If you like GitHub Desktop but need multiple GitHub accounts, the shortest path is not an "alternative" — it's the fork built for exactly that gap: GITmaxed. GITmaxed is GitHub Desktop with multi-account support added: the same interface you already know, with every account signed in at once and each repository permanently bound to its account. If you want to evaluate the whole field first: one other community fork (Desktop Plus) also adds multi-account; paid clients like GitKraken cover it through a Profiles feature; everything else either signs into one account (official GitHub Desktop) or leaves you configuring credentials yourself.
Why people search for a GitHub Desktop alternative
The same request repeats in GitHub's issue tracker for years (#3707 and its dozens of duplicates): "I have a personal account and a work account — let me add both." The official answer hasn't changed: one GitHub.com account plus one Enterprise account, sign-out required to switch. Workarounds (rotation, SSH side-channel, sandboxed second instance) all add friction to a daily workflow. That's the gap alternatives fill.
Your options, ranked for the multi-account use case
| Option | Type | Multi-account | Price | Learning curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GITmaxed | GitHub Desktop fork (Windows) | Native, simultaneous, per-repository binding | Free, open source | Zero — it is GitHub Desktop's UI |
| Desktop Plus | GitHub Desktop fork (Win/mac/Linux) | Native, simultaneous; multi-host (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg, Gitea) | Free, open source | Zero — same UI family |
| GitKraken Desktop | Independent client | Via Profiles — one account per profile, switch to change | Paid subscription required | Medium — new app entirely |
| GitHub Desktop + SSH for account #2 | Official app + manual setup | Partial — account B's repos on SSH keys | Free | Medium — key + URL management |
| GitHub Desktop + rotation | Official app + discipline | One at a time; sign out/in per switch | Free | Low per switch, high over a week |
GITmaxed: the fork that closes the gap
GITmaxed tracks GitHub Desktop's latest stable releases, so every screen, shortcut, and interaction you use today stays the same. The differences are additive:
- Accounts pane takes multiple logins — add personal, work, client accounts; no "existing account" warning replaces your session.
- Per-repository account assignment — pick the acting account per repository; it persists. Pushes, pulls, fetches, and "View on GitHub" use that account's token.
- Automatic assignment by folder — repositories cloned into a folder named after an account are bound to it on add.
- Per-account token isolation — credentials are stored per account; removing one never breaks another.
Migration takes minutes: install GITmaxed, add each account through the OAuth flow, open each repository once and confirm its account binding (folder-named clones assign themselves). Your repositories, history, and remotes are untouched — it reads the same .git folders.
When a different option makes more sense
- You need multiple hosts (GitLab + GitHub + Gitea at once) → Desktop Plus covers more providers in one window.
- You already pay for GitKraken and its issue-tracker/PR features → its Profiles meet the need with identity switching.
- You live in the terminal → skip GUIs: per-repository credentials +
gh auth switch(see our setup guide). - You need an official GitHub product for compliance reasons → you're stuck with one account per install in GitHub Desktop.
Related questions answered (the same queries, one by one)
Is there a GitHub Desktop alternative that supports multiple accounts?
Yes — GITmaxed is the direct answer: a free GitHub Desktop fork whose core feature is simultaneous multi-account support with per-repository binding.
Is there a fork of GitHub Desktop with multiple accounts?
Two maintained ones: GITmaxed (GitHub-focused, per-repository account assignment) and Desktop Plus (multi-host: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg, Gitea).
Can I just patch GitHub Desktop to add a second account?
Unofficial patches exist but break on every update and touch authentication code. A maintained fork updates with upstream instead — that's the sane version of "patching".
What can I use instead of signing out of GitHub Desktop to switch accounts?
In GITmaxed there is no global account to switch — each repository has its own binding, so both identities are always active.
Does switching to GITmaxed mean learning a new Git client?
No — it's a GitHub Desktop fork. If you can use Desktop, you can use GITmaxed; the only new surface is the accounts list and the per-repository account picker.
Are GitHub Desktop forks safe to use?
Open-source forks are auditable; GITmaxed is MIT-licensed and tracks upstream stable releases. Check the source, build it yourself if you want, and treat any client's OAuth tokens with normal care.
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