Git Extensions

Free plan ExtensionWindows

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What Git Extensions is

Git Extensions is a free standalone interface for managing Git repositories on Windows. Its commit log lays out repository history as a graph and highlights commits that belong to the current revision. File history follows changes across renames and moves, while the Blame view identifies the last editor of a particular part of a file and links to the relevant commit. A bundled GitHub plugin supports cloning and forking repositories, viewing and creating pull requests, and adding an upstream remote. Other bundled plugins cover submodules, branch tracking, obsolete branches, large files, periodic fetching, proxy settings, release notes, and repository statistics. The toolkit also supports interactive rebase and includes a conflict editor. Users can choose a Windows installer or a portable ZIP package; the portable version omits some capabilities, including Windows Explorer integration. Git must be installed before Git Extensions can run, and the Windows installer requires Git for Windows. Version 7.2.1 requires the .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime or a later 10.x version, and recommends Git 2.53.0 or later. The source repository uses the GNU General Public License version 3.

Who it suits

Git Extensions suits Windows users who want a visual toolkit for working with Git repositories. Its history views, GitHub plugin, and repository plugins support users who need to inspect changes, manage branches, or work with pull requests.

What it does well

Free plan costs nothing.
Commit history appears as a graph with current-revision commits highlighted.
File history follows changes across renames and moves.
Blame links a file section to its last editor and related commit.
Bundled GitHub plugin supports pull requests and upstream remotes.
Includes interactive rebase and a conflict editor.

What to know first

Git must be installed separately before Git Extensions can start.
Portable ZIP omits some features, including Windows Explorer integration.
Version 7.2.1 requires the .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime or later 10.x.

Limits

The free plan is a standalone Git repository UI, and Git must be installed separately. The portable ZIP package omits some features, including Windows Explorer integration.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Git Extensions	Standalone Git repository UI · Git must be installed separately	Free

As gitextensions.github.io lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Install Git, or Git for Windows if using the Windows installer.
Install the .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime or a later 10.x version for release 7.2.1.
Download the Windows installer or portable ZIP package from the project website.
Install Git Extensions or run the portable package.
Optionally allow anonymous telemetry during installation.

Verdict

Choose Git Extensions if you want a free Windows interface with repository history views, GitHub features, and bundled tools for common Git tasks. Look elsewhere if you need to start without Git installed or require Windows Explorer integration from the portable package.

Questions

How much does Git Extensions cost?

The listed Git Extensions plan is free.

Which platforms does it support?

The listed platform is Windows. The project also provides a Visual Studio extension.

Does it support GitHub?

Yes. Its bundled GitHub plugin supports cloning or forking repositories, viewing and creating pull requests, and adding an upstream remote.

Is Git Extensions open source?

The source repository includes a GNU General Public License version 3 license.

What must I install first?

Git must be installed before Git Extensions can start. The Windows installer requires Git for Windows; version 7.2.1 also requires the .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime or a later 10.x version.

Can I use it without installing it?

A portable ZIP package is available, but it omits some features, including Windows Explorer integration.

Facts from Git Extensions's own pages

Blame: The Blame view identifies who last edited a specific part of a file and links to the related commit. · gitextensions.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
Commit history: Its commit log shows repository history in a graph that highlights commits included in the current revision. · gitextensions.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
Current runtime: The v7.2.1 release requires the .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime or later 10.x and recommends Git 2.53.0 or later. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Distribution: The project offers an installer and a portable ZIP package; some features, including Windows Explorer integration, are unavailable in the portable package. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
File history: It tracks file history across renames and moves automatically. · gitextensions.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · gitextensions.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
GitHub integration: The bundled GitHub plugin supports cloning or forking repositories, viewing and creating pull requests, and adding an upstream remote. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
Intended users: The product is presented as a toolkit for making Git work under Windows more intuitive. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
License and security: The source repository includes a GNU General Public License version 3 license, and the project says it receives free code signing from SignPath.io and a signing certificate from SignPath Foundation. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Other plugins: Bundled plugins include tools for submodules, tracking branches, obsolete branches, large files, periodic fetching, proxy settings, release notes, and repository statistics. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
Prerequisites: Git must be installed before Git Extensions can start, and the installation guide says the Windows installer requires Git for Windows. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Git Extensions is a standalone UI tool for managing Git repositories. · gitextensions.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
Support and community: The project provides an online manual, issue tracker, and Gitter chat, and says its active community has supported it since 2008. · gitextensions.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
Telemetry: The installer documentation says users can allow telemetry so the app can collect anonymous data to improve the application. · git-extensions-documentation.readthedocs.io, 4 Oct 2026
Windows integration: The project describes integration with Windows Explorer and provides a Visual Studio extension. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

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