diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 42c730e..8037ac2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 # cfgraft
 
-A small Unix-style TUI and CLI for safely syncing files and directories from Git repositories into local configuration paths.
+A small Unix-style CLI for safely syncing files and directories from Git repositories into local configuration paths, with an explicit `tui` subcommand for interactive configuration.
diff --git a/docs/USAGE.md b/docs/USAGE.md
index e992260..52c075d 100644
--- a/docs/USAGE.md
+++ b/docs/USAGE.md
@@ -36,6 +36,36 @@ Each configured source gets its own state file named after the source ID, such a
 
 Older `~/.config/cfgraft/state.yaml` files are still read for compatibility and are removed after the next successful split-state write. Do not edit state files by hand. Hashes are intentionally kept out of `config.yaml` so the config remains the user-owned source of truth.
 
+## Commands
+
+Run `cfgraft` without a subcommand to show top-level help, including available subcommands and global environment flags.
+
+```text
+cfgraft
+```
+
+Each subcommand also supports `--help`:
+
+```text
+cfgraft tui --help
+cfgraft sync --help
+cfgraft diff --help
+cfgraft version --help
+```
+
+Use `tui` for interactive configuration:
+
+```text
+cfgraft tui
+```
+
+Use `sync` and `diff` for scripting and non-interactive workflows:
+
+```text
+cfgraft sync --dry-run
+cfgraft diff --verbose
+```
+
 ## Configuration
 
 Example:
@@ -152,7 +182,7 @@ If state entries remain for mappings that are no longer referenced by active con
 
 ## TUI
 
-Running `cfgraft` without a subcommand launches a Bubble Tea terminal UI for managing `config.yaml` and running targeted sync operations.
+Run `cfgraft tui` to launch a Bubble Tea terminal UI for managing `config.yaml` and running targeted sync operations.
 
 The TUI uses Bubble Tea v2 with an ASCII `cfgraft` header, contextual breadcrumbs, Bubbles list/table/text-input components, bottom action buttons, hover highlighting, styled selections, and colored messages/errors. It supports:
 
diff --git a/internal/cfgraft/app_test.go b/internal/cfgraft/app_test.go
index 3f16777..d66429e 100644
--- a/internal/cfgraft/app_test.go
+++ b/internal/cfgraft/app_test.go
@@ -41,6 +41,74 @@ func TestSourceIDDerivedFromRepoURL(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRunWithoutSubcommandPrintsRootHelp(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	if err := Run(nil, &stdout, &stderr, "dev"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no stderr, got %q", stderr.String())
+	}
+	out := stdout.String()
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		"Usage:",
+		"cfgraft                 show this help",
+		"cfgraft tui             launch the interactive TUI",
+		"cfgraft sync [flags]",
+		"cfgraft diff [flags]",
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(out, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected help to contain %q, got:\n%s", want, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubcommandHelp(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		args []string
+		want []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "tui",
+			args: []string{"tui", "--help"},
+			want: []string{"Usage:", "cfgraft tui", "interactive cfgraft terminal UI"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "sync",
+			args: []string{"sync", "--help"},
+			want: []string{"Usage:", "cfgraft sync [flags]", "--dry-run", "--interactive", "--force", "--verbose"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "diff",
+			args: []string{"diff", "--help"},
+			want: []string{"Usage:", "cfgraft diff [flags]", "--verbose"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "version",
+			args: []string{"version", "--help"},
+			want: []string{"Usage:", "cfgraft version", "cfgraft --version", "cfgraft -v"},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+			if err := Run(tt.args, &stdout, &stderr, "dev"); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Run returned error: %v", err)
+			}
+			if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("expected no stderr, got %q", stderr.String())
+			}
+			out := stdout.String()
+			for _, want := range tt.want {
+				if !strings.Contains(out, want) {
+					t.Fatalf("expected help to contain %q, got:\n%s", want, out)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestTUIMouseHoverAndClickRegions(t *testing.T) {
 	home := t.TempDir()
 	t.Setenv("HOME", home)
diff --git a/internal/cfgraft/cli.go b/internal/cfgraft/cli.go
index 11f94ad..8012528 100644
--- a/internal/cfgraft/cli.go
+++ b/internal/cfgraft/cli.go
@@ -24,10 +24,21 @@ func VersionString(version string) string {
 
