SayDeploy Plain comparisons of developer tools, AI coding tools included

Fork vs SmartGit in 2026

Fork and SmartGit compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed and what to check before you pick one for managing Git repositories.

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SayDeploy is published by LunarWerx, which makes some of the tools compared here.

Fork is a Git client for Mac and Windows that costs $59.99 with a free evaluation [1]. SmartGit is a Git client that works on Windows, macOS and Linux [2]. Fork provides a merge-conflict resolver [1], visual interactive rebase [1], image diffs [1], a diff viewer [1], history view [1] and blame view [1]. SmartGit provides conflict resolution and pull requests [2], plus Git Flow, Git LFS and cherry-pick [2]. RepoYeti is free for noncommercial use [3] and shows a live grid of every repo you add with branch, changed-file counts and ahead/behind status [3].

OptionPlatformPriceFree evaluationNotable features from sources
ForkMac and Windows [1]$59.99 [1]Yes, free evaluation [1]Merge-conflict resolver [1], visual interactive rebase [1], image diffs [1], blame view [1]
SmartGitWindows, macOS and Linux [2]Not published [2]Not published [2]Conflict resolution, pull requests [2], Git Flow, Git LFS, cherry-pick [2]
RepoYetiWindows x64, Linux x64, macOS Apple Silicon; dashboard in any browser [3]Free for noncommercial use; US$79 per installation for commercial use [3]Free for noncommercial use [3]Live repo grid [3], paged commit graph [3], Monaco diffs [3], pull preview [3], AI commit splitting [3], bulk actions [3]

The short answer

Fork is a fast and friendly Git client for Mac and Windows [1]. SmartGit is a visual Git client [2] that works on the desktop [2]. RepoYeti shows a live grid of every repo under the folders you add, with branch, changed-file counts and ahead/behind status for each one [3].

Fork's sources describe Git operations such as fetching, pulling, pushing, committing, branching, merging, rebasing and more [1], plus a merge-conflict resolver [1] and visual interactive rebase [1]. SmartGit's sources describe conflict resolution and pull requests [2], plus Git Flow and Git LFS [2]. RepoYeti's claims cover a live repo grid [3], a paged commit graph [3], diffs in the Monaco editor [3], a pull preview that shows incoming commits and conflicts [3], AI-assisted commit splitting [3] and bulk actions across many repos [3].

What Fork and SmartGit do

Fork's own page calls it a fast and friendly Git client for Mac and Windows [1]. It can create, clone or add existing repositories [1], and it supports fetching, pulling, pushing, committing, amending, branching, tagging, cherry-picking, reverting, merging, rebasing, stashes and submodules [1].

Fork includes a merge-conflict helper and a built-in merge-conflict resolver [1]. It provides visual interactive rebase for editing, reordering and squashing commits [1]. Its Diff Viewer gives a clear view of source-code changes [1], and it can display diffs for common image formats [1]. Fork's history view finds all commits where a particular file or directory changed [1], and its blame view finds the last commit that changed a particular file line [1]. Fork also informs you about GitHub notifications without being annoying [1].

SmartGit's own page calls it a visual Git client [2] that works on the desktop [2]. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux [2]. You can open a local Git repo or clone from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps [2]. Its features include conflict resolution, a customizable visual history, drag and drop, undo and pull requests [2]. It also supports Git Flow, Git LFS and cherry-pick [2].

What RepoYeti is built for

RepoYeti is made by the team that publishes this site.

It shows the branch, number of changed files and ahead/behind count for every repo under the folders you add, and updates when files change on disk [3]. It draws a commit graph with lanes, merges and tags, and loads it in pages so large repos open quickly [3]. Diffs between HEAD and the working tree appear in the Monaco editor, the editor used in VS Code, side by side or inline, and you can edit and save files from there [3].

Before you pull, RepoYeti shows the incoming commits, the files they touch and any conflicts they would cause [3]. It uses your own API key for Groq, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter or DeepSeek to split working-tree changes into scoped commits with messages, which you approve, edit or discard [3]. You can select many repos and pin, star, hide, remove, pull or push them all at once [3]. A different commit name and email can be applied to each repo using path rules, and a GitHub account can be pinned to each repo for pushes [3]. Running `repoyeti undo|redo` undoes or redoes the last git action such as a commit, pull or branch switch, and it refuses a rebasing pull or a cherry-pick [3]. Running `repoyeti mcp` gives AI agents access to your repos, and any action that changes a repo must be approved first by you or by a webhook you run [3].

Pricing and fees

Fork for Mac costs $59.99 with a free evaluation [1]. Fork for Windows costs $59.99 with a free evaluation [1]. The Fork sources here give a single price per platform and a free evaluation period, and do not state the length of that evaluation.

