Side by side
Git FetchvsGit Pull
What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?
Updated 2 min read6 differences
In short
git fetch downloads new commits without touching your work, while git pull fetches and then immediately merges or rebases them into your current branch.
Git Fetch
git fetch downloads new commits, branches and tags from a remote and updates remote-tracking branches like origin/main but not your own branches or files.
Read the page on Git FetchGit Pull
Git pull is a Git command that downloads new commits from a remote repository and immediately integrates them into your current local branch.
Read the page on Git PullGit Fetch and Git Pull compared
| Aspect | Git Fetch | Git Pull |
|---|---|---|
| Downloads commits | Yes | Yes |
| Changes your branch | No | Yes, merges or rebases |
| Changes your files | No | Yes |
| Can cause conflicts | No | Yes, if both sides changed |
| Updates origin/main | Yes | Yes |
| Typical use | Inspect remote changes before integrating | Get up to date quickly |
The difference, explained
Both talk to a remote repository and download commits you don't have yet. git fetch stops there: it updates references such as origin/main so you can see what changed, but your local branches, staged changes and files stay exactly as they were.
git pull is git fetch plus a second step. By default it merges the fetched branch into your current branch, creating a merge commit if both sides have new commits; with --rebase, or the pull.rebase setting, it replays your local commits on top of the fetched ones instead. If there are conflicts, you resolve them before the pull completes.
Fetching first gives you a chance to review: git log main..origin/main lists incoming commits and git diff main origin/main shows the changes, and then you merge or rebase deliberately. Pulling is the quick option when you just want to get up to date and expect no surprises, which is most of the time on a personal branch.
A common misconception is that fetch is pointless because pull does everything. Fetch is the safe, read-only way to inspect a remote, and it is also how editors show that your branch is behind. Setting pull.ff only makes pull refuse anything except a fast-forward, so it never creates an unexpected merge.
Which one should you use?
Choose Git Fetch when…
- You want to see what changed before integrating it.
- You have local work in progress and want no surprises.
- You want to update all remote branches without switching.
Choose Git Pull when…
- You just want your branch up to date with the remote.
- You expect no conflicts, or are ready to resolve them.
- You work alone on the branch and trust the incoming changes.
Readers ask
Is git pull the same as git fetch plus git merge?
Yes, by default. With the --rebase option or the pull.rebase setting, it is git fetch plus git rebase instead.
Is git fetch safe to run anytime?
Yes. It only downloads data and updates remote-tracking branches; it never changes your branches or files.
Should I use pull with merge or rebase?
Rebase keeps history linear and avoids small merge commits on personal branches. Merge preserves exactly how work was combined. Many teams set pull.rebase true for day-to-day work.