# Fork Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Fast and friendly git client for Mac Category: Developer Tools · Free · [Official website](https://fork.dev) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask fork` ## Quick take Fork remains the best native Git client for Mac developers who want speed without a subscription in August 2026. Visual interactive rebase is still the standout, backed by a strong conflict helper, LFS and image diffs, blame, reflog, and Custom Actions. The $59.99 one-time price (per platform) undercuts GitKraken and Tower over a multi-year horizon. Gaps are honest: limited PR review depth and no Linux. If those matter, keep a browser or GitKraken nearby, and still use Fork for local history work. Best for: Developers who want the fastest Git GUI on macOS, Anyone who does interactive rebase and wants it visual and safe, Teams working with Git LFS and binary assets, Developers who prefer a one-time purchase over subscriptions ## What is Fork? Fork is a native Git client for macOS and Windows built by Dan Pristupov and Tanya Pristupova. It gives you a visual interface for commits, branches, merges, rebases, conflict resolution, blame, and reflog recovery without the weight of Electron-based alternatives. The Mac app is written in Swift and Cocoa; the Windows build uses.NET/WPF. Both launch instantly and stay responsive on repositories with 100,000+ commits. Official download pages still advertise macOS 10.11+, though modern Apple Silicon builds are what most developers run on Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe. The feature that defines Fork is its visual interactive rebase. Where `git rebase -i` opens a text file of commit hashes, Fork shows commits as a timeline you can drag to reorder, drop to squash, or click to edit. The result is previewed before you apply it. Interactive rebase goes from a scary CLI ritual to something you do every day before pushing. Independent 2026 reviews still call this best-in-class among Mac Git GUIs. Fork's merge conflict helper shows theirs, yours, and the combined result. Non-conflicting sections are pre-resolved so you only decide on real conflicts. The diff viewer handles large changesets without lag; blame shows line-by-line authorship; reflog recovers lost commits. For Git LFS repos, Fork supports locking and unlocking plus image diffs (side-by-side, swipe, onion skin). Git-flow, GPG signing, GitHub notifications, Custom Actions, and a repository manager round out daily work. Pricing as of August 2026 remains a one-time $59.99 license per platform (Mac or Windows), one user, up to three machines. Free evaluation is unlimited with occasional purchase prompts. No subscription. MacUpdate listed Fork around version 2.69.0 (updated mid-July 2026); treat third-party version pages as a signal and confirm against git-fork.com when you need exact build notes. The honest take: Fork is still the fastest Git GUI most Mac developers will touch. It does not replace GitKraken's team dashboards or full in-app PR review workflows, and there is no Linux build. For individuals who want native speed and a paid-once license, Fork remains one of the best $60 tool purchases in the Mac developer stack. ## Features - **Visual Interactive Rebase.** Fork's interactive rebase turns `git rebase -i` into drag-and-drop history editing. See commits as a list, reorder them, squash by dropping one onto another, edit messages, or mark commits to drop. Fork previews the resulting history before applying, and if conflicts arise it pauses into the merge conflict helper. This is the feature most reviewers still cite as the reason they switched - and stayed. - **Native macOS Performance.** Fork is built with Swift/Cocoa on Mac (and.NET/WPF on Windows), not Electron. It launches in under a second, renders large diffs quickly, and scrolls long commit histories smoothly on ProMotion displays. Memory use stays modest compared with Electron clients such as GitKraken. On Apple Silicon, the difference is obvious for day-long Git sessions. - **Merge Conflict Helper.** When merges or rebases conflict, Fork shows incoming changes, your changes, and the merged result. Non-conflicting hunks resolve automatically so you focus on real collisions. Accept one side or edit the result manually. Complex both-modified conflicts stay readable instead of a wall of conflict markers. - **Git LFS and Image Diffs.** Fork supports Git LFS natively: lock files before editing, unlock when done, and track LFS-managed assets in the sidebar. Image diffs include side-by-side, swipe, and onion-skin modes - useful for design assets, game textures, and other binaries that belong in Git LFS rather than opaque blob reviews. - **Repository Manager, Blame, and Reflog.** Organize repos into folders, open multiple projects in tabs, and jump between workspaces of related services. Blame navigates from any line to the introducing commit. Reflog restores lost commits or accidentally deleted branches. Search covers commit messages, authors, and diff content without feeling slow on large histories. - **Custom Actions and Toolchain Hooks.** Add shell commands to the toolbar and context menus - lint, test, deploy, or project-specific scripts - without leaving Fork. Fork reads your.gitconfig, uses macOS Keychain SSH keys, supports GPG commit signing, git-flow helpers, and gentle GitHub notification badges. - **Hosting Integrations.