Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Tower VS Shell Notebook

Compare Tower VS Shell Notebook and see what are their differences

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.

Shell Notebook logo Shell Notebook

MacOS Terminal, reimagined
  • 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.

  • Shell Notebook Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-23

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

Shell Notebook features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Shell Notebook is accessible from any web browser, allowing users to work from different devices and locations without needing to install additional software.
  • Collaboration
    The platform offers collaboration features, such as sharing capabilities, which enable multiple users to work on the same document in real-time.
  • Integration
    It integrates with various cloud services and tools, which can enhance productivity and streamline workflows by consolidating multiple functions into one platform.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Shell Notebook provides a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy for users at all levels to navigate and utilize its features effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Shell Notebook

  • Internet Dependency
    Accessing Shell Notebook requires a stable internet connection, which can be a limitation for users with unreliable or no internet access.
  • Limited Offline Features
    The platform may offer limited functionality when offline, which can hinder productivity if users need to work in areas without internet access.
  • Subscription Costs
    While some features may be available for free, advanced tools and functionalities might require a paid subscription, which can add to business or personal expenses.
  • Security Concerns
    Storing sensitive information on a cloud-based platform might raise security concerns for some users, especially if the platform does not offer robust data protection measures.

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.

Tower videos

Get Started with Tower in 3 Minutes

Shell Notebook videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tower and Shell Notebook)
Git
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Code Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
Terminal Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

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

Shell Notebook Reviews

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tower and Shell Notebook, you can also consider the following products

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

Warp Terminal - The terminal for the 21st century. Warp is a blazingly fast, rust-based terminal reimagined from the ground up to work like a modern app.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

iTerm2 - A terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things.

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

Fig - Fast, isolated development environments using Docker.