SmartGit's sources here do not state a price. Its page mentions Windows, macOS and Linux downloads but gives no dollar figure [2]. The SmartGit sources here do not publish a price, so it is not published here.

RepoYeti is free for noncommercial use, and commercial use costs US$79 per installation, which means per machine running the daemon, as a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates [3]. It is licensed under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0, a source-available license with a noncommercial restriction [3]. No features are locked or time-limited, whether used under the free licence or a paid one [3].

Setting it up and daily use

Fork for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.11 or later [1]. Fork for Windows requires Windows 7 or later [1]. Its page offers a download [1]. The Fork sources here say nothing more about setup or routine use beyond the features already listed.

SmartGit can be installed on Windows, macOS or Linux [2]. You can open a local Git repo or clone from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps [2]. The SmartGit sources here say nothing more about its setup or daily workflow.

RepoYeti is installed by downloading a single binary from GitHub Releases, or by cloning the repo and running it with Bun 1.1 or newer [3]. Prebuilt binaries are available for Windows x64, Linux x64 and macOS on Apple Silicon, and the dashboard opens in any browser, including on Android or iPhone [3]. You can open the dashboard on a phone away from the desk by scanning a QR code [3]. The dashboard can be added to a phone's home screen and keeps working after the phone wakes [3].

Things to check before you choose

Ask what operating system you need. Fork runs on Mac and Windows [1], SmartGit runs on Windows, macOS and Linux [2], and RepoYeti has prebuilt binaries for Windows x64, Linux x64 and macOS on Apple Silicon [3].

Check the price model. Fork costs $59.99 per platform with a free evaluation [1], SmartGit does not publish a price in the sources here [2], and RepoYeti is free for noncommercial use with a US$79 perpetual licence for commercial use [3].

Check where your repos live. SmartGit can clone from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps [2], and Fork mentions GitHub notifications [1]. Check each tool's own pages for hosting providers beyond those listed.

Check what data leaves your machine. RepoYeti's sources here do not mention telemetry. Check Fork and SmartGit's own pages for their data handling, since the facts here do not cover it.

How to choose

If you work on Mac or Windows and want a Git client with a visual interactive rebase, Fork's page describes that [1].

If you need a merge-conflict resolver built into the client, Fork's page describes one [1], and SmartGit's page describes conflict resolution [2].

If you need Linux support, SmartGit's page says it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux [2], and RepoYeti has a prebuilt Linux x64 binary [3].

If you want a live grid showing branch, changed-file counts and ahead/behind status for many repos at once, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3], and its bulk actions let you pull or push many repos at once [3].

If you want a pull preview that shows incoming commits and conflicts before you pull, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3].

If you want AI help splitting working-tree changes into scoped commits using your own API key, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3]. Check Fork and SmartGit's own pages for any AI features, since the facts here do not mention them.

If you want a free tool for noncommercial use, RepoYeti's claims say that [3], and no features are locked or time-limited under either licence [3].

Frequently asked questions

Is Fork free to use?

Fork costs $59.99 for Mac [1] and $59.99 for Windows [1], each with a free evaluation. The Fork sources here do not state how long the evaluation lasts or what happens when it ends, so check Fork's own pages for those details before relying on it.

Is SmartGit free to use?

SmartGit's sources here do not state a price. Its page says it is a visual Git client [2] and lists features such as conflict resolution and pull requests [2], but gives no dollar figure. Check SmartGit's own pages for current pricing before choosing it.

Is RepoYeti free to use?

RepoYeti is free for noncommercial use, and commercial use costs US$79 per installation, meaning per machine running the daemon, as a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates [3]. No features are locked or time-limited under either licence [3]. It is licensed under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0 [3].

Does Fork or SmartGit run on Linux?

SmartGit runs on Windows, macOS and Linux [2]. Fork runs on Mac and Windows, and its page does not mention Linux [1]. RepoYeti has prebuilt binaries for Windows x64, Linux x64 and macOS on Apple Silicon [3]. If Linux support matters, SmartGit and RepoYeti are the options whose sources name it.

Can any of these tools help with AI-assisted commits?

RepoYeti uses your own API key for Groq, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter or DeepSeek to split working-tree changes into scoped commits with messages you approve, edit or discard [3]. It also gives AI agents access to repos through `repoyeti mcp`, with approval required for any action that changes a repo [3]. The Fork and SmartGit sources here do not mention AI features, so check their own pages.

Free for noncommercial use; commercial use costs US$79 per installation (per machine running the daemon), a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates. [3]

Try RepoYeti

Sources

  1. Fork, git-fork.com, read 2026-10-07
  2. SmartGit, syntevo.com/smartgit, read 2026-10-09
  3. RepoYeti's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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