Graphite is a code review and stacked pull request platform built on top of GitHub. It targets engineering teams whose review process slows down when developers must wait for large pull requests to be approved before continuing their work. Instead of one large diff, Graphite lets developers split a feature into a series of small, dependent branches that can be submitted and reviewed as a linked stack.
The core problem Graphite addresses is review latency and idle developer time. In a typical GitHub workflow, engineers either wait on a pending pull request or bundle unrelated changes into one oversized submission. Graphite’s stacking model lets a developer keep building on top of unmerged work, so review and continued development happen in parallel rather than in sequence.
Graphite combines a command-line tool, a web-based review inbox, and an automated merge queue. The `gt` CLI manages branch stacks locally and maps them to linked GitHub pull requests. Reviewers work from the Graphite inbox or directly on GitHub, while the merge queue rebases, tests, and merges stacked branches in sequence to keep the main branch stable. AI features generate pull request summaries and provide an initial automated review pass before a human looks at the code.
In December 2025, Cursor announced an agreement to acquire Graphite. As of this review, Graphite continues to operate under its own brand and product, with contact and demo requests now routed through Cursor’s sales pages. The companies have stated plans for deeper integration between code writing and code review over time, but Graphite’s existing GitHub-based workflow has not changed as a result of the deal.
Pricing
Graphite currently offers four tiers, billed annually for paid plans. Hobby is free and covers personal repositories with limited AI reviews and limited Graphite Chat. Starter costs $20 per user per month and adds full GitHub organization support, Slack notifications, and team insights. Team costs $40 per user per month, is marked as the most popular plan, and unlocks unlimited AI reviews and Chat, automations, and the merge queue, with a free trial offered on this tier. Enterprise pricing is custom and adds SAML/SSO, audit logging, access controls, GitHub Enterprise Server support, and premium SLAs.
* Disclaimer: Please note that pricing information may not be up to date. For the most accurate and current pricing details, refer to the official website.
Key Features
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CLI (gt) that automates creating and rebasing stacked branches
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Centralized inbox with filters and hotkeys for review triage
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Automated merge queue that rebases and merges stacks in order
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AI-generated pull request titles and descriptions from git diffs
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AI code reviewer that flags bugs and style issues pre-review
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Team insights tracking review turnaround time and PR size
Use Cases
Reviewing Large Features Incrementally
An engineer building a change of over 1,000 lines splits it into several smaller stacked pull requests instead of one large submission. Reviewers can then inspect each self-contained change in sequence, which tends to speed up approval and produce a more thorough review.
Unblocking Downstream Development
A developer finishes backend work and wants to start the related UI before the backend pull request is approved. Running gt create stacks the new branch directly on the unmerged one, so work continues without waiting on review.
Triaging a High-Volume Review Queue
Engineering managers and senior developers often struggle to tell which pull requests need immediate attention versus those still waiting on checks or author changes. The Graphite inbox sorts requests into categories such as needing review, waiting on author, and ready to merge.
Merging a Stack Without Breaking CI
Manually merging five dependent pull requests means rebasing each branch by hand as the one before it lands. The Graphite merge queue handles rebasing, testing, and sequential merging automatically once every branch in the stack is approved.
Cutting Pull Request Documentation Time
Writing a clear title and description for every small branch in a stack adds up over a busy sprint. Graphite’s AI reads the diff and drafts a summary automatically, reducing the administrative work around each pull request.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Lets developers keep building while earlier work in the stack is still under review.
Works directly on top of existing GitHub repositories with no migration required.
Offers a keyboard-driven web interface built for fast review sessions.
Automates rebasing and restacking through the gt CLI instead of manual Git commands.
Includes a free Hobby tier with the core stacking workflow, not just a time-limited trial.
Weaknesses
Stacking is a different mental model from standard Git workflows and takes time to learn.
Built specifically for GitHub, so teams on GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps cannot use it.
The merge queue and unlimited AI reviews require the $40 per user Team plan, not the entry tiers.
Recent acquisition by Cursor adds uncertainty about how the product and pricing may evolve.
Who Is This For?
Fast-moving engineering teams: teams hitting review bottlenecks can use stacking to ship smaller, faster-reviewed changes.
Individual developers: engineers who want to keep working on dependent code without waiting on a pending review.
Engineering managers and tech leads: leaders who want visibility into review turnaround time and PR sizing across a team.
GitHub-based enterprise organizations: larger orgs needing SAML/SSO, audit logging, and a managed merge queue at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Graphite replace GitHub?
No. Graphite runs on top of GitHub, and your code, pull requests, and permissions stay hosted there as the source of truth.
What does Graphite cost?
Hobby is free. Starter is $20 per user per month and Team is $40 per user per month, both billed annually. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Which plan includes the merge queue?
The merge queue is included from the Team plan upward. Starter and Hobby do not include it.
Can one developer use Graphite if the rest of the team does not?
Yes. An individual can manage stacks and submit pull requests with the CLI, and reviewers can still review the resulting PRs directly on GitHub.
What is “stacking” in a Git workflow?
Stacking means breaking a large feature into small, sequential branches built on top of each other, so each piece can be reviewed on its own while later work continues.
Does Graphite support GitLab or Bitbucket?
No. Graphite is built specifically for GitHub repositories.
Is there a learning curve for teams new to stacking?
Yes. Teams need to learn new CLI commands and a stacking workflow that differs from a typical single-branch GitHub process.
Has Graphite been acquired?
Yes. Cursor announced an agreement to acquire Graphite in December 2025. Graphite has continued operating under its own brand and product since the announcement.
What security or compliance options does Graphite offer?
The Enterprise plan includes SAML/SSO, audit logging, and access controls. Specific compliance certifications should be confirmed directly with Graphite’s sales team.
Is there a free trial?
The Hobby plan is free indefinitely. A free trial is offered specifically on the Team plan rather than across all paid tiers.
Graphite integrates with GitHub for repository, pull request, and check syncing. It offers Slack notifications for review and merge activity, starting on the Starter plan and expanding on Team. A Visual Studio Code extension is available for viewing and managing stacks inside the editor. SAML/SSO is available on the Enterprise plan for identity management. No other public integrations are listed on Graphite’s site at the time of this review.