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Atlassian SourceTree vs GitHub comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Atlassian SourceTree
Ranking in Version Control
6th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
8
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
GitHub
Ranking in Version Control
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
94
Ranking in other categories
Application Security Tools (7th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Version Control category, the mindshare of Atlassian SourceTree is 6.2%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub is 6.9%, up from 6.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Version Control
 

Featured Reviews

PrinceKumar1 - PeerSpot reviewer
Utilize Agile methodologies with efficient project management, yet seek improvements in resolving merge conflicts
SourceTree is one of the best tools from a UI perspective. However, I would prefer if SourceTree could address merge conflicts more easily. Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, providing a comprehensive tool for both development and code management, is favored because it can serve as both a development tool and a client for pushing or pulling code, resolving conflicts efficiently. It would be beneficial if SourceTree could offer similar integrated functionalities.
Pervez Roy - PeerSpot reviewer
Very good for collaboration on software projects
We use GitHub for code repository alongside Bitbucket GitHub is very good for collaboration on software projects. We prefer Bitbucket for commercial use, while GitHub is used for open source. You can get the differences, history of changes, and version control for various pull requests. You can…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Atlassian SourceTree is a very stable product."
"The tool's UI is good."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to fix a broken repository merge."
"The solution's initial setup process is straightforward."
"For me, the branches ' graph was the most valuable feature of Atlassian SourceTree. I often used the terminal, but during a demo, my boss preferred I not switch to the terminal view. SourceTree's graphical interface for managing branches was handy for that. The demo involved making changes, committing them, pushing to the CI/CD tool, running the pipeline, and seeing the integration, all within about twenty minutes."
"The interface is very good and is easy to use. It tells you when you've committed, when you've uploaded, and gives you the differences."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"It has a lot of features from the code development perspective. You get a lot of features such as repo, commit, merge, and branch. You can play around and do things on the fly. It is easy and simple to deploy. It is also easier to use when working from home."
"GitHub's merging feature is much better than that of other products because merging is done daily."
"The flexibility of this solution has been most valuable. It operates on a pay per use basis where you can ramp up or decrease usage."
"The solution has been stable for us."
"This product is very good for storing and versioning code."
"The most important feature of GitHub is the maintainability of the versions of the code."
"The Projects Tab, which shows you the todo list and the progress for projects, is very helpful."
"I'm able to access any repository that I like, whether it's public or private."
 

Cons

"People think that Visual Studio Code is more intuitive and can serve dual purposes for development and as a client to push or pull code."
"For everyday use, I am more comfortable using the command line interface, rather than using SourceTree."
"The product's UI needs improvement."
"I have had a food experience with Atlassian SourceTree but it might not be for everyone."
"Its interface could be easy to understand for a programmer."
"The visuals, including the UI and UX, have simple fonts, making it an area where certain enhancements can be done."
"There is nothing that I find that needs improvement in GitHub."
"Our firewall was blocking cloning and downloading with SSH."
"Specifically, I want the solution to offer AI-based merging support, as it is the only area where the product has certain shortcomings."
"The only thing I see missing in GitHub is that it isn't very user friendly for key personnel who don't have in-depth, technical knowledge. In Jira, there are many functions to upload our test cases, and in GitHub we can only do it manually. There are functions which can be used to upload different files, but that still requires some technical knowledge. A layman cannot do it."
"The merging features can be improved."
"Lacks sufficient support in terms of professional services that could be provided."
"I think it would be valuable to have more security. Some of the data is very open to everyone."
"I cannot recall coming across any shortcomings of the product."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is a fee for using SourceTree."
"Atlassian SourceTree is a free solution."
"I do not recall the exact pricing details for SourceTree, but generally, Atlassian products are affordable, and SourceTree typically comes as part of a suite."
"The basic licensing model is free, and if you need to have technical support and such things, then it does cost something. You only need to pay extra if you need technical support."
"If I consider the market standards, the product's price is pocket-friendly."
"We have an enterprise licensing agreement, and I am not part of the finance department so I can't say how much it costs."
"I think, in terms of price, GitHub is okay compared to other tools."
"The price of this solution is reasonable."
"GitHub is an open-source product, but when using the free-to-use version, anyone can see the code we're working on."
"The licensing model from GitHub is very clear."
"I use the free version of GitHub."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
17%
Manufacturing Company
15%
Computer Software Company
15%
University
7%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Atlassian SourceTree?
Both SourceTree and primary alternatives like Visual Studio Code are open-source, so there are no costs involved.
What needs improvement with Atlassian SourceTree?
SourceTree is one of the best tools from a UI perspective. However, I would prefer if SourceTree could address merge conflicts more easily. Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, providing a comprehe...
What do you like most about GitHub?
The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub?
I am not aware about the pricing, so I will not be able to give feedback.
What needs improvement with GitHub?
Sometimes we do not get the exact solution, and the suggested solution does not work, so GitHub could improve in that area. We have used GitHub mainly for the code generation part. That is the only...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Facebook, NASA, Cisco, eBay, Redfin, Toyota, Kaiser Permanente, Gilt, CSIRO, Autodesk, The Daily Telegraph, CODE, Illumnia,
Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent
Find out what your peers are saying about Atlassian SourceTree vs. GitHub and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
861,390 professionals have used our research since 2012.