What Is the Difference Between Git and GitHub?

“Is Git the same as GitHub?” If you’ve asked this question, you’re not alone.

Many developers—especially those new to coding—confuse these tools. The confusion makes sense: they share part of their name and often appear in the same conversations. But understanding what is the difference between Git and GitHub is crucial for anyone serious about software development.

Git works locally on your machine as a version control system tracking code changes. GitHub lives in the cloud as a platform where developers store and share those Git repositories. They’re related but fundamentally different tools.

This distinction matters because using them effectively requires knowing their separate purposes. Git handles version tracking and branch management on your computer, while GitHub adds collaboration features and cloud storage. Together, they form the backbone of modern software development workflows.

In this guide, we’ll explore both tools in depth. You’ll learn how Git tracks your code history, how GitHub extends those capabilities online, and most importantly, how their differences shape how you’ll use them in real-world projects.

What Is the Difference Between Git and GitHub?

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks code changes, enabling collaboration and version management. GitHub is a cloud-based platform that hosts Git repositories, providing additional tools for collaboration, issue tracking, and code review. Git runs locally, while GitHub offers remote repository hosting and integrates with Git for easier teamwork.

Understanding Git

What Git Actually Is

Git is a distributed version control system created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. Unlike older systems, Git gives every developer a complete copy of the repository on their local machine. This means you can work offline and still access your full revision history.

The power of Git lies in how it tracks changes. When you make a commit, Git doesn’t store the entire file again—it saves only the changes. This makes Git incredibly efficient at version tracking and code storage.

Some developers confuse Git with GitHub. They’re not the same! Git works entirely on your local computer as a command line tool, though GUI options exist. You don’t need internet access to use Git’s core features.

Git’s popularity has exploded since its creation. Why? Because it makes branch management simple and provides robust solutions for merge conflicts. The software development world quickly recognized its value for managing complex codebases.

Core Git Concepts

Understanding four key concepts will help you grasp Git:

Repositories form the foundation of Git. A local repository contains all your files and the complete history of changes. Think of it as your project’s database.

Commits are like snapshots of your project at specific points in time. Each commit gets a unique ID, making your commit history easy to navigate. Good commit messages make collaboration smoother.

Branches are Git’s secret weapon. They let multiple developers work on different features simultaneously without interfering with each other. The default branch is usually called “main” or “master.”

Merging brings changes from one branch into another. While sometimes challenging, Git provides tools to resolve merge conflicts when they arise.

Git’s History and Development

The story begins with Linus Torvalds, who created Git to manage Linux kernel development. Frustrated with existing tools, he built Git in just two weeks! The name “Git” is British slang for “unpleasant person”—Torvalds’ humor showing through.

Git’s adoption spread rapidly beyond Linux. Today, it dominates source code management with over 90% of developers using it according to recent surveys. Its distributed version control model proved superior to centralized systems like SVN.

Modern software development lifecycle processes almost universally incorporate Git. Its flexibility supports everything from solo projects to massive enterprise codebases with thousands of contributors.

How Git Works Locally

At its core, Git uses a three-part structure:

1. Working directory (where you edit files)
2. Staging area (where you prepare changes)
3. Repository (where changes are permanently stored)

The most common Git commands include:

• git init creates a new repository
• git add moves changes to the staging area
• git commit records changes in the repository
• git status shows what’s changed
• git log displays commit history

The .git folder contains all the information Git needs to track your project. It includes commit objects, references to branches, configuration settings, and more. Though you rarely interact with it directly, this folder is what makes Git work.

Understanding GitHub

What GitHub Actually Is

GitHub is a web-based platform that extends Git’s capabilities for team collaboration. Founded in 2008, it’s essentially a cloud repository service that hosts Git repositories online.

While Git focuses on version control, GitHub adds a user-friendly interface and collaboration features. The platform transforms Git from a local tool into a social coding environment where developers worldwide can work together.

GitHub’s interface makes many Git operations visual and intuitive. Instead of remembering commands, you can click buttons. This accessibility has helped bring version control to designers, writers, and others who might avoid command line tools.

