MergeHelper vs. GitPigeon

GitPigeon takes a very focused approach to GitHub notifications. Instead of showing the full notification inbox, it only alerts you when something truly needs your attention: mentions in comments, review requests, review activity, and CI check results. If you want to reduce noise without giving up critical GitHub signals, GitPigeon is a solid option.

MergeHelper is aimed at a different workflow. It is not a notification filter, it is a review tracker. It keeps every pull request and merge request in one menubar list, including GitHub and GitLab, and shows status, CI, approvals, and age so you can prioritize reviews quickly.

If you live entirely in GitHub and want a quiet, curated notification stream, GitPigeon does that well. If you need a unified review queue that spans GitHub and GitLab, MergeHelper can be a better fit.

Think of GitPigeon as a smart notification filter. Think of MergeHelper as a review dashboard for PRs and MRs across platforms with live CI, approvals, and build log access.

Quick comparison

Screenshots

MergeHelper keeps GitHub and GitLab reviews together in one list.

GitPigeon filters GitHub notifications down to high-signal events.

Detailed feature breakdown

Tradeoffs to consider

GitPigeon is intentionally selective, which is its biggest strength and its biggest limitation. You get fewer notifications, but you do not see the full PR list. That means it is possible for a PR to age quietly if it never triggers one of the high-signal events that GitPigeon watches.

MergeHelper does the opposite. It keeps the whole review queue visible, which is invaluable for team leads and reviewers, but it can feel less quiet if you prefer minimal alerts. The tradeoff is between a calm notification stream and full visibility into the review backlog.

For individual contributors, GitPigeon can be a strong fit because it lets you focus on your own mentions and reviews. For teams with shared review responsibilities or time-to-merge goals, the full queue in MergeHelper makes it easier to see what is stuck and to rebalance workload across reviewers.

Roadmap and future proofing

GitPigeon has a GitLab waitlist, which suggests possible future support, but today it is GitHub-only. If you expect your team to adopt GitLab or already use it for internal repositories, you will need a second tool alongside GitPigeon.

MergeHelper supports GitHub and GitLab today, so it is a safer long-term choice if your organization spans both platforms. It avoids the friction of switching tools later and keeps your review workflow consistent as your repo mix changes.

Workflow examples

If you are a developer who gets overwhelmed by notifications, GitPigeon can feel like a relief. It only pings you when someone mentions you, requests a review, or when CI status changes. That keeps you in flow while still catching important events.

If your day is heavily tied to CI outcomes, GitPigeon is especially useful because it surfaces check failures and recoveries quickly. You can react fast without opening a browser, but you still do not get a full view of the overall review backlog.

If you are a reviewer or team lead who needs to see the full queue, MergeHelper can be a better fit. You can scan every open PR and MR in one list, notice which ones are aging, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

If your team is split across GitHub and GitLab, MergeHelper gives you a unified list. GitPigeon does not cover GitLab, so you would still need a second tool for MRs.

Setup and privacy

GitPigeon connects to GitHub using a GitHub App, which lets it receive specific events and send notifications through Apple services. The app focuses on delivery rather than storing data, and it keeps the setup flow simple for GitHub users.

Because GitPigeon uses its own notification pipeline, some event metadata flows through its servers before it reaches your Mac. The app is designed to keep that lightweight, but it is still a different model than local-only processing.

MergeHelper connects with GitHub and GitLab tokens and stores them in the macOS Keychain. It processes PR and MR data locally and does not collect usage analytics. If you prefer a tool that keeps review data on your device, that model is a good fit.

Why choose MergeHelper

MergeHelper is built for developers who need a full review queue across GitHub and GitLab. It is a fast way to see what is open, what needs attention, and whether CI and approvals are ready without switching between platforms.

The interface is intentionally minimal and centered on PR/MR status, CI, and approvals, so you can make review decisions quickly without sifting through unrelated notifications.

• ✓Unified GitHub and GitLab list in one menubar app
• ✓Review-centric UI with status and age cues
• ✓One-time pricing with lifetime updates

Why choose GitPigeon

GitPigeon is a good fit if you want fewer, higher-signal notifications from GitHub. It focuses on mentions, review events, and CI checks so you can stay in flow and avoid a noisy inbox.

It is also free and macOS-native, which makes it an easy choice for developers who only need GitHub support and want a minimal notification filter.

• ✓Selective alerts for mentions, reviews, and CI status
• ✓Free and lightweight macOS app
• ✓Great for developers who want fewer interruptions

Pricing comparison

Can you use both?

Yes, and some developers do. GitPigeon can handle high-signal GitHub notifications while MergeHelper provides the full review queue across GitHub and GitLab with CI, approvals, and build logs in view. This combination gives you fewer interruptions and better visibility.

If you only need GitHub and you prefer minimal alerts, GitPigeon alone may be enough. If you are responsible for keeping the review queue moving or you work in GitLab as well, MergeHelper will cover more of your day-to-day workflow.

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