Software Alternatives & Startups

GitHub Desktop VS GitHub Enterprise

Compare GitHub Desktop VS GitHub Enterprise and see what are their differences

GitHub Desktop

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
GitHub Enterprise

The on-premises version of GitHub, which you can deploy and manage in your own, secure environment

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, GitHub Desktop seems to be a lot more popular than GitHub Enterprise. While we know about 136 links to GitHub Desktop, we've tracked only 11 mentions of GitHub Enterprise.

social mentions
136 vs 11
Git popularity
94% vs 6%
alternatives listed
218 vs 46

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GitHub Desktop
GitHub Enterprise
Website desktop.github.com github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GitHub Desktop 5 features
GitHub Enterprise 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    GitHub Desktop offers a clean, intuitive GUI that simplifies the Git process, making it accessible for beginners and less technical users.
  • Seamless GitHub Integration
    The application is tightly integrated with GitHub, allowing users to easily clone repositories, create branches, and submit pull requests directly through the desktop interface.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    GitHub Desktop is available on both Windows and macOS, offering a consistent experience across these major operating systems.
  • Simplifies Workflow
    Features like drag-and-drop to add files, visual diff tools, and easy branching help streamline the workflow for users.
  • Collaborative Features
    The app provides useful collaborative tools such as reviewing changes, creating requests, and viewing history, enhancing team productivity.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While GitHub Desktop is great for basic tasks, it lacks advanced features found in other Git clients like GitKraken or the command line.
  • Dependency on GitHub
    The app is deeply integrated with GitHub, which can be limiting for users who want to interact with repositories hosted on other platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues when dealing with large repositories or a significant number of files, which can hinder productivity.
  • Customization Limitations
    GitHub Desktop offers limited customization options compared to other Git clients or the command line, which may be a drawback for power users.
  • Offline Limitations
    Certain features of GitHub Desktop require an internet connection to interact with GitHub, limiting its usability in offline scenarios.
  • Scalability
    GitHub Enterprise can handle large teams and repositories, making it suitable for organizations with extensive development needs.
  • Enhanced Security
    Offers advanced security features such as mandatory 2FA, LDAP integration, and SAML single sign-on, providing enterprises with greater control and protection of their codebases.
  • Dedicated Support
    Provides access to GitHub's dedicated support team, offering quicker and more specialized assistance than what is available in the free or lower-tier plans.
  • Compliance and Auditing
    Includes features that aid in compliance with industry standards and auditing capabilities, which are essential for enterprises needing to meet regulatory requirements.
  • On-Premises Deployment
    Allows for on-premises deployment, which is ideal for companies with strict data residency requirements or those that need to integrate tightly with their existing infrastructure.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    GitHub Enterprise is significantly more expensive than GitHub's other offerings, which might be a barrier for startups or smaller businesses.
  • Complex Setup
    The on-premises version of GitHub Enterprise can have a more complex setup and maintenance process, requiring dedicated IT resources.
  • Overhead
    Enterprises might encounter administrative overhead when managing large teams, including configuring and maintaining various integrations and security settings.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with GitHub may face a learning curve, particularly when navigating the more advanced features of the Enterprise version.
  • Dependency on Network Infrastructure
    The performance and reliability of an on-premises GitHub Enterprise deployment can be affected by the company’s network infrastructure, necessitating reliable hardware and connectivity.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GitHub Desktop 3 videos + Add
GitHub Enterprise 3 videos + Add

GitHub Desktop 2.0 -- Easy Mode Version Control

More videos

  • - GitHub Desktop Quick Intro For Windows
  • - Git and GitHub for Beginners: GitHub basics, and how to use GitHub Desktop

A look at the new GitHub Enterprise

More videos

  • - Bring innovation to work with GitHub Enterprise
  • - Running GitHub Enterprise at scale in your organization - GitHub Satellite 2019

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GitHub Desktop
GitHub Enterprise
94% 94%
Git
6% 6%
91% 91%
9% 9%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using GitHub Desktop and GitHub Enterprise. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

GitHub Desktop no reviews yet
GitHub Enterprise no reviews yet

We have no reviews of GitHub Enterprise yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

GitHub Desktop 136 mentions
GitHub Enterprise 11 mentions
  • You too can Git it: A beginners guide to connecting Git and GitHub
    Optional: You can also download GitHub Desktop (https://desktop.github.com) if you prefer a GUI version, but this guide focuses on Git Bash to understand the basics. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • How to Fix the Issue of Not Being Able to View Your GitHub Account on Other Devices
    Download the latest version from the GitHub Desktop website. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • 12 Steps to Organize and Maintain Your Python Codebase for Beginners
    I’m not going to dive into Git commands here — you can find plenty of tutorials online. If you’re not a fan of using the plain terminal CLI, you can also manage repositories with tools like GitHub Desktop or SourceTree, which provide a... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

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Alternatives to GitHub Desktop and GitHub Enterprise

When comparing GitHub Desktop and GitHub Enterprise, you can also consider the following products.