List of the Top 20 Free Version Control Systems in 2025

Buddy is an innovative platform designed to facilitate the processes of building, testing, and deploying applications and websites. With more than 100 pre-configured actions and numerous integrations, it streamlines everything from website delivery to app deployments and builds, making it incredibly user-friendly. This tool allows even the most intricate CI/CD workflows to be established in just a matter of minutes, positioning Buddy as a leader in DevOps adoption. Its speed is unmatched, thanks to features like intelligent change detection, advanced caching, and parallel processing. Additionally, Buddy provides seamless access to various technologies, including Docker, Kubernetes, Serverless, and Blockchain, ensuring your stack is always one click away. It serves as a low-friction automation solution, simplifying DevOps for developers, designers, and QA teams alike. Ultimately, Buddy empowers users to achieve rapid app and website development, making it an essential tool in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

GitHub remains the foremost platform for developers around the world, celebrated for its robust security, impressive scalability, and strong community engagement. By becoming part of the vast network of millions of developers and organizations, you can play a role in creating the software that propels society forward. Engage and collaborate with some of the most innovative communities while taking advantage of our exceptional tools, support, and services. If you are managing multiple contributors, consider utilizing our complimentary GitHub Team for Open Source feature. Furthermore, GitHub Sponsors is designed to help finance your initiatives and projects effectively. We are excited to bring back The Pack, a program that offers students and educators free access to top-notch developer tools throughout the academic year and beyond. In addition, if you are affiliated with a recognized nonprofit, association, or a 501(c)(3) organization, we provide a discounted Organization account to help further your mission. Through these initiatives, GitHub continues to empower a diverse range of users in their software development endeavors, fostering a more inclusive tech community. With ongoing support and resources, GitHub is dedicated to enhancing the development experience for everyone involved.

GitLab serves as a comprehensive DevOps platform that provides an all-in-one CI/CD toolchain, simplifying the workflow for teams. With a singular interface, unified conversations, and a consistent permission model, GitLab transforms collaboration among Security, Development, and Operations teams within a single application. This integration leads to significant reductions in development time and costs, minimizes application vulnerabilities, and accelerates software delivery processes. Furthermore, it enhances developer productivity by facilitating source code management that promotes collaboration, sharing, and coordination among the entire software development team. To expedite software delivery, GitLab enables efficient tracking and merging of branches, auditing of changes, and supports concurrent work efforts. Teams can review code, engage in discussions, share knowledge, and pinpoint defects, even in distributed settings, through asynchronous review processes. Additionally, the platform automates and tracks code reviews, generating reports that enhance transparency and continuous improvement in the development cycle. By offering these robust features, GitLab not only streamlines operations but also fosters a culture of collaboration and efficiency within development teams.

Git serves as a robust and cost-free distributed version control system designed to efficiently handle projects of any scale. Its ease of use and low demand on system resources enhance its impressive performance. Git offers distinct advantages over conventional source control management systems like Subversion, CVS, Perforce, and ClearCase, including economical local branching, intuitive staging areas, and a variety of workflow options. Furthermore, configurations can be manipulated using a command structure where the name indicates the section and the key is divided by a dot, with the value being correctly escaped. This flexibility in managing version control processes solidifies Git's significance as a vital instrument for developers and collaborative teams alike. As a result, Git not only simplifies version tracking but also fosters better collaboration in software development.

Bitbucket provides much more than just basic Git code management; it functions as a comprehensive hub for teams to strategize projects, collaborate on coding tasks, test, and deploy software applications. For smaller teams with up to five members, it offers free access, while larger teams can choose between Standard ($3 per user per month) and Premium ($6 per user per month) pricing plans that scale with their needs. The platform allows users to efficiently organize their projects by creating Bitbucket branches directly linked to Jira issues or Trello cards, and it incorporates integrated CI/CD tools for building, testing, and deploying applications seamlessly. Furthermore, it supports configuration as code and encourages rapid feedback loops that enhance the overall development experience. Code reviews are made more efficient through the use of pull requests, which can be supplemented by a merge checklist that identifies designated approvers, facilitating discussions within the source code using inline comments. Through features like Bitbucket Pipelines and Deployments, teams can effectively oversee their build, test, and deployment workflows, ensuring that their code remains secure in the Cloud with protective measures such as IP whitelisting and mandatory two-step verification. Users also have the option to limit access to specific individuals and exercise control over their actions with branch permissions and merge checks, which helps maintain a high standard of code quality throughout the development process. This comprehensive suite of features not only boosts team collaboration but also enhances security, ensuring a more efficient and productive development lifecycle overall. As teams navigate the complexities of software development, having a platform like Bitbucket can significantly improve their workflow and project outcomes.

