Git is the distributed version control system behind GitHub, GitLab and virtually all modern software development. It tracks every change, enables branching and merging, and is a prerequisite for most development workflows.
Why choose Git?
Git is the distributed version control system behind GitHub, GitLab and virtually all modern software development. It tracks every change, enables branching and merging, and is a prerequisite for most development workflows.
Git is open source, so the source code is public, the licence cannot be withdrawn, and no company can move it behind a paywall later. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and it comes from Git project rather than from a repackager — this page sends you to git-scm.com, the publisher's own site, so what you install is the authentic signed build.
Worth comparing before you commit: Git vs Visual Studio Code, Git vs Python, Git vs Node.js.
Git features
- Distributed version control
- Fast branching and merging
- Complete offline history
- Universal industry standard
How to download and install Git on Windows
- Use the official source. The download button on this page opens git-scm.com, the publisher's own site — that is the safe route. If you would rather we double-check the current link first, ask and we email it. Either way, never take a git download from a mirror or a "download manager" portal, which is where bundled adware comes from.
- Pick the build for your system. Git runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. On Windows take the 64-bit package unless you are on an old 32-bit installation.
- Run the installer and accept the defaults. Git project ships no bundled extra software with it, so there is nothing to untick.
- Open it once before you need it. Confirming it launches and sees your files or hardware takes a minute now and saves a problem later.
- Keep it updated. Update from inside the program or from git-scm.com — update prompts arriving by email or pop-up are not from the publisher.
Downloading Git in India
Git is the same software worldwide — there is no separate India build, no regional licence and nothing extra to pay. A git download in India gets the identical package everyone else receives, straight from git-scm.com.
We link only to that official source, so a git setup download India from this page cannot arrive wrapped in a third-party installer. That matters more than download speed: the adware people blame on "free software" almost always comes from a mirror site, never from the publisher.
Is Git really free?
Open Source. Source code is public; free to use, study and modify. You can download and use it without paying, and without creating an account with us.
How to download Git safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for git-scm.com — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic, digitally signed build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering Git. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to Git
Other free developer tools software worth comparing before you decide:
Visual Studio Code
The most widely used code editor in the world.
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Python
The most approachable major programming language.
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Node.js
Run JavaScript outside the browser.
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Notepad++
Fast, lightweight text and code editor for Windows.
View detailsSee all Git alternatives compared →
Compare Git head-to-head
Frequently asked questions
Is the Git download free?
Yes. Git is open-source software — free to download, use and keep, with no paid edition, no trial period and no feature held behind a key.
Is Git safe to download?
It is, provided it comes from git-scm.com — Git project's own site, which is where the link we send you points. We host no installer of our own and never repackage software. Nearly every "free software gave me a virus" story traces back to a third-party download portal rather than the publisher.
Which platforms does Git run on?
Git runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Take the build that matches your operating system; on Windows that means the 64-bit package unless you are running an old 32-bit installation.
Do I need an account to download Git?
Not with us — FreeSoftwareX has no accounts, no paywall and no download gate. Ask for the link and we email it to you. Git project may ask you to register on their own site, which is their choice rather than ours.
What are the best free alternatives to Git?
The closest free developer tools options are Visual Studio Code, Python, Node.js. Each is listed here with its own licence, platforms and features so you can compare them properly rather than guessing.
Tell us what went wrong — a person reads every message and replies. Corrections to this page are treated as priority fixes.
People also search for
The terms visitors use to find this page. Each one lands here because it describes the same program.
Searches from India
Git is identical worldwide — these are search phrasings, not different downloads. Every one of them gets the same official build from git-scm.com.