Think of GitHub as Git with superpowers—it adds features Git never intended to include.

GitHub’s Business Model

GitHub offers both free and paid plans. Individual developers can use basic features at no cost, making it popular for open source projects and personal work.

For teams and companies, GitHub Enterprise provides advanced security, access controls, and support. These paid tiers generate the revenue that keeps GitHub running.

In 2018, Microsoft acquisition of GitHub changed the landscape. The $7.5 billion purchase initially worried some developers, but Microsoft has largely maintained GitHub’s independence while adding resources.

Core GitHub Features

Repository hosting forms GitHub’s foundation. By storing your code in the cloud, you gain backup protection and easy access from anywhere. Your remote repository becomes the central hub for project collaboration.

Pull requests revolutionized code review. They provide a structured way to propose, discuss, and integrate changes. This code review process helps maintain quality and knowledge sharing across teams.

Issues and project management tools help track bugs and plan work. Many teams use GitHub’s built-in tools instead of separate project management software, streamlining their developer collaboration workflow.

GitHub Actions enable continuous integration directly within repositories. This relatively recent addition lets you automate testing and deployment without third-party services.

GitHub’s Community Aspects

GitHub has created a vibrant social coding ecosystem. Developers can follow each other, star interesting projects, and build networks based on shared interests.

For contributors, GitHub makes open source contributions more accessible. The fork-and-pull-request model standardized how people contribute to projects they don’t maintain.

Your GitHub profile serves as a developer portfolio. Recruiters routinely examine candidates’ GitHub activity to assess skills and collaboration style. Public contributions can boost your professional reputation significantly.

Contributing to projects on GitHub helps build both technical skills and community connections. Many developers find jobs, mentors, and collaborators through their GitHub network.

Key Differences Between Git and GitHub

Technical Differences

Git and GitHub serve different purposes in the development workflow. Git operates locally as a version control system, while GitHub provides cloud-based hosting for Git repositories.

The interface presents another stark contrast. Git uses a command line tool interface by default, though GUI options like Git bash and GitHub desktop exist. GitHub offers a polished web interface that visualizes complex Git operations.

Their core functionality differs significantly. Git handles the essential version tracking operations—commits, branches, merges. GitHub extends these with collaboration features like pull requests, issues, and project boards. You could use Git forever without touching GitHub, but GitHub requires Git to function.

Storage location creates a fundamental divide. Git stores your revision history on your machine, while GitHub keeps it in the cloud. This difference affects everything from backup security to collaboration possibilities.

Usage Differences

When should you use Git alone? For personal projects with no collaboration needs, Git by itself works perfectly. Many developers use Git for local version control benefits without ever pushing to an online service.

GitHub adds value when teams enter the picture. The moment multiple people need access to code, GitHub’s remote repository hosting and team collaboration tools become invaluable. Its pull requests transform how teams review and integrate code.

The two tools complement each other beautifully. Git provides robust version control fundamentals, while GitHub adds the collaboration layer. Most professional developers use both daily—Git for local work and GitHub for sharing and collaboration.

Project size often determines usage patterns. Small personal projects might use Git locally with occasional GitHub backups. Large enterprise projects typically center workflows around GitHub, using its project management capabilities extensively.

Ownership and Access

Git’s open-source nature means it’s free for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. No company controls Git itself. This independence has helped drive its widespread adoption across the industry.

GitHub operates as a commercial service owned by Microsoft. While basic features remain free, advanced functionality requires payment. This business model funds GitHub’s development and infrastructure.

Access control highlights another key difference. Git has minimal built-in access restrictions since it primarily runs locally. GitHub offers sophisticated authentication and permission systems to control who can view or modify code. Teams can specify precisely who can push to which branches using GitHub organizations and repository settings.

These ownership differences matter. Git will always be free and open. GitHub could theoretically change pricing or features based on business decisions.

Alternatives to Git and GitHub

Other Version Control Systems

While Git dominates today’s landscape, alternatives exist. Mercurial offers a similar distributed approach with a reputation for better handling of large binary files. Some teams prefer its simpler command structure.