Backlog serves as a collaborative and project management platform designed to enhance team productivity, improve visibility, and streamline the process of tracking projects. By facilitating cooperation among development teams, IT, Marketing, and Design, organizations can accelerate the delivery of high-quality projects. Its fundamental features encompass Gantt Charts, Burndown Charts, Issues, Subtasks, Watchlists, and Comment threads. Additionally, it includes essential tools like version control, file sharing, wikis, and bug tracking. With dedicated apps available for both iOS and Android, users can conveniently update their projects from virtually anywhere, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in project management. This adaptability allows teams to remain connected and responsive regardless of their location.

Make use of integrated software delivery solutions to distribute code, track tasks, and implement software, all managed within your own infrastructure. You can adopt the complete range of Azure DevOps features or select specific tools that best fit your needs; either way, they can significantly improve your existing processes. Previously known as Team Foundation Server (TFS), Azure DevOps Server offers an extensive array of collaborative tools designed for software development in an on-premises environment. By linking with your chosen integrated development environment (IDE) or text editor, Azure DevOps Server enables your varied team to work together effectively on projects of any magnitude. This powerful platform includes advanced source code management, as well as essential features like access controls, bug tracking, build automation, change management, code reviews, and continuous integration, all aimed at supporting your development efforts comprehensively. With Azure DevOps Server in place, teams can optimize their development cycles, boost productivity, and ensure that software delivery remains both efficient and dependable. Ultimately, this leads to a more cohesive development experience that can adapt to the evolving demands of your projects.

Fossil is a highly effective and user-friendly distributed software configuration management system that offers a range of sophisticated features, including Project Management, which facilitates distributed version control similar to Git and Mercurial while also integrating tools for bug tracking, wikis, forums, chat, and technotes. Its built-in web interface is not only themeable and extensible but also provides a wealth of information pages that significantly boost situational awareness. As a standalone executable, Fossil can be conveniently installed by downloading a precompiled binary compatible with operating systems such as Linux, Mac, or Windows and placing it within your $PATH. Additionally, it enables users to set up a project website in just a few minutes using various approaches and is optimized for both CPU and memory usage, making it feasible to host most projects on an economical $5/month VPS or even on a Raspberry Pi. Users also have the flexibility to create an automatic mirror on GitHub, enhancing their version control options. Networking with Fossil is uncomplicated, as it employs standard HTTPS or SSH for secure communication, ensuring reliable and smooth connectivity. In summary, Fossil serves as a comprehensive solution for developers aiming to manage their projects with efficiency and effectiveness, while also offering the potential for collaborative enhancements through its diverse features.

SuperAGI SuperCoder is a groundbreaking open-source platform that seamlessly integrates an AI-powered development environment with autonomous AI agents, enabling the complete automation of software development, starting with Python and its associated frameworks. The newest version, SuperCoder 2.0, leverages advanced large language models and a Large Action Model (LAM) specifically optimized for generating Python code, demonstrating exceptional precision in one-shot or few-shot coding tasks, and exceeding standards set by benchmarks such as SWE-bench and Codebench. As an independent system, SuperCoder 2.0 features customized software guardrails tailored to various development frameworks, with an initial emphasis on Flask and Django, while also employing SuperAGI’s Generally Intelligent Developer Agents to build complex, real-world software applications. Additionally, SuperCoder 2.0 integrates extensively with widely-used tools in the developer community, such as Jira, GitHub or GitLab, Jenkins, and cloud-based quality assurance platforms like BrowserStack and Selenium, thus guaranteeing a smooth and efficient software development workflow. This innovative approach not only enhances the coding process but also empowers developers to focus on higher-level design and problem-solving, ultimately transforming the automated software development landscape.

Unity Plastic SCM offers a robust solution for version control and source code management, aimed at improving collaboration and scalability for teams utilizing any game engine. It optimizes workflows for artists and programmers alike while delivering outstanding performance when managing sizable files and binaries. The extensive features of Plastic SCM make the development process significantly easier for programmers. Branching and merging effectively are essential for task-based development, feature branches, and streamlined release management. With Plastic, developers can easily branch within large codebases, resulting in a more fluid development experience. The tool also provides a semantic diff tool for comparing refactored code and features like "analyze refactors," which detects refactored code across languages such as C#/VB.NET, Java, and C. Additionally, the sophisticated 3-way merge tool, Xdiff/Xmerge, assists users in resolving complex merge conflicts and supports language-agnostic refactoring. The integration of the SemanticMerge product further boosts its functionality for developers. This extensive toolkit not only enhances collaboration but also ensures that teams maintain optimal productivity and efficiency throughout all stages of their projects, ultimately contributing to successful outcomes.

