What's the difference between git fetch and git pull?

Before we talk about the differences between these two Git commands, let's stress their similarities: both are used by Git users to download new data from a remote repository. Git pull and fetch copy changes from a remote GitHub or GitLab repo locally.

Downloading repo updates is an essential step in your daily work - because the remote data you are looking at in your local repository is just a "snapshot". It's only as up-to-date as the last time you explicitly downloaded fresh data from the remote with "fetch" or "pull". It's vital to keep this fact in mind when inspecting remote branches and commits!

Let's now look at the fine but important differences between "fetch" and "pull".

Fetch

$ git fetch origin

git fetch really only downloads new data from a remote repository - but it doesn't integrate any of this new data into your working files. Fetch is great for getting a fresh view on all the things that happened in a remote repository.
Due to it's "harmless" nature, you can rest assured: fetch will never manipulate, destroy, or screw up anything. This means you can never fetch often enough.

Pull

$ git pull origin master

git pull, in contrast, is used with a different goal in mind: to update your current HEAD branch with the latest changes from the remote server. This means that pull not only downloads new data; it also directly integrates it into your current working copy files.

This has a couple of consequences:

• Since "git pull" tries to merge remote changes with your local ones, a so-called "merge conflict" can occur. Check out our in-depth tutorial on How to deal with merge conflicts for more information.
• Like for many other actions, it's highly recommended to start a "git pull" only with a clean working copy. This means that you should not have any uncommitted local changes before you pull. Use Git's Stash feature to save your local changes temporarily.

Git Fetch vs Pull - When to Use One or Another?

Now that we know what git fetch and git pull do, let's summarize the key differences and when to use each command.

Git Fetch vs Pull - Comparison Table

Feature	git fetch	git pull
Downloads remote changes?	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Updates working files?	❌ No	✅ Yes (merges changes into working directory)
Safe to use anytime?	✅ Yes (never overwrites local work)	⚠️ No (this may lead to merge conflicts)
Requires clean working copy?	❌ (No, can be used anytime)	✅ Yes (highly recommended)
Allows previewing before applying changes?	✅ Yes (view changes before merging)	❌ No (immediately applies remote changes)

You Should Use git fetch When…

• You want to check if there are new updates on the remote repository but don't want to apply them immediately.
• You are working on new features and you want to avoid potential merge conflicts.
• You are regularly collaborating with a team and want to stay updated without disrupting your local work.

You Should Use Git Pull When…

• You are ready to update your working directory to match the latest changes from the remote repository.
• You have no uncommitted changes and want to quickly synchronize with the latest version.
• You want to reduce the number of manual steps (since git pull combines git fetch and git merge).

Best Practices

One of the most common best practices is fetching often but pulling only when necessary.

1. Use git fetch frequently to stay informed about incoming changes.
2. Review updates and ensure you don’t have conflicting local changes.
3. Use git pull only when you're ready to merge changes into your working files without causing issues.

By following this approach, you can avoid unnecessary merge conflicts, maintain code stability, and have more control over your repository updates.

Final Words

Understanding the difference between git fetch and git pull is crucial for efficient Git workflow management.

• If you just want to see what’s changed, use git fetch.
• If you want to apply remote changes to your working directory immediately, use git pull.

For beginners, a good rule of thumb is to fetch first, review changes, and pull only when necessary — this helps prevent unexpected conflicts and ensures a smoother collaboration process.

Learn More

• Check out the chapter Inspecting Remote Data in our free online book
• More frequently asked questions about Git & version control