Subversion (SVN) represents the previous generation of version control. As a centralized system, it requires server connection for most operations. Some enterprises still use SVN due to legacy codebases or specific requirements.

Compared to these alternatives, Git wins on performance and flexibility. Its branching model proves particularly powerful for parallel development. However, Git’s learning curve is steeper than some competitors, especially for concepts like the staging area.

Many teams migrated from SVN to Git to gain distributed workflow advantages. This transition typically improves both developer productivity and code quality through better branch management and merge capabilities.

GitHub Competitors

Several platforms compete with GitHub in the code hosting service space. GitLab stands as the strongest competitor, offering both cloud and self-hosted options. It pioneered built-in CI/CD pipelines before GitHub Actions existed.

Bitbucket from Atlassian targets enterprise teams using Jira and other Atlassian tools. Its tight integration with this ecosystem creates compelling workflow advantages for these users.

Azure DevOps (formerly VSTS) from Microsoft offers an alternative even from GitHub’s parent company. It focuses on enterprise development with extensive planning and testing tools.

When comparing these platforms, consider your specific needs. GitHub boasts the largest community and best open-source presence. GitLab offers superior self-hosting and CI/CD integration. Bitbucket works best within the Atlassian ecosystem. Azure DevOps shines in enterprise environments using Microsoft technologies.

The platform choice affects numerous aspects of development. Interface familiarity, workflow integration, and available third-party tools all depend on which service you select. Many larger organizations use multiple platforms for different project types or teams.

Getting Started with Git and GitHub

Setting up Git

Installing Git takes just minutes. Visit git-scm.com and download the appropriate version for your system. Windows, Mac, and Linux all have slightly different installation processes, but the website guides you through them.

After installation, Git configuration comes next. Open your terminal or Git bash and set your identity:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

These commands establish your identity for commit history. Every change you make will be tagged with this information.

First-time users should consider installing a visual Git client. GitHub Desktop offers a user-friendly option for those uncomfortable with command lines. It simplifies many common operations while you learn Git’s concepts.

Creating a GitHub Account

Setting up a GitHub account costs nothing and takes minutes. Visit github.com and choose a username carefully—it becomes part of your professional identity. Many developers use their GitHub profile as a developer portfolio.

Security deserves attention from day one. Enable two-factor authentication immediately. Add an SSH key for secure authentication with your repositories. These steps protect both your code and reputation.

Connecting Git to GitHub requires establishing trust between your local machine and GitHub’s servers. Follow GitHub’s documentation to add SSH keys or use HTTPS with a credential manager. This one-time setup enables smooth code sharing later.

Complete your profile with a photo, bio, and contact information. Potential employers often review GitHub profiles, so treat it as an extension of your resume.

Basic Workflow Example

Let’s walk through a simple workflow combining Git and GitHub features:

1. Create a new repository on GitHub using the web interface
2. Clone it to your machine with git clone [url] (this creates your local repository)
3. Make some changes to the files in your working directory
4. Stage changes with git add . (moving them to the staging area)
5. Commit with git commit -m "Describe your changes"
6. Push to GitHub with git push origin main

This basic pattern—clone, change, commit, push—forms the foundation of Git workflows. As you grow comfortable, you’ll add branching, merging, and pull requests.

Collaborating with others introduces additional steps. You’ll use git pull to retrieve changes, create branches to work on features, and navigate merge conflicts when they arise. Start simple and build complexity as needed.

Common Use Cases

Individual Developers

Solo developers gain substantial benefits from Git and GitHub. Version tracking provides insurance against mistakes—you can always roll back to previous versions. The commit history creates a detailed record of project evolution, valuable for future reference.

Many freelancers use GitHub repositories as backup solutions. Having code safely stored in a remote repository provides peace of mind if local hardware fails. Plus, accessing your projects from any computer becomes trivial.

Skills development represents another solo benefit. By practicing Git commands on personal projects, you build valuable workplace competencies. Many job descriptions explicitly require Git experience, making personal practice professionally valuable.

