Best Version Control Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Diversion is ranked #1 of 46 as of 2 October 2026, ahead of Apache Subversion and Unity Version Control. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Apache Subversion. The lowest first paid tier on this page is GitButler at $5/mo.
Choosing version control starts with how your team wants to track and manage changes across a project. Diversion heads the ranking, followed by Apache Subversion and Unity Version Control; Git and Mercurial are also among the first entries. Compared on versioning model, the options can be assessed alongside nested repositories, sparse checkout and file locking. Consider large-file handling and supported desktop platforms in light of your workflow, and whether self-hosted deployment is relevant to your setup. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide additional context when comparing the tools.
46 version control software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Versioning model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diversion | 8.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $25/mo | Yes | 25 /user/mo | distributed | View |
| 2 | Apache Subversion | 8.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | centralized | View |
| 3 | Unity Version Control | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 4 |  Git | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 5 | Mercurial | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 6 |  Fossil | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 7 | GitButler | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $5/mo | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 8 |  BitKeeper | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 9 |  Jujutsu | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 10 |  Magit | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 11 | Sapling SCM | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | distributed | View |
| 12 | platypusgit | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 13 |  GitStudio | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 14 |  Working Copy | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 15 | Gitti | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 16 |  GitMac | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 17 |  lazygit | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 18 |  GitUp | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 19 | SourceGit | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 |  VisualSVN Server | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 21 | Gitnuro | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 22 |  GitUI | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
| 23 |  Guitar | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | distributed | View |
| 24 |  GitBreeze | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 25 |  Changes | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | distributed | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which version control software is ranked first on Inferse?
Diversion is ranked #1 of 46 with a score of 8.9. Apache Subversion is second and Unity Version Control third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, GitButler has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.