Graphite

Graphite is a GitHub-focused code review platform for developers and teams that manage changes as stacked pull requests. It is best suited to teams that want stack-aware review and merging alongside AI assistance, and are willing to pay per user for the fuller team workflow.

Overview

Graphite brings pull request stacks, a review inbox, AI tools, and merge automation into one GitHub-centered workflow. Its focus is a strength for teams coordinating related changes across multiple PRs; it is a poor fit for teams that depend on another Git provider or need to host the service themselves. Graphite currently integrates only with GitHub and does not offer self-hosting.

Key features

Stacks and review inbox

The CLI lets developers create, visualize, publish, update, and sync stacks of pull requests. That makes Graphite especially relevant when related work is easier to review in smaller, sequenced changes. Its inbox sorts review requests and other PRs into customizable sections and searches across synced repositories. Hobby is limited to three default repositories in the inbox, while Team and Enterprise allow up to 30, so teams with broader repository coverage may need a paid tier.

AI review and merge queue

Graphite Chat can summarize PRs, answer code questions, suggest and apply edits, search codebase context, and help diagnose CI failures. Automated AI Reviews and custom review rules add a code-review layer, but Hobby and Starter have limited Chat and AI Reviews; unlimited access and review customizations begin with Team. The stack-aware merge queue automates merges and can skip redundant tests to optimize CI, a practical advantage for teams that make heavy use of stacks. It is also a Team feature, not part of the entry-level paid plan.

Integrations and security

Documented integrations include GitHub, Slack, Linear, and a VS Code extension; Graphite’s documentation also covers a Mac menu bar app. Reviewing and merging PRs from Slack is limited to pull requests of up to 25 lines. The Linear integration requires both a Linear account and a Graphite Team or Enterprise plan. Graphite says it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and regularly conducts penetration testing. It also says code sent for Chat analysis is not used by AI providers for training and that only relevant PR content is sent.

Pricing

Graphite has a free Hobby plan, a 30-day trial, and paid plans priced per user per month with annual billing. The annual term matters for teams budgeting headcount: Starter is $20 a month per user and Team is $40 a month per user, both billed annually.

Platforms

Graphite is available on the web and through its CLI, VS Code extension, and Mac menu bar app. Its listed platform coverage also includes Linux, Windows, macOS, API, and extension. The Git provider constraint remains important: Graphite currently integrates only with GitHub, including GitHub Enterprise Cloud and GitHub Enterprise Server support on Enterprise.

Who it's for

Graphite is a strong match for GitHub teams that routinely split related work into stacked PRs and want an inbox, AI review, and automated merging in the same workflow. Hobby can suit an individual evaluating the approach, while Starter fits teams seeking organization repositories and insights without Team-level AI or merge automation. Teams that need those capabilities, Slack-based review beyond notifications, or Linear integration should account for the Team price. Teams on a non-GitHub provider or requiring self-hosting should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The CLI manages the full stack lifecycle, while the merge queue is designed for stacks and can skip redundant CI tests.
• Pros: Chat combines PR summaries, code questions, edits, codebase search, and CI failure diagnosis; Team removes the Hobby and Starter limits on Chat and AI Reviews.
• Pros: Custom inbox sections and cross-repository search help organize review work, with a 30-repository cap on Team and Enterprise.
• Cons: GitHub is the only integrated Git provider, excluding teams centered on other hosts.
• Cons: The inbox cap is three default repositories on Hobby, and key features such as unlimited AI Reviews, automations, and Merge Queue require the $40 per user/month annual Team plan.
• Cons: Slack review and merging is confined to PRs of up to 25 lines; Linear integration requires Team or Enterprise and a Linear account.
• Cons: There is no self-hosted deployment, which rules Graphite out for teams that require one.

Alternatives

Compare code review software if you want to consider the category more broadly. Choose CodeRabbit if you want a freemium code review option with a free plan for public repositories and self-hosted platform support. Review Board is worth considering if open-source software under the MIT license and a free Community plan are priorities. LiveReview is another freemium option with a free plan. Choose Octopus if a free, source-available self-hosted plan with customer-supplied AI keys or local models suits your deployment needs. CodeAnt AI is a paid option with a 14-day free trial and no free plan. Gerrit Code Review is an open-source choice with no licensing fees and no usage-scale restrictions. Gitar offers a no-cost plan for qualifying public GitHub or GitLab repositories with an OSI-approved license. Greptile offers a free Starter tier with 50 credits per month, one active developer, and unlimited repositories; its Pro plan costs $30 a month per seat.

Verdict

Choose Graphite if your GitHub team works in stacked pull requests and wants review, AI assistance, and stack-aware merging in one workflow. The strongest reason to buy is the combination of stack management and merge automation; the clearest reasons to look elsewhere are GitHub-only integration, no self-hosting, and the $40 per user/month annual Team price for unlimited AI and the merge queue.