Even without collaborators, branching helps organize work. Create separate branches for experimental features, bug fixes, and stable code. This approach prevents half-finished work from breaking your main codebase.

Team Collaboration

Teams unlock Git and GitHub’s full potential. Code review processes through pull requests improve quality and knowledge sharing. Senior developers can mentor juniors by reviewing their code before merging.

Managing contributions becomes structured. GitHub’s pull requests create a standardized workflow for proposing, reviewing, and accepting changes. This structure reduces confusion and makes onboarding new team members easier.

Merge conflicts inevitably arise when multiple people modify the same code. GitHub provides tools to visualize and resolve these conflicts. The platform highlights exactly where changes overlap, making resolution straightforward.

Communication improves with GitHub’s contextual comments. Discussions happen directly alongside code, creating clear documentation of decisions. These conversations remain attached to the relevant code for future reference.

Open Source Projects

Open source projects thrive on GitHub. The platform standardized how contributors find projects, suggest improvements, and get credit for their work. Fork a project, make changes, submit a pull request—this pattern now defines open source contribution.

Contributing to existing projects helps build real-world skills. New developers can start with documentation fixes or simple bug reports, then gradually tackle more complex features. This progression builds both technical abilities and community connections.

Starting an open source project becomes accessible through GitHub. The platform provides visibility, collaboration tools, and hosting infrastructure free of charge. Projects that would once require significant resources can now launch with minimal overhead.

Building a community around your code requires thoughtful maintenance. Use GitHub issues to track bugs and feature requests. Respond promptly to contributions. Document your code thoroughly. These practices attract and retain contributors.

Enterprise Usage

Large companies implement Git and GitHub at scale. GitHub Enterprise offers features specifically for large organizations, including advanced security, compliance tools, and integration with corporate identity systems.

Integration with other tools enhances GitHub’s value. Continuous integration pipelines automatically test code when pushed. Issue trackers sync with GitHub issues. Documentation systems pull content directly from repositories. These connections create comprehensive DevOps tools ecosystems.

Compliance and security concerns receive special attention in enterprise contexts. GitHub provides audit logs, access controls, and vulnerability scanning. Code must often pass automated checks before merging, enforcing company standards automatically.

Many enterprises transition gradually from legacy systems to Git. This migration process typically starts with pilot teams, then expands as success proves the value. Eventually, companies standardize on Git and GitHub (or alternatives like GitLab) as their central code versioning platform.

FAQ on What Is The Difference Between Git And Github

Is Git the same as GitHub?

No, Git and GitHub are completely different tools. Git is a distributed version control system that runs locally on your computer, tracking changes to your files through commits. GitHub is a web-based platform that hosts Git repositories in the cloud and adds collaboration features like pull requests, issues, and project management tools. Think of Git as the core technology and GitHub as a service built around it.

Do I need GitHub to use Git?

Absolutely not. Git functions perfectly as a standalone command line tool without any connection to GitHub. Many developers use Git for version tracking on personal projects without ever pushing to an online service. GitHub adds remote storage and collaboration capabilities, but Git’s core version control benefits work entirely offline. Alternative code hosting services like GitLab and Bitbucket can also host Git repositories if you need remote storage but prefer not to use GitHub.

Can I use GitHub without knowing Git?

While technically possible, it’s highly impractical. GitHub’s entire platform is built around Git’s fundamental concepts. Without understanding repositories, commits, branches, and merging, you’ll struggle to use GitHub effectively. The GitHub web interface and GitHub desktop application simplify some Git operations, but they don’t eliminate the need to understand Git basics. Learning at least the fundamental Git commands will dramatically improve your GitHub experience.

Which came first, Git or GitHub?

Git came first by several years. Linus Torvalds created Git in 2005 to manage Linux kernel development, focusing on speed and distributed version control. GitHub launched in 2008 as a service built around Git, adding social coding features and repository hosting. This timeline explains why Git can exist without GitHub, but GitHub cannot exist without Git. The success of Git as a version control system created the opportunity for GitHub’s business model.

