Reviu vs GitHub Desktop
GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source Electron app that makes it easy to clone a repo, commit, and open a pull request branch locally. It stays deliberately simple.
Reviu is a native Rust desktop app built around agent sessions and the review loop: read the diff your agent wrote, comment inline, then review and merge GitHub pull requests in the same app with Reviu Pro. This page compares the two honestly so you can pick the right tool.
How Reviu and GitHub Desktop compare
| Reviu | GitHub Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering engine | Native Rust + GPUI, GPU-accelerated | Electron (web tech) |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows (Linux via community fork) |
| Pricing | Free agent sessions + local Git, Pro $9/mo or $79/yr | Free |
| Source available | Yes, FSL-1.1 (Apache-2.0 after 2 years) | Yes, open source (MIT) |
| Keyboard-first command palette | Yes, central command palette | Basic app shortcuts |
| Agent sessions (review-to-agent) | Yes - Claude Code, Codex, and 20+ ACP agents, free | No review-to-agent workflow |
| In-app GitHub PR review | Yes, inline/split diff, comments, checks, merge (Pro) | Opens PR branches locally; review stays on GitHub |
When GitHub Desktop is the better choice
- You want a completely free, fully open-source app and only work with GitHub.
- You prefer the simplest possible interface and rarely touch advanced Git.
When Reviu fits better
- You want to review your agent's diff and GitHub PRs in a fast native app, not a webview.
- You need Linux support, keyboard-first commands, or deep in-app PR review with comments, checks, and merge.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reviu free like GitHub Desktop?
- Reviu is free for agent sessions and all local Git workflows, with no account required. GitHub pull request review, checks, merge, and notifications are part of Reviu Pro ($9/month or $79/year).
- Does Reviu run on Linux?
- Yes. Reviu ships official builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux. GitHub Desktop does not officially support Linux; Linux builds only exist through a community fork.
- Is Reviu built with Electron like GitHub Desktop?
- No. GitHub Desktop is an Electron app. Reviu is a fully native desktop app built with Rust and GPUI, a GPU-accelerated UI framework, so there is no webview.
Try Reviu
Use Reviu free for agent sessions and local Git, then start Reviu Pro for GitHub pull request review, checks, notifications, and merge in the desktop app.
Download now