Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AWS Cloud9 VS Tower

Compare AWS Cloud9 VS Tower and see what are their differences

AWS Cloud9 logo AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser.

Tower logo Tower

Build Better Software. Over 100,000 developers and designers are more productive with Tower - the most powerful Git client for Mac and Windows.
  • AWS Cloud9 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23
  • Tower
    Image date //
    2026-07-03
  • Tower Tower commit history
    Tower commit history //
    2026-07-03
  • Tower Tower pull requests management
    Tower pull requests management //
    2026-07-03
  • Tower Tower automatic branch management
    Tower automatic branch management //
    2026-07-03
  • Tower Tower stacked branches
    Tower stacked branches //
    2026-07-03

Recent releases have added some genuinely useful features. AI Commits let you generate commit messages and descriptions with one click, right from the commit area โ€” handy for when writing a good commit message is the last thing you feel like doing. Automatic Branch Archiving takes care of housekeeping by detecting stale or fully merged branches and archiving them for you, so your sidebar doesn't fill up with clutter over time.

For teams with their own conventions, Custom Git Workflows let you define a branching model from scratch โ€” trunk/topic branches, prefixes, merge strategies โ€” or start from templates like git-flow or GitHub Flow, with one-click "Start/Finish Feature" actions to guide you through it. Tower also has Graphite Integration built in, covering stack creation, restacking, PR submission, and merge queue support without leaving the app.

Two more additions support more advanced setups: Worktree Support, for checking out and working on multiple branches at once, and Stacked Branches, which track parent-child relationships between branches so you can work with stacked pull requests and restack a whole chain with a single action.

Rounding things out, Commit Templates let teams reuse commit message formats across a repository, with quick keyboard access when you need one.

AWS Cloud9

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-

Tower

$ Details
paid Free Trial โ‚ฌ59.0 / Annually
Platforms
Windows MacOS Mac

AWS Cloud9 features and specs

  • Integrated Development Environment
    AWS Cloud9 provides a set of tools for coding, running, and debugging applications, making the development process more efficient.
  • Collaboration
    Real-time collaboration features enable multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously, making teamwork easier.
  • Preconfigured Workspaces
    Preconfigured environments speed up the setup process, allowing developers to start coding immediately without worrying about configuration.
  • Serverless Development
    Supports serverless apps and provides seamless integration with AWS Lambda, helping developers build modern applications.
  • Remote Development
    Enables development from any location without the need for a powerful local machine, as the IDE runs in the cloud.
  • Cost Management
    Cloud9 uses pay-as-you-go pricing, potentially reducing costs compared to maintaining and upgrading local development environments.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Cloud9

  • Internet Dependency
    Requires an internet connection to access, which can be a limitation in areas with unstable or no internet access.
  • Resource Limitations
    Dependent on the allocated AWS resources, which may require scaling and can incur additional costs for high usage.
  • Latency Issues
    Potential latency issues could affect productivity, particularly when used over slower internet connections.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with cloud-based IDEs or the AWS ecosystem may require time to learn how to effectively use Cloud9.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Being tightly integrated with AWS services, it may contribute to vendor lock-in, making it harder to switch to other cloud providers.
  • Cost Management Complexity
    The pay-as-you-go model can lead to unexpected costs if resource usage is not closely monitored and managed.

Tower features and specs

  • Advanced Git Features
    It supports advanced Git features like submodules, interactive rebase, and stashing, which makes it powerful for experienced developers.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Tower is available for both macOS and Windows, providing a consistent experience across major operating systems.
  • Integration with Popular Services
    It integrates seamlessly with popular services like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and others, enhancing workflow automation.
  • AI Commits
    Generate commit messages and descriptions using AI with a single click, right from the commit area
  • Automatic branch management
    Tower can automatically archive stale and fully merged branches, or let you do it manually with drag-and-drop. Branches are automatically labeled as "Fully Merged" or "Stale" with one-click deletion hints in the sidebar
  • Custom Git Workflows
    Define your own branching workflows from scratch: set trunk/base/topic branches, prefixes, merge strategies, and more
  • Start/Finish Feature Flow
    One-click "Start Feature" and "Finish Feature" actions guided by the configured workflow
  • Worktree Support
    Create, check out, and manage Git worktrees directly from Tower's sidebar, allowing multiple branches checked out simultaneously
  • Stacked Branches
    Tower tracks parent-child relationships between branches, enabling the Stacked Pull Requests workflow

