GitLab vs. GitHub: Which One Is Right For You?

When it comes to Git repository hosting, GitLab and GitHub are two platforms outstanding in this space. GitHub is popular with over 100 million developers worldwide and hosts approximately 420 million repositories, including 28 million public ones. Meanwhile, GitLab also has its market. According to GitLab Report FY24, in 2024, the GitLab platform reached more than 2,600 supported users who brought 399 new accounts while maintaining 446 active users on average each month.

Both platforms are powerful code management solutions that assist developers with their code tasks. However, each platform serves different specific project requirements. So which platform will be the right choice for your project?

This article compares GitLab vs. GitHub on various features such as repository management, branching approaches, automation, code review, security features, and cost plans. After reading this review, you can determine the platform that matches your business, team, and project requirements in the end.

What is GitLab?

GitLab is a full-stack DevOps platform for end-to-end development. Using this platform, developers can manage code, automate development work, and support better team interactions. 

Unlike GitHub, which primarily focuses on code hosting and collaboration, GitLab offers a full software development lifecycle (SDLC) solution. This system includes Git-based version control, CI/CD automation, security tools, and project management features to store, track, test, secure, and deploy code efficiently.

Moreover, GitLab has both free Community Edition (CE) for individuals and open-source projects, and paid Enterprise Edition (EE) with advanced tools for businesses. Users can use both GitLab repository types, cloud-based service GitLab.com, or the self-hosted version on their servers for enhanced control and security. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses, enterprises, and DevOps teