# Fork vs Atlassian SourceTree Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Fork is the top pick for most Mac users looking at git clients. It is free and installs in one Homebrew command. Atlassian SourceTree is the stronger choice if you are moving off Tower. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask fork and brew install --cask sourcetree. For most Mac users in 2026, Fork is the better choice for git clients because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#24). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Atlassian SourceTree instead if you are moving off Tower. ## Head to head | Factor | Fork | Atlassian SourceTree | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Open Source | No | No | | Replaces | — | Tower ($69/year) | | Best for | git, gui, version-control | git, version control, repository | | Install | brew install --cask fork | brew install --cask sourcetree | | Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Fork Fast and friendly git client for Mac Install: `brew install --cask fork` [Fork on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/fork) ## Atlassian SourceTree Graphical client for Git version control Install: `brew install --cask sourcetree` [Atlassian SourceTree on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/sourcetree) ## Features - **Everyday Git UX.** Fork is the nicer daily driver. - **Interactive rebase and history editing.** Fork edges history rewriting ergonomics. - **Merge conflict resolution.** Fork wins conflict UX. - **Price.** SourceTree wins cash cost. - **Bitbucket and Atlassian ecosystem.** SourceTree fits Atlassian shops slightly better. - **Advanced Git features.** Both capable; Fork feels more refined for Git-centric power use. - **Performance on large repos.** Fork’s performance reputation holds. ## FAQ ### Is SourceTree still free in 2026? Yes. Atlassian still distributes SourceTree as a free Git client for Mac and Windows. ### How much does Fork cost? $59.99 one-time according to git-fork.com, with a free evaluation period before purchase. ### Which is better for Mac developers? Fork for most people who want a polished daily GUI. SourceTree if you refuse to pay. ### Does Fork require a subscription? No. The standard licence is a one-time purchase, not a monthly seat. ### Can both handle Git LFS? Yes. Both advertise Git LFS support for large assets. ### Is SourceTree abandoned? No. It still ships versioned Mac and Windows builds. Feature velocity is simply less celebrated than independent clients. ### Does Fork replace the terminal? For many workflows yes, but complex scripting and hooks still benefit from command-line Git knowledge. ### Which is better with Bitbucket? SourceTree integrates naturally into Atlassian onboarding docs. Fork works fine with Bitbucket remotes too. ### Did the verdict flip since May 2026? No. Fork remains the quality winner; SourceTree remains the free winner. ### Is there a trial for Fork? Yes. Fork offers free evaluation so you can test on real repositories before paying $59.99. ### What browser evaluation step 1 matters on Mac in 2026? Set up a throwaway profile for the test so you do not pollute your daily data. Import bookmarks and passwords into temporary Firefox and Chrome profiles, leave your main browsing alone, and confirm logins still work before you compare. Use a fresh clone for the test, so local config does not hide a missing auth step. ### What browser evaluation step 2 matters on Mac in 2026? Add only the extensions you truly rely on. Install your password manager and one blocker, check whether Git hosting or docs sites need extra permissions, and note any add-on that behaves differently between Firefox and Chrome. Check the same repo in both apps, the graph should tell the same story. ### What browser evaluation step 3 matters on Mac in 2026? Browse your real top twenty sites, GitHub, GitLab, docs, email and issue trackers, and keep them open for an hour. Watch whether a Chromium-only enterprise portal blocks you in Firefox. Open your daily standup repo, the one with the most branches is the honest test. ### What browser evaluation step 4 matters on Mac in 2026? Watch power on the MacBook you use for Git work. Edit code with browser docs open for a work block unplugged, check Energy Impact in Activity Monitor, and see which browser leaves more battery for the compile. Watch Activity Monitor while the GUI indexes, heavy repos expose the difference fast. ### What browser evaluation step 5 matters on Mac in 2026? Compare tracker blocking with defaults. Load three ad-heavy pages, note how each browser’s protection handles them, and decide whether strict blocking breaks any work tool you must keep. Try the comparison on a site with strict tracking, work tools sometimes need an exception. ### What browser evaluation step 6 matters on Mac in 2026? Confirm update cadence. Check that auto-update is enabled in both browsers, note Chrome’s roughly monthly channel and Firefox’s track, and make sure a macOS Tahoe point release will not stall patches. After a macOS update, confirm both browsers still launch, then get back to Git. ### What browser evaluation step 7 matters on Mac in 