SayDeploy Plain comparisons of developer tools, AI coding tools included

lazygit vs Tower in 2026

lazygit and Tower compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed, and what to check before you pick a git client.

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

lazygit is a simple terminal UI for git commands, free to install [1]. Tower runs on macOS and Windows [2]. It offers a free way to get started [2]. RepoYeti is a dashboard for many repos at once, free for noncommercial use and US$79 per installation for commercial use [3].

OptionFree to usePaid planAccountInstall
lazygitFree to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]No paid tier is stated in its sourcesIts sources do not state whether an account is neededBinary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1], or Homebrew [1]
TowerOffers a free way to get started [2]Price not published in its sources; a 30-day Pro trial without limitations [2]Its sources do not state whether an account is neededmacOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]
RepoYetiFree for noncommercial use [3]US$79 per installation for commercial use, a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates [3]Its claims do not state whether an account is neededSingle binary from GitHub Releases, or clone the repo and run it with Bun 1.1 or newer [3]

The short answer

lazygit is a simple terminal UI for git commands, free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1].

Tower runs on macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]. It offers a free way to get started [2].

RepoYeti's claims describe a dashboard that shows every repo under the folders you add [3], draws commit graphs [3] and lets you act on many repos at once [3].

On needs, lazygit's sources say its binary release can be downloaded for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. Tower's sources say it offers a free start [2]. RepoYeti's claims say it covers many repos from one dashboard [3].

What lazygit and Tower are built for

lazygit's own page calls it a simple terminal UI for git commands, free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1].

Homebrew can install it, and that works on Linux too [1]. To show which branches have a GitHub pull request, it needs the gh tool installed and gh auth login run once [1].

Tower's own page says it runs on macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]. It offers a free way to get started [2], and a 30-day Pro trial without limitations [2].

The sources here say little more about what either tool does, so this page says no more. Check each tool's own page for the rest.

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].

It shows diffs between HEAD and the working tree in the Monaco editor, side by side or inline, and lets you edit and save files [3]. Before you pull, it shows the incoming commits, the files they touch and any conflicts they would cause [3].

It lets you select many repos and pin, star, hide, remove, pull or push them all at once [3]. It applies a different commit name and email to each repo using path rules, and can pin a GitHub account to each repo for pushes [3].

It undoes or redoes the last git action such as a commit, pull or branch switch, and refuses a rebasing pull or a cherry-pick [3]. It 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

lazygit is free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. Its sources here state no paid tier.

Tower offers a free way to get started [2]. It also offers a 30-day Pro trial without limitations [2]. Its sources here do not state a dollar price for a paid tier, so that price is not published here.

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

Setting it up and daily use

lazygit is free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. It can also be installed with Homebrew [1]. Its sources here say nothing more about its setup or routine use.

Tower supports macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]. It offers a free way to get started [2]. Its sources here say nothing more about its setup or routine use.

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; you open the dashboard in any browser, including on Android or iPhone [3].

Day to day, the dashboard shows every repo under the folders you add, with branch, changed files and ahead/behind counts, and it updates when files change on disk [3]. You can select many repos and pull or push them all at once [3].

Things to check before you choose

Ask how many repos you need to watch at once. lazygit's sources describe a terminal UI for git commands [1]. RepoYeti's claims describe a dashboard that shows many repos under the folders you add [3]. The sources here say little about how Tower handles many repos, so check its own page.

Check your operating system. lazygit has binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. Tower supports macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]. RepoYeti has prebuilt binaries for Windows x64, Linux x64 and macOS on Apple Silicon [3].

Check cost and accounts. lazygit is free to install [1]. Tower offers a free way to get started [2]. RepoYeti is free for noncommercial use and US$79 per installation for commercial use [3]. The sources here do not say whether any of the three needs an account for core features, so check each one.

Check what data leaves your machine. The facts here do not cover lazygit's or Tower's data handling, so check their own pages. The approved claims for RepoYeti do not cover data collection, so check the project's own pages before you rely on it with private repos.

How to choose

If you want to download a git tool for Windows, Mac OS or Linux, lazygit's sources describe a binary release [1].

If you want a tool for macOS or Windows, Tower's sources say it runs there [2]. If you want a free way to start with it, its sources describe one [2].

If you want to manage many repos from one dashboard, with branch, changed files and ahead/behind counts that update when files change on disk, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3].

If you want a commit graph with lanes, merges and tags that loads in pages so large repos open quickly, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3].

If you want to select many repos and pull or push them all at once, RepoYeti's claims describe that [3].

If you want a free way to get started with Tower, its sources describe one [2]. If you only need RepoYeti for noncommercial work, it is free to use [3]. For commercial use, it costs US$79 per installation, meaning each machine that runs the daemon, as a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates [3].

Frequently asked questions

Is lazygit free to use?

lazygit is free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. lazygit's sources describe a free install [1]. Check its own pages for any future paid option, since the facts here do not cover one.

Is Tower free to use?

Tower offers a free way to get started [2]. It also offers a 30-day Pro trial without limitations [2]. Its sources here do not state a dollar price for a paid tier, so that price is not published here. It supports macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2].

How do you install lazygit and Tower?

lazygit is free to install from its binary releases for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux [1]. It can also be installed with Homebrew, which works on Linux as well [1]. Tower supports macOS and Windows, including x64 and ARM downloads [2]. Its sources here say nothing more about its setup or routine use.

Can lazygit or Tower work with AI assistants?

The facts here do not cover AI assistant access for lazygit or Tower, so check their own pages. RepoYeti 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]. Ask each tool's maker which AI features it offers before you rely on one.

Does RepoYeti send any data about the machine?

The approved claims for RepoYeti say nothing about data collection. 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 you use it under the free licence or a paid one [3].

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. lazygit, github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit, read 2026-10-20
  2. Tower, git-tower.com, read 2026-10-07
  3. RepoYeti's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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