 func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, version string) error {
 	if len(args) == 0 {
-		return runTUI()
+		printHelp(stdout)
+		return nil
 	}
 	switch args[0] {
+	case "tui":
+		if wantsHelp(args[1:]) {
+			printTUIHelp(stdout)
+			return nil
+		}
+		return runTUI()
 	case "sync":
+		if wantsHelp(args[1:]) {
+			printSyncHelp(stdout)
+			return nil
+		}
 		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("sync", flag.ContinueOnError)
 		fs.SetOutput(stderr)
 		opts := SyncOptions{Refresh: true}
@@ -40,6 +51,10 @@ func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, version string) error {
 		}
 		return syncCommand(opts, stdout)
 	case "diff":
+		if wantsHelp(args[1:]) {
+			printDiffHelp(stdout)
+			return nil
+		}
 		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("diff", flag.ContinueOnError)
 		fs.SetOutput(stderr)
 		verbose := fs.Bool("verbose", false, "show safety information")
@@ -47,7 +62,14 @@ func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, version string) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		return diffCommand(*verbose, stdout)
-	case "version", "--version", "-v":
+	case "version":
+		if wantsHelp(args[1:]) {
+			printVersionHelp(stdout)
+			return nil
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintln(stdout, VersionString(version))
+		return nil
+	case "--version", "-v":
 		fmt.Fprintln(stdout, VersionString(version))
 		return nil
 	case "help", "--help", "-h":
@@ -58,11 +80,21 @@ func Run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, version string) error {
 	}
 }
 
+func wantsHelp(args []string) bool {
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		if arg == "--help" || arg == "-h" || arg == "help" {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func printHelp(w io.Writer) {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, `cfgraft safely synchronizes files from Git repositories.
 
 Usage:
-  cfgraft                 launch the interactive TUI
+  cfgraft                 show this help
+  cfgraft tui             launch the interactive TUI
   cfgraft sync [flags]    refresh repositories and synchronize mappings
   cfgraft diff [flags]    compare cached sources with destinations
   cfgraft version         print version
@@ -77,8 +109,59 @@ Environment:
   NO_COLOR       disable colored output
 
 Examples:
-  cfgraft
+  cfgraft tui
+  cfgraft sync --dry-run
+  cfgraft sync --interactive
+  cfgraft diff --verbose`)
+}
+
+func printTUIHelp(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, `Launch the interactive cfgraft terminal UI.
+
+Usage:
+  cfgraft tui
+
+The TUI manages config.yaml sources and mappings, and can run sync or diff
+operations for all sources or a selected source.`)
+}
+
+func printSyncHelp(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, `Refresh repositories and synchronize configured mappings.
+
+Usage:
+  cfgraft sync [flags]
+
+Flags:
+  --force        overwrite conflicts with repository content
+  --interactive  prompt for each conflict
+  --dry-run      plan changes without writing destinations or state
+  --verbose      show no-op and extra detail
+
+Examples:
   cfgraft sync --dry-run
   cfgraft sync --interactive
+  cfgraft sync --force --verbose`)
+}
+
+func printDiffHelp(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, `Compare cached source content with local destinations.
+
+Usage:
+  cfgraft diff [flags]
+
+Flags:
+  --verbose      show safety information for conflicts
+
+Examples:
+  cfgraft diff
   cfgraft diff --verbose`)
 }
+
+func printVersionHelp(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, `Print cfgraft version information.
+
+Usage:
+  cfgraft version
+  cfgraft --version
+  cfgraft -v`)
+}