Effective coding practices must be seamlessly integrated with varied workflows, flexible organizational structures, and clear progress monitoring. Establishing a robust security framework, keeping detailed operational records, and employing automated snapshots of repositories are vital for protecting projects. Furthermore, the skillful management of code, coupled with improved collaboration among project teams, can greatly enhance the efficiency of research and development efforts. In addition, adopting a well-rounded security strategy guarantees thorough protection for all assets involved. This multifaceted approach not only mitigates risks but also fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

GitBucket is a web-based Git platform developed with the Scala programming language. Moreover, users can deploy the GitBucket WAR file on any servlet container that supports Servlet 3.0, including options like Jetty, Tomcat, and JBoss. This level of adaptability provides users with numerous deployment possibilities, making it suitable for different server configurations. Ultimately, this versatility enhances the overall user experience by accommodating diverse operational needs.

Dolt seamlessly incorporates version control functionalities similar to Git into your SQL database tables, empowering you to effortlessly commit, branch, merge, clone, pull, and push both your data and schema. Its intuitive interface allows users to query data and explore its historical context at specific moments, defined by commits, branches, or tags. This groundbreaking solution offers a distinct type of replica that can be integrated into an existing MySQL environment without requiring any migration processes. Additionally, it features a detailed audit log for every single cell, which facilitates time travel abilities and branch management for development on the replica. With such capabilities, tracking changes and collaborating on database initiatives becomes remarkably straightforward for developers, making their workflow more efficient than ever before. This unique approach not only enhances productivity but also fosters better teamwork among database professionals.

Keepsake is an open-source Python library tailored for overseeing version control within machine learning experiments and models. It empowers users to effortlessly track vital elements such as code, hyperparameters, training datasets, model weights, performance metrics, and Python dependencies, thereby facilitating thorough documentation and reproducibility throughout the machine learning lifecycle. With minimal modifications to existing code, Keepsake seamlessly integrates into current workflows, allowing practitioners to continue their standard training processes while it takes care of archiving code and model weights to cloud storage options like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage. This feature simplifies the retrieval of code and weights from earlier checkpoints, proving to be advantageous for model re-training or deployment. Additionally, Keepsake supports a diverse array of machine learning frameworks including TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and XGBoost, which aids in the efficient management of files and dictionaries. Beyond these functionalities, it offers tools for comparing experiments, enabling users to evaluate differences in parameters, metrics, and dependencies across various trials, which significantly enhances the analysis and optimization of their machine learning endeavors. Ultimately, Keepsake not only streamlines the experimentation process but also positions practitioners to effectively manage and adapt their machine learning workflows in an ever-evolving landscape. By fostering better organization and accessibility, Keepsake enhances the overall productivity and effectiveness of machine learning projects.

FogBugz optimizes the software development workflow through its array of integrated features, including time tracking, task and bug management, and email support, thereby improving both ease of use and overall efficiency. The platform is adaptable to various project management frameworks, such as Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban, allowing teams to utilize their preferred methodologies seamlessly. Its customizable nature ensures that FogBugz can be configured to align perfectly with your specific processes. Aimed at supporting the planning, monitoring, and successful delivery of high-quality software, FogBugz empowers users to create and manage detailed tasks and subtasks, which enhances accountability and supports timely project completion. Furthermore, it allows for systematic logging and tracking of bugs and issues, maintaining an organized and accessible project backlog. Your team receives notifications as bugs move through different stages of the workflow, which significantly improves communication and responsiveness. In addition, FogBugz employs Evidence Based Scheduling (EBS), a statistical method that provides accurate delivery estimates by analyzing historical timesheet data, thus ensuring that project timelines remain realistic and attainable. This thorough strategy not only enhances productivity but also cultivates a collaborative atmosphere among team members, encouraging open communication and shared responsibility throughout the development process. Ultimately, FogBugz serves as a vital tool for teams looking to streamline their operations while delivering exceptional software.

