a Linux build
Fork is a fast native Git client for Mac and Windows with a one-time licence. BranchBay shares that philosophy and adds Linux, a Launchpad for every repository you own, work and personal profiles and a docked terminal.
No account. No card. No renewal. macOS, Windows and Linux.
Both are a one-time purchase. Only one covers 2 computers for $20.
No subscription on either side. A BranchBay licence covers 2 computers in any mix of macOS, Windows and Linux, and its updates never expire.
$20 once for 2 computers, updates forever
Pay once, per user
BranchBay and Fork compared
What each client is built with, what it costs and what it does in the app. Facts about the other client come from its own website and may change.
| Feature | BranchBay | Fork |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Pay once: $20 for 2 computers, no renewal | Pay once, per user |
| Platforms | Better: macOS, Windows, Linux | Worse: macOS, Windows |
| Built with | Rust, drawn on the GPU | Separate native Mac and Windows apps |
| Account to use it | None | Licence key |
| Private repositories | Included | Included |
| All repositories in one view | Better: Launchpad with groups | Worse: Repository manager |
| Work and personal profiles | Better: Yes, with their own accounts | Worse: No |
| Integrated terminal | Better: Yes, docked per repository | Worse: No |
| Interactive rebase | Yes, visual | Yes |
| Merge conflict resolver | Three-way, with automatic solving | Yes |
| Pull requests | Better: Created and listed in the app | Worse: Opens in the browser |
| Self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket | Yes, plus Azure DevOps | Yes |
The better side The worse side No colour: the same on both
Why developers pick BranchBay over Fork
The same app on Linux
One codebase for macOS, Windows and Linux, so the shortcuts, themes and features match on every machine you use.
Pull requests without the browser tab
Pick the branches, see the commit count, changed files and conflicts, then write the description and open the pull request from the app.
Profiles and the Launchpad
Keep work and personal identities, repositories and accounts apart, and see every repository in one place.
$20 for 2 computers
One licence covers your desktop and your laptop, in any mix of operating systems.
What Fork does that BranchBay does not
- GitHub notifications inside the app
- Image diffs
- A Windows app that has been around for years
If one of these is part of your day, keep Fork. The rest of the time, BranchBay is lighter on your machine and on your wallet.
Is BranchBay native like Fork?
Does BranchBay resolve merge conflicts in the app?
Can I try BranchBay before leaving Fork?
What does BranchBay cost?
Try it next to Fork.
Open the repositories you already have checked out. Nothing to sign up for, nothing to renew and nothing to uninstall until you are sure.