Best Version Control Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Diversion is ranked #1 of 54 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Unity Version Control and VisualSVN Server. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Unity Version Control. The lowest first paid tier on this page is GitButler at $5/mo.
Projects change as people work on them, and version control software gives you a way to track and manage those changes. The entries are ranked, beginning with Diversion, Git, and Mercurial. Compare versioning model and nested-repository support to see how each handles project structure; sparse checkout, file locking, and large-file handling offer further points to weigh. Desktop platform support and self-hosted deployment can help clarify what fits your working environment. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as you compare those capabilities. The listed criteria can help you focus on the features that matter for the files, collaborators, and setup involved in your work.
54 version control software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Version Control Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 18 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 DiversionPaid from $25/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 Unity Version ControlFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 VisualSVN ServerFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 4 FossilFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 5 GitButlerPaid from $5/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 MercurialFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 SourceGear Vault
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 GitFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 9 Perforce P4 (Helix Core)Paid from $39/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 10 Accessibility Test Framework for AndroidFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 Apache SubversionFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 12 GitemberFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 13 GitnuroFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 14 GitfoxPaid from €5/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 platypusgitFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 16 GitUpFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 OpenText Universal Discovery and CMDB
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 18 Working CopyFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 Jujutsu
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 20 BitKeeper
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 21 GitUI
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 22 Surround SCM
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 23 Darcs
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 24 GitFinder
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 25 OpenText StarTeam
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
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 The Geeks Club?
Diversion is ranked #1 of 54 with a score of 8.0. Unity Version Control is second and VisualSVN Server third.
How many of these have a free plan?
15 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 how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.