Analysis of AWS Cloud9

Overall verdict

  • AWS Cloud9 is generally considered a good option for developers, especially those working within the AWS ecosystem. Its cloud-based nature allows for easy access from anywhere, and the environment simplifies the process of scaling applications. However, for developers not working with AWS services, or those who prefer offline development, it might not be the ideal choice.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that is particularly beneficial for developers who need a robust and flexible environment. It offers seamless integration with AWS services, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy applications in the cloud. Cloud9 supports a wide array of programming languages, provides tools for real-time collaboration, and includes features like code hinting, debugging, and the ability to work on serverless applications.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently use AWS services
  • Teams that require real-time collaboration on code
  • Developers who need a browser-based IDE
  • Those looking to leverage the power of serverless computing within AWS

Analysis of Tower

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Tower is highly regarded for its comprehensive set of features and ease of use. It effectively balances functionality with simplicity, making it a valuable tool for anyone who regularly works with Git.

Why this product is good

  • Tower (git-tower.com) is considered good because it provides a powerful yet user-friendly interface for managing Git repositories. It supports advanced Git features and workflows, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers. Tower offers visual conflict resolution, pull requests management, and integrations with popular services like GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab. Its cross-platform availability on macOS and Windows also broadens its usability.

Recommended for

    Tower is recommended for software developers and teams who need a robust and efficient graphical interface for Git. It's particularly useful for those who prefer a visual alternative to command-line Git management, as well as for development teams looking for a collaborative environment that integrates well with other tools in their workflow.

AWS Cloud9 videos

Introducing AWS Cloud9 - AWS Online Tech Talks

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to AWS Cloud9

Tower videos

Get Started with Tower in 3 Minutes

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Cloud9 and Tower)
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Git
0 0%
100% 100
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
Code Collaboration
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using AWS Cloud9 and Tower. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AWS Cloud9 and Tower

AWS Cloud9 Reviews

8 Best Replit Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid) - Software Discover
AWS cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (Ide) That lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. AWS cloud9 amazon web services.
Top 10 Visual Studio Alternatives
AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based coordinated advancement system. It is a server that allows the users to type, initiate or operate and repair the code by only using the browser. It contains an editor program for code, error-removing system, and endpoint. Cloud9 has all the important tools for general programming languages, that includes,
12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
There are no additional charges for using Cloud9. You can connect Cloud9 to an existing/new AWS compute instance, and you pay only for that instance. Itโ€™s also possible to connect to a third-party server over SSH โ€” for exactly no fee! ๐Ÿ™‚
Source: geekflare.com
Ruby IDE: The 9 Best IDEs for Ruby on Rails Development
Here we are talking about a different animal all together โ€“ Cloud9. Cloud9 offers development environment for almost all programming languages including Ruby. Cloud9 is fast becoming popular among medium to large enterprises and companies like Heroku, Soundcloud, Mailchimp and Mozilla etc. are already using Cloud9.
Source: noeticforce.com

Tower Reviews

Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
Tower Git Client helps you manage large development projects and is also ideal for projects that need scaling up. It is a premium git GUI client for Windows and macOS computers.
Source: geekflare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AWS Cloud9 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 39 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AWS Cloud9 mentions (39)

  • Serverless Data Processing on AWS : AWS Project
    AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. It includes a code editor, debugger, and terminal. Cloud9 comes pre-packaged with essential tools for popular programming languages and the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) pre-installed so you donโ€™t need to install files or configure your laptop for this workshop. Your Cloud9... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated
    AWS has Cloud9[1] though it's worth pointing out that it's not an exact a 1:1 and may require some elbow grease to use in the same manner[2]. 1. https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/ 2. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/architecture/field-notes-use-aws-cloud9-to-power-your-visual-studio-code-ide/ (2021). - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • How does working with files through AWS work, do you save them onto the AWS console?
    If you just want to run an IDE for Python in the cloud, take a look at AWS Cloud9 (that would cost something however). You could get your code into AWS and sync your local changes using a source code repository, e.g. On GitHub or GitLab. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Best web-based IDEs?
    Not sure why you won't use replit but AWS has Cloud9 https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Taking my AWS CCP Exam today, any additional notes help, feel pretty good about the information Iโ€™ve reviewed, but please feel free to drop advice or notes.
    As I mentioned in a previous post, cloud9 was not in the course I was studying from, and not in the practice exams I solved. It came in my exam. Https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Tower mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Tower yet. Tracking of Tower recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Cloud9 and Tower, you can also consider the following products

Codeanywhere - Codeanywhere is a complete toolset for web development. Enabling you to edit, collaborate and run your projects from any device.

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

Koding - A new way for developers to work.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

Follett Destiny Library Manager - Follett Destiny Library Manager is a complete library management system that can be accessed from anywhere.

GitHub Desktop - GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.