Best Tower alternatives in 2026

Looking for an alternative to Tower? Whether you've outgrown it, find the pricing steep, or just want to weigh your options, these are the strongest version control & git hosting alternatives in 2026 — ranked on pricing, features, and who each one fits best. Tower itself starts at from $69/user/yr, so we've flagged where each option is cheaper, simpler, or more specialized.

1
GitHub
Best for: developers
Where the world builds software. A popular version control alternative to Tower with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $4/user/mo. Particularly strong for developers.
4.7Free – $4/user/moVisit
2
Lazygit
Best for: developers
If Tower feels like overkill or over-budget, Lazygit is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Simple terminal UI for Git commands. Pricing: free.
4.7FreeVisit
3
Gitea
Best for: self-hosters
Gitea goes head-to-head with Tower on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Lightweight self-hosted Git. Best suited to self-hosters. Free – $3/user/mo.
4.6Free – $3/user/moVisit
4
Sublime Merge
Best for: developers
A well-rated version control pick. Fast Git client from the makers of Sublime Text. Sublime Merge starts at from $99 once, making it a credible Tower replacement.
4.6From $99 onceVisit
5
Graphite
Best for: developers
Stacked pull requests and AI code review. A popular version control alternative to Tower with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $29/user/mo. Particularly strong for developers.
4.5Free – $29/user/moVisit
6
GitKraken
Best for: developers
If Tower feels like overkill or over-budget, GitKraken is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Cross-platform Git GUI client. Pricing: free – $9.99/user/mo.
4.5Free – $9.99/user/moVisit
7
Sourcetree
Best for: developers
Sourcetree goes head-to-head with Tower on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Free Git GUI for Mac and Windows. Best suited to developers. Free.
4.3FreeVisit
8
GitLab
Best for: enterprise
A well-rated version control pick. The complete DevSecOps platform. GitLab offers a free plan and starts at free – $29/user/mo, making it a credible Tower replacement.
4.5Free – $29/user/moVisit

Still considering Tower itself? Read our Tower review →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Tower alternative?

GitHub is our top-rated Tower alternative for 2026. Where the world builds software. Free – $4/user/mo.

Is there a free Tower alternative?

Yes — GitHub, Lazygit, Gitea all offer a free tier you can start on without a credit card.

Why switch from Tower?

Common reasons are price, a simpler feature set, better fit for a specific use case, or platform support. Each tool above notes where it has an edge over Tower.