Assembla stands out as the premier platform for software development. You can kickstart your project in less than a minute, whether you prefer an on-premises solution or an online setup. With Assembla SECUREGIT, you receive a comprehensive and cost-effective solution tailored to your preferred infrastructure. You can confidently adhere to compliance standards, knowing that your data remains secure. Assembla serves as a reliable ally in navigating your path toward future innovations. It's essential to recognize that developers primarily focus on creating code rather than functioning as security engineers. A significant portion of their code, approximately 90%, consists of open-source components. To ensure the security of this open-source code, automation becomes crucial. Assembla SecureGit proactively identifies vulnerable component dependencies and secret keys while developers are coding. Our operational playbook encompasses a thorough assessment of security risks, strategies for mitigating those risks, and ongoing investment areas to enhance security measures. Additionally, Assembla is fully compliant with GDPR regulations, hosting its data centers within the European Union for added peace of mind. This commitment to security and compliance reinforces Assembla's position as a leader in the software development landscape.

Motio leverages extensive expertise to enhance and automate business intelligence within Qlik Sense. Recognizing that Qlik Sense lacks version control and has an inefficient deployment process, we address these shortcomings to significantly amplify its capabilities. Our advanced versioning and change tracking systems offer comprehensive insights that effectively tackle your auditing challenges. In the realm of analytics, we prioritize self-service solutions that demand both auditability and adherence to best practices. With our innovative tools, tracking modifications and fostering a robust, sustainable environment becomes a seamless process. This leads to deployments that are more streamlined, less time-intensive, and safer for all stakeholders. Furthermore, our solution enables connectivity between multiple environments, facilitating the targeted promotion of content. Your team can achieve one-click deployments, thereby eliminating the cumbersome need to access the server for file transfers, resulting in heightened efficiency and collaboration. Ultimately, we empower organizations to harness the full potential of Qlik Sense while ensuring a controlled and manageable workflow.

Helix Core, the robust version control system from Perforce, is designed to track and manage changes to your source code and digital assets efficiently. However, its capabilities extend far beyond basic version control; it empowers development teams to accelerate their workflows while tackling increasingly intricate projects. By providing a unified source of truth throughout the development lifecycle, Helix Core fosters collaboration among contributors who can seamlessly integrate their existing tools with the platform. The system is exceptionally scalable, accommodating tens of thousands of users and handling millions of transactions daily, along with hundreds of terabytes of data and over 10,000 concurrent commits. Additionally, it offers rapid file delivery to remote users, eliminating delays typically associated with wide area networks. Whether deployed on-premises or in the cloud, Helix Core streamlines processes to minimize time spent navigating tools, allowing teams to focus on delivering valuable outcomes. By utilizing this platform, you can ensure a more efficient development environment, characterized by quick feedback, flexibility, automation, and expedited builds. Developers can reclaim their time from tedious manual workflows, enabling them to concentrate on what they do best: coding and innovating. Embrace Helix Core to transform your development process and elevate productivity across your teams.

Bazaar is a version control system that assists users in tracking the evolution of their projects over time while fostering collaboration among team members. It is suitable for a wide array of users, ranging from individual developers to close-knit teams and even large, distributed developer networks, adapting effectively to their various needs. As part of the GNU Project, Bazaar is available as open-source software, with support from Canonical. One of Bazaar's core tenets is its commitment to user-friendliness, which is reflected in several features of the platform. In contrast to other version control systems that identify revisions with repository-wide numbers or hash strings, Bazaar uses sequential numbering for branches, which enhances clarity and ease of understanding. The graphical user interface for logging is crafted to be intuitive and aligns with what users familiar with Subversion and CVS would expect. Moreover, it facilitates the direct linking of bugs to specific commits, which is made possible by its uniquely structured storage format that avoids the need to include essential metadata within commit messages. Users can also explore numerous revisions to examine local commits that played a role in each major change, offering a comprehensive perspective on the project's development over time. This meticulous method of project tracking not only streamlines the management of contributions but also significantly boosts overall team efficiency and collaboration. Ultimately, Bazaar's design philosophy prioritizes the user experience, ensuring that both novice and experienced developers can navigate and utilize the system with ease.

Accelerate your hardware product development with enhanced efficiency! InventHub is a cloud-based engineering data manager tailored for electronic hardware that facilitates seamless collaboration among engineering teams. This innovative platform empowers users to create effective electronic designs while enabling access and teamwork on ECAD designs from any device. By minimizing the time dedicated to reporting and discussions, teams can focus on what truly matters—innovation. Users can visualize every modification made to schematic and layout designs, ensuring clarity throughout the design process. Our commitment to the community and passion for open source drives us to offer valuable resources. You have the opportunity to share your designs, collaborate with fellow developers, and provide assistance for various projects. Additionally, InventHub supports hardware development through the integration of the most popular Git version control system. Join us in transforming the way hardware products are designed and developed!