Git Download: Free, Open-Source Version Control System
Git 2.56.0 · for Windows, macOS and Linux
Developer: The Git Project (opens in a new tab)
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
The download link points to the program’s official source; the file is not hosted on this site. Link address: git-scm.com
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Git is a free, open-source distributed version control system maintained by the Git project. The latest version is 2.56.0, and Git for Windows 2.56.0(4) was released on October 26, 2026; it also runs on macOS and Linux.
Git records every change you make to a project, so you can go back to an earlier version, work on new ideas in separate branches and combine work from several people. It is the tool behind services such as GitHub and GitLab.
What does Git do?
- History: Each commit is a snapshot you can return to, compare or undo.
- Branches: Try a feature on its own branch and merge it back when it works.
- Distributed: Every copy of a repository contains the full history, so you can work offline.
- Speed: Most operations run locally and finish almost instantly, even on large projects.
How to download and install
- The Download button opens the official downloads page on git-scm.com.
- Windows: Download the 64-bit Git for Windows installer (about 64 MB). It includes Git Bash, a terminal with common Unix tools. The default options suit most people.
- macOS: Git is offered with Apple’s command-line developer tools, or through Homebrew.
- Linux: Install it with your distribution’s package manager, for example
sudo apt install giton Debian and Ubuntu.
Good to know
After installing, set your name and email once with git config --global user.name "Your Name" and git config --global user.email you@example.com. These details are recorded in every commit you make.
Pros
- Industry-standard version control
- Fast and works offline
- Free and open source
Cons
- Command line takes time to learn
- Some concepts such as rebasing can be confusing at first
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Git the same as GitHub?
No. Git is the version control program that runs on your computer. GitHub is an online service for hosting Git repositories and collaborating on them.
Is there a graphical interface for Git?
Git for Windows includes a basic GUI, and many editors such as VS Code have Git built in. There are also standalone graphical clients.
GitOpen source
Download (opens in a new tab)
