GitHub App vs. GitHub OAuth: When to Use Which?

GitHub offers two primary methods for building integrations: GitHub Apps and GitHub OAuth Apps, each with distinct characteristics and use cases. GitHub Apps are the modern choice, ideal for organizations and business-critical integrations, providing security, flexibility, and persistent access even when users change. They support bot-like functionality and fine-grained permissions and are designed for scalability and better webhook support. Conversely, GitHub OAuth Apps, considered the "classic" method, are user-centric, granting broad access to personal user data and are suitable for personal productivity tools due to their simpler installation and permission inheritance. While OAuth is easier to implement, its dependence on individual users and lack of independent bot mode make it less suitable for organizational needs. The decision between these two integration paths depends heavily on the target audience and specific use cases, with GitHub Apps generally recommended for business applications and team-focused products, while OAuth remains useful for personal tools and straightforward integrations.