** Authenticate against GitHub (including Enterprise), GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps via OAuth or personal access tokens. Branch context menus can open pull-request creation flows on those hosts, though deep PR review still usually happens in the browser or a heavier team client. ## How to Install Fork on Mac Fork installs via Homebrew or direct download from git-fork.com (fork.dev serves the same product). 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run: brew install --cask fork. This installs Fork to your Applications folder. 2. **Install CLI Tools.** Launch Fork, then go to Fork > Install Command Line Tools. This lets you open Fork from the terminal with `fork.` inside any directory. 3. **Configure Your Identity.** Fork reads your global.gitconfig. For work vs personal identities, set per-repo user.name and user.email in Fork's repository settings. ## Pros - Fastest class of Git GUI on macOS - native Swift/Cocoa, instant launch - Best-in-class visual interactive rebase for everyday history cleanup - Three-pane merge conflict helper with automatic non-conflict resolution - One-time $59.99 purchase per platform - no subscription - Git LFS, image diffs, blame, reflog, git-flow, GPG, and Custom Actions - Repository Manager with multi-repo tabs and GitHub notification badges - Generous unlimited evaluation before you buy - Actively maintained by Dan and Tanya Pristupov with public issue trackers ## Cons - No deep built-in pull request review - teams often stay on GitHub/GitLab web or GitKraken for PR workflows - No Linux version - macOS and Windows only - Closed-source; Mac and Windows licenses are purchased separately - Smaller integration surface than GitKraken's team dashboards - Focused two-person team - feature cadence is steady but not enterprise-scale ## Why Fork's interactive rebase changes daily Git habits How a visual rebase interface makes clean commit history practical instead of aspirational. ## FAQ ### Is Fork free? Fork offers an unlimited free evaluation with full functionality and occasional purchase prompts. A license is $59.99 one-time per platform. For daily professional use, buying removes prompts and funds ongoing development. ### How does Fork's interactive rebase compare to the command line? It is substantially easier. The CLI opens a text file of hashes; Fork shows a visual timeline where you drag to reorder, drop to squash, and click to edit messages. Results preview before apply, and conflicts open the merge helper. Many developers who avoided rebase now clean history before every push. ### Does Fork work with GitHub Enterprise and GitLab? Yes. Fork supports GitHub (including Enterprise), GitLab (SaaS and self-hosted), Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps with OAuth or personal access tokens. SSH keys with passphrases work through the macOS Keychain. ### Can I use Fork on multiple computers? Yes. The license is per user and per platform, covering up to three machines you personally use. Mac and Windows each need their own $59.99 license if you use both. ### How does Fork compare to GitHub Desktop? GitHub Desktop is simpler and free but weaker for interactive rebase, advanced conflict work, and large-repo feel. Fork is faster and deeper for daily Git power users; GitHub Desktop remains fine for occasional commits. ### Does Fork support Git Flow? Yes. Fork includes a git-flow helper for feature, release, and hotfix branches. It also works well for trunk-based workflows - the graph makes short-lived branches merging into main easy to read. ### What version of Fork is current in mid-2026? MacUpdate listed Fork around 2.69.0 with a mid-July 2026 update note (stash patch export, upstream warning icons, submodule icon fixes). Prefer git-fork.com or in-app About for the authoritative build on your machine. ### Can I run custom scripts from Fork? Yes. Custom Actions under Preferences let you attach shell commands to the toolbar and context menus for tests, linting, deploys, or any local script. ## Sources - [Fork - fast and friendly git client for Mac and Windows](https://git-fork.com/) - [Fork.dev product home](https://fork.dev/) - [Fork Review (2026): Pricing, Features & Honest Verdict](https://makerstack.co/reviews/fork-review/) - [GitKraken vs Fork vs Tower 2026](https://thesoftwarescout.com/gitkraken-vs-fork-vs-tower-2026-best-mac-git-gui/) - [Fork for Mac on MacUpdate](https://fork.macupdate.com/) - [fork-dev on GitHub](https://github.com/fork-dev) - [Fork blog - product updates](https://git-fork.com/blog) ## Related - [Cursor](https://bundl.run/apps/cursor) - [Claude Code](https://bundl.run/apps/claude-code) - [ChatGPT](https://bundl.run/apps/chatgpt) - [Claude](https://bundl.run/apps/claude) - [Codex](https://bundl.run/apps/codex) - [Windsurf](https://bundl.run/apps/windsurf) - [Fork vs Atlassian SourceTree](https://bundl.run/compare/fork-vs-sourcetree) - [Fork vs Sublime Merge](https://bundl.run/compare/sublime-merge-vs-fork) - [Fork vs GitKraken](https://bundl.run/compare/gitkraken-vs-fork) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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