2026? Verify you can turn AI features off if you want. Hide Gemini in Chrome and optional AI in Firefox, then confirm your browsing stays quiet during focused Git work. Keep AI panels disabled during code review, you want the changes, not a summary. ### What browser evaluation step 8 matters on Mac in 2026? Push tab load. Open forty tabs with a couple of heavy web apps, compare memory per tab and session restore speed, and note which browser feels lighter when you context switch between code and docs. Session restore is less relevant for Git, but browser memory still competes with your IDE. ### What browser evaluation step 9 matters on Mac in 2026? Test sync and keep a fallback. Verify bookmark and password sync reaches your phone, then leave both browsers installed for a week so a single site bug does not force a hard switch. Keep both browsers after the Git test, you will still browse while you commit. ## Sources - [Fork, fast and friendly git client](https://git-fork.com/) - [SourceTree free Git client](https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/) - [Best Git client guide mentioning Fork and SourceTree](https://www.git-tower.com/blog/best-git-client) - [Fork purchase / pricing page](https://git-fork.com/buy) - [Atlassian Git tutorials ecosystem](https://www.atlassian.com/git) - [Learn Bitbucket with SourceTree tutorial](https://confluence.atlassian.com/bitbucket/tutorial-learn-bitbucket-with-sourcetree-760120235.html) ## Related - [Sublime Merge vs Fork](https://bundl.run/compare/sublime-merge-vs-fork) - [GitKraken vs Fork](https://bundl.run/compare/gitkraken-vs-fork) - [GitKraken vs Atlassian SourceTree](https://bundl.run/compare/gitkraken-vs-sourcetree) - [GitHub Desktop vs Atlassian SourceTree](https://bundl.run/compare/github-desktop-vs-sourcetree) ```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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Use a fresh clone for the test, so local config does not hide a missing auth step." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 2 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Add only the extensions you truly rely on. Install your password manager and one blocker, check whether Git hosting or docs sites need extra permissions, and note any add-on that behaves differently between Firefox and Chrome. Check the same repo in both apps, the graph should tell the same story." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 3 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Browse your real top twenty sites, GitHub, GitLab, docs, email and issue trackers, and keep them open for an hour. Watch whether a Chromium-only enterprise portal blocks you in Firefox. Open your daily standup repo, the one with the most branches is the honest test." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 4 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Watch power on the MacBook you use for Git work. Edit code with browser docs open for a work block unplugged, check Energy Impact in Activity Monitor, and see which browser leaves more battery for the compile. Watch Activity Monitor while the GUI indexes, heavy repos expose the difference fast." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 5 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Compare tracker blocking with defaults. Load three ad-heavy pages, note how each browser’s protection handles them, and decide whether strict blocking breaks any work tool you must keep. Try the comparison on a site with strict tracking, work tools sometimes need an exception." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 6 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Confirm update cadence. Check that auto-update is enabled in both browsers, note Chrome’s roughly monthly channel and Firefox’s track, and make sure a macOS Tahoe point release will not stall patches. After a macOS update, confirm both browsers still launch, then get back to Git." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 7 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Verify you can turn AI features off if you want. Hide Gemini in Chrome and optional AI in Firefox, then confirm your browsing stays quiet during focused Git work. Keep AI panels disabled during code review, you want the changes, not a summary." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 8 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Push tab load. Open forty tabs with a couple of heavy web apps, compare memory per tab and session restore speed, and note which browser feels lighter when you context switch between code and docs. Session restore is less relevant for Git, but browser memory still competes with your IDE." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What browser evaluation step 9 matters on Mac in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Test sync and keep a fallback. Verify bookmark and password sync reaches your phone, then leave both browsers installed for a week so a single site bug does not force a hard switch. Keep both browsers after the Git test, you will still browse while you commit." } } ], "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/fork-vs-sourcetree" } } ] } ```