SmartGit alternative that is native, not Java
SmartGit is a long-standing cross-platform Git client built in Java. BranchBay covers the same three platforms with native Rust code drawn on the GPU, needs no registration for private use and is paid for once, with updates that do not stop after a year.
No account. No card. No renewal. macOS, Windows and Linux.
SmartGit bills you again next year. BranchBay never does.
A subscription stops working the day you stop paying. BranchBay is $20 once for 2 computers, with updates delivered inside the app and nothing to renew.
$20 once for 2 computers, updates forever
Subscription, or a perpetual licence whose updates stop after one to three years; free for non-commercial use with registration
BranchBay and SmartGit 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 | SmartGit |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Better: Pay once: $20 for 2 computers, no renewal | Worse: Subscription, or a perpetual licence whose updates stop after one to three years; free for non-commercial use with registration |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Built with | Better: Rust, drawn on the GPU | Worse: Java |
| Account to use it | Better: None | Worse: Registration for the free tiers, licence key otherwise |
| Private repositories | Included | Included |
| All repositories in one view | Launchpad with groups | Repository groups |
| 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 | Conflict Solver |
| Pull requests | Created and listed in the app | Yes |
| Self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket | Better: Yes, plus Azure DevOps | Worse: Paid licences |
The better side The worse side No colour: the same on both
Why developers pick BranchBay over SmartGit
Native, no runtime
No Java to bundle or update. BranchBay is a single native app that starts fast and draws on the GPU.
Updates included for good
$20 once for 2 computers, with every update delivered inside the app and no renewal when a year passes.
Made for many repositories
Launchpad, groups, profiles, the tray and per-repository IDE choices keep a long list of projects organized.
Self-hosted servers on every licence
GitHub Enterprise, self-hosted GitLab, Bitbucket Data Center and Azure DevOps are part of the one price.
What SmartGit does that BranchBay does not
- A free tier for hobby, education and open source use
- Git-flow, submodule and SVN tooling
- Two decades of configuration options
If one of these is part of your day, keep SmartGit. The rest of the time, BranchBay is lighter on your machine and on your wallet.
Does BranchBay need Java like SmartGit?
Does BranchBay stop updating after a year?
Can I try BranchBay before leaving SmartGit?
What does BranchBay cost?
Try it next to SmartGit.
Open the repositories you already have checked out. Nothing to sign up for, nothing to renew and nothing to uninstall until you are sure.