GitHub vs GitLab
By Sebastiaan Smits ·
Published October 8, 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026
GitHub is where the contributors, open source projects and third-party integrations already are, and its Actions marketplace lets a team install pipelines instead of writing them. GitLab is one application for the whole toolchain, from repositories to scanning and planning, and it can be self-managed. Teams that rely on the ecosystem choose GitHub; teams that want one platform they can host themselves choose GitLab.
Side by side
 GitHub |  GitLab | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The default Git host, owned by Microsoft | Repos, CI/CD, scanning and planning in one product |
| Best for | Teams that want the biggest ecosystem and easiest hiring | Teams that want to consolidate several tools into one |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Pricing model | Per user / month | Per user / month |
| Pricing | Free plan covers unlimited public and private repositories; Team is $4 per user per month and Enterprise starts at $21 per user per month, both shown as rates for the first 12 months, published. | Free tier for up to 5 users per top-level group with 400 compute minutes a month; Premium is $29 per user per month billed annually, published; Ultimate is priced on request. |
| Free option | Free plan | Free plan |
| List price as listed on October 8, 2026 | $4 per user per month for the first 12 months (Team); Free plan available | $29 per user per month billed annually (Premium); Free tier up to 5 users per top-level group on GitLab.com |
| Place in our version control software ranking | #4 of 15 | #5 of 15 |
| Website | github.com | about.gitlab.com |
Both are reviewed in full in Best Version Control Software in 2026. Position in that ranking can be paid for; the wording of a review or of this comparison cannot. Placement disclosure.
Which one to choose
Choose GitHub if
you want the largest pool of developers and integrations, hiring is easy because engineers already have accounts, and you are content with a US cloud service.
GitHub, #4 in the ranking · Visit GitHub →
Choose GitLab if
you want source control, pipelines, scanning and planning in one permission model, or you need to run the platform on your own infrastructure.
GitLab, #5 in the ranking · Visit GitLab →
Where they differ
Ecosystem and hiring
More engineers hold a GitHub account, more open source projects live there, and more third-party tools integrate with it than with any other host in this category. That shows up in hiring and in how many Actions a team can install instead of write. GitLab has a loyal following, but candidates and contributors meet it less often.
Edge: GitHub
One platform or a marketplace
GitLab replaces the whole toolchain in one product: source control, pipelines, a registry, scanning and planning share one permissions model. GitHub reaches the same ground through a marketplace of separate apps, plus Codespaces and its security scanning. For a team that wants fewer vendors and one place for audit, GitLab is the tighter fit.
Edge: GitLab
Hosting it yourself
GitLab can be self-managed on your own infrastructure, offers a single-tenant Dedicated option, and its Community Edition is open source. The 5-user cap on the free tier applies to GitLab.com and not to self-managed. Self-managed GitLab does want real server resources and ongoing maintenance. The GitHub plans we checked are a cloud service, so GitLab is the choice if the operator's location matters.
Edge: GitLab
What each tier includes
GitHub's Free plan gives 2,000 Actions minutes a month; Team is $4 per user per month with 3,000 minutes, and Enterprise from $21 with 50,000 minutes and SAML single sign-on, both prices shown for the first 12 months. GitLab Free allows 5 users per top-level group on GitLab.com with 400 compute minutes; Premium is $29 per user per month billed annually with 10,000 minutes, and Ultimate is quoted. GitHub's entry prices are lower, but the promotional wording means the longer-term rate is not shown.
Edge: GitHub
Moving your pipelines
Pipelines written for GitHub Actions have to be rewritten as GitLab CI, and the reverse is true. That makes the first choice sticky; we have not benchmarked migration time and it will depend on how many workflows you maintain. Neither wins, but decide before the pipeline count grows.
Edge: even
Tally: GitHub 2, GitLab 2, even 1.
When neither fits
A small team that only needs repository hosting, with no wish to pay for or maintain a platform that also runs scanning and planning, fits neither. Gitea has a near-zero footprint, and Bitbucket and Azure DevOps cost less for comparable controls.
See Gitea, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps among the 15 products in Best Version Control Software in 2026.
Questions and answers
Is GitLab better than GitHub for self-hosting?
Yes, on the evidence we checked. GitLab lists self-managed and single-tenant Dedicated options, and its Community Edition is open source. The GitHub plans we checked describe a cloud service. Self-managed GitLab needs real server resources and maintenance.
How much do GitHub and GitLab cost per user?
GitHub lists Team at $4 and Enterprise from $21 per user per month, both for the first 12 months. GitLab lists Premium at $29 per user per month billed annually and quotes Ultimate. Both have a free tier. GitLab's free tier on GitLab.com is limited to 5 users per top-level group.
Do GitHub and GitLab include CI/CD minutes?
Yes. GitHub Free includes 2,000 Actions minutes a month, Team 3,000 and Enterprise 50,000. GitLab Free includes 400 compute minutes, Premium 10,000 and Ultimate 50,000. Public repositories on GitHub run Actions free.
Can I move from GitHub to GitLab easily?
Repositories move easily, since both use Git. Pipelines do not: workflows written as GitHub Actions must be rewritten as GitLab CI. We did not time a migration, so plan it per pipeline.
Sources
Prices, plan limits and product facts on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on October 8, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.
- GitHub pricing page: GitHub plan prices, Actions minutes, package storage and SAML SSO on Enterprise
- GitLab pricing page: GitLab plan prices, compute minutes, the 5-user free limit on GitLab.com and self-managed and Dedicated options