Is GitHub free to use?

Yes, GitHub offers free plans with impressive capabilities. Basic repository hosting, unlimited public repositories, and core collaboration features come at no cost. This free tier supports most individual developers and open source projects perfectly. For teams and businesses needing advanced security, permissions, and support, GitHub offers paid plans including GitHub Enterprise. Since the Microsoft acquisition in 2018, GitHub has actually expanded its free offerings rather than restricted them.

What are the main advantages of GitHub over just using Git?

GitHub adds four key advantages over standalone Git:

1. Remote repository hosting gives you automatic backup and access from any device
2. Collaboration tools like pull requests and code reviews streamline team workflows
3. Project management features like issues and boards help track work
4. Social aspects turn your code into a portfolio for job hunting

These benefits become increasingly valuable as teams grow and projects become more complex. GitHub transforms Git from a personal tool into a collaborative platform, streamlining the entire software development lifecycle.

What’s the difference between GitHub and GitLab?

Both GitHub and GitLab are web-based platforms for hosting Git repositories, but they emphasize different strengths. GitHub offers superior social coding features and hosts the largest developer community. GitLab excels at built-in DevOps tools and continuous integration options. GitLab also offers comprehensive self-hosting options for organizations requiring on-premises solutions. Feature-wise, they’ve grown increasingly similar, often copying each other’s innovations. Your choice might depend on specific integration needs, team preferences, or where existing projects reside.

Does Git store my code online?

No, Git itself doesn’t store code online. By default, Git stores everything in the .git folder within your project directory on your local machine. This local storage is what makes Git a distributed version control system—every developer has a complete copy of the repository history. To store code online, you need a service like GitHub, which provides cloud repository hosting. When you push to GitHub, you’re sending your local Git repository content to GitHub’s servers for storage and sharing.

What should I learn first, Git or GitHub?

Learn Git first. Understanding Git’s core concepts—repositories, commits, branches, and basic Git commands—provides the foundation for everything else. Start by using Git locally on your own projects, focusing on basic workflow patterns. Once comfortable with those concepts, expand to GitHub to add collaboration and sharing capabilities. This progression follows the natural relationship between the tools: Git handles the fundamental version control, while GitHub builds extra features on top.

Do professional developers use both Git and GitHub?

Yes, most professional developers use both tools daily. Git provides the essential version tracking mechanism, while GitHub adds the collaboration layer most teams need. The typical professional workflow involves local development using Git, followed by pushing changes to GitHub for review and collaboration. Many companies standardize on GitHub (or alternatives like GitLab) for its project management and code review process capabilities. Learning both tools thoroughly prepares you for real-world development environments.

Conclusion

Understanding what is the difference between Git and GitHub transforms how you approach software development. Git provides the foundational version control system running locally on your machine, while GitHub extends these capabilities with cloud repository hosting and robust team collaboration tools. This distinction matters in practical terms for your daily coding workflow.

The relationship between these tools mirrors many technology partnerships—each excels at its specific purpose. Git handles the critical version tracking that prevents code disasters, creates meaningful revision history, and enables powerful branching strategies. GitHub builds upon this foundation by adding the social coding layer that connects developers worldwide and simplifies code sharing.

Whether you’re an individual developer working on personal projects or part of an enterprise team building complex applications, mastering both tools opens doors. Start with Git basics, add GitHub when you need collaboration, and explore alternatives like GitLab or Bitbucket if they better suit your specific needs. The investment in learning these development tools pays dividends throughout your coding journey.

If you liked this article about what is the difference between Git and GitHub, you should check out this article about is GitHub safe.

There are also similar articles discussing what is GitHub used for, what are GitHub Actions, what is GitHub Copilot, and what is a fork in GitHub.

And let’s not forget about articles on how to use GitHub, how to download from GitHub, how to push to GitHub, and how to resolve conflicts in GitHub.

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan is a seasoned web designer and tech strategist, with a keen eye on emerging industry trends.

With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.

A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.

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