MergeHelper vs. MergeQuest
MergeQuest is a dedicated GitLab merge request notification tool for macOS. MergeHelper tracks pull requests and merge requests across both GitHub and GitLab. Here is how they compare.
MergeQuest is built specifically for teams who work exclusively on GitLab. It lives in your menubar and surfaces merge request activity with a focus on keeping you informed about what needs review or approval. If GitLab is your only platform, MergeQuest is a straightforward, purpose-built tool.
MergeHelper is designed for developers and teams who split their work between GitHub and GitLab. Instead of managing notifications separately on each platform, MergeHelper brings all pull requests and merge requests into one unified menubar list with PR/MR event notifications, live CI, and approvals. You see everything in one place and eliminate the need to context switch between tools.
The key tradeoff: MergeQuest is optimized for GitLab-only workflows and may offer deeper GitLab-specific features. MergeHelper sacrifices some depth in exchange for breadth, covering both GitHub and GitLab with a consistent interface and unified review queue.
In short, MergeQuest is for GitLab-exclusive teams. MergeHelper is for teams that need one place to manage code review across both platforms.
Quick comparison
| Feature | MergeHelper | MergeQuest |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub support | ✓ | - |
| GitLab support | ✓ | ✓ |
| macOS menubar app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unified GitHub + GitLab list | ✓ | - |
| GitLab-focused features | Standard | ✓ |
| Self-hosted GitLab support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native macOS design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing | Free (up to 3 PRs/MRs) $12 one-time for unlimited |
Check MergeQuest website |
Screenshots
MergeHelper shows GitHub PRs and GitLab MRs together in one unified list.
MergeQuest focuses exclusively on GitLab merge request notifications.
Detailed feature breakdown
Platform coverage and focus
MergeQuest is built exclusively for GitLab. It integrates deeply with GitLab's merge request workflow and may offer features specific to GitLab's ecosystem, like pipeline status, approval rules, and GitLab-specific metadata. If your team is all-in on GitLab, that focus can be an advantage because the app is designed around one platform's capabilities.
MergeHelper supports both GitHub and GitLab, which means it provides a consistent interface across both platforms but may not expose every GitLab-specific feature. The value is in the unified list: you see all your PRs and MRs side by side with CI, approvals, and build logs attached, which is critical for teams that work across both platforms.
Self-hosted GitLab and enterprise support
Both MergeHelper and MergeQuest support self-hosted GitLab instances, which is essential for teams using GitLab on-premise or in private cloud environments. You can configure custom URLs and credentials to connect to your internal GitLab server without relying on the public GitLab.com service.
The difference is that MergeHelper also connects to GitHub Enterprise, so if your organization uses both GitHub Enterprise and self-hosted GitLab, MergeHelper can unify those environments in one app. MergeQuest stays focused on GitLab only.
Notification scope and filtering
MergeQuest is designed to surface GitLab merge requests and related activity. Depending on its implementation, it may show MRs assigned to you, MRs you authored, or MRs that need your approval. The scope is intentionally narrow to keep the list focused on what you need to act on.
MergeHelper takes the same narrow approach but applies it to both platforms. You see PRs and MRs from GitHub and GitLab in one list, filtered by relevance to your work. The goal is to make code review feel like one unified queue rather than two separate inboxes.
User interface and integration depth
MergeQuest is likely optimized for GitLab's terminology, metadata, and workflow. It may surface GitLab-specific details like approval status, CI pipeline results, and merge request age in ways that match GitLab's own interface. This can make the app feel like a natural extension of GitLab.
MergeHelper uses a platform-agnostic interface that works for both GitHub and GitLab. You see similar status indicators and metadata across both platforms, which keeps the experience consistent but may not expose every platform-specific detail. The tradeoff is simplicity and unification over depth.
Update frequency and navigation
MergeQuest keeps your merge request list synchronized with GitLab and provides direct links to the merge request pages. It is optimized for GitLab's review workflow, so the app stays focused on getting you to the right place quickly without distractions.
MergeHelper uses smart polling to keep both GitHub and GitLab lists up to date. You can click through to the review page on either platform, and the app handles the navigation seamlessly. The update cadence is tuned to balance responsiveness with battery life and API rate limits.
Workflow examples
If your team works exclusively on GitLab, MergeQuest is a straightforward choice. You get a dedicated tool that speaks GitLab's language and may expose deeper GitLab-specific features. The app stays focused on one platform, which keeps the interface simple and the feature set targeted.
If your team splits work between GitHub and GitLab, MergeQuest covers the GitLab portion. You would still need a separate tool or browser tabs for GitHub, which can reintroduce context switching. MergeHelper shows all PRs and MRs in one list.
If you expect to expand to GitHub in the future, starting with MergeHelper can reduce a later tool switch. If you are deeply invested in GitLab and have no plans to use GitHub, MergeQuest's single-platform focus may be a better fit.
Setup and security
MergeQuest connects to GitLab using a personal access token with appropriate scopes. For self-hosted GitLab, you configure the instance URL and provide credentials. Data is handled locally on your Mac, which keeps your merge request information private and fast.
MergeHelper requires tokens for both GitHub and GitLab if you use both platforms. All credentials are stored in the macOS Keychain, and data processing happens locally on your device. The app does not collect usage analytics or send your data to external servers, so you maintain full control.
Why choose MergeHelper
MergeHelper is a menubar app that unifies GitHub and GitLab pull requests and merge requests in one place. If your team uses both platforms, the unified list reduces context switching while keeping CI, approvals, and build logs close to the review list.
Even if you primarily use GitLab today, MergeHelper provides flexibility for the future. If your organization adopts GitHub for new projects or acquires a team that uses GitHub, you will not need to change tools or manage multiple apps.
- ✓Unified GitHub and GitLab PR/MR tracking in one menubar app
- ✓Support for self-hosted GitLab and GitHub Enterprise
- ✓Future-proof if your team adopts GitHub later
Why choose MergeQuest
MergeQuest is a solid choice for teams that work exclusively on GitLab and want a dedicated tool optimized for GitLab's merge request workflow. The single-platform focus means the app can go deeper into GitLab-specific features.
If you have no need for GitHub support and want an app that speaks GitLab's language natively, MergeQuest's focus can be an advantage. It stays simple and targeted without the complexity of managing multiple platforms.
- ✓Dedicated GitLab merge request tracking
- ✓Potentially deeper GitLab-specific features
- ✓Single-platform focus for GitLab-only teams
Pricing comparison
MergeHelper
Free for up to 3 concurrent PRs/MRs.
$12 one-time purchase unlocks unlimited tracking with lifetime updates.
MergeQuest
Check the MergeQuest website for current pricing and feature details.
Compare more apps
The bottom line
MergeQuest is a good fit for teams that work exclusively on GitLab and want a dedicated, GitLab-focused menubar app. MergeHelper is for teams that need a unified view of pull requests and merge requests across both GitHub and GitLab.
If you only use GitLab and have no plans to expand to GitHub, MergeQuest's single-platform focus is a good fit. If you use both platforms or expect to in the future, MergeHelper keeps your review workflow unified. Teams that split work between GitHub and GitLab often see the most benefit because MergeHelper replaces two separate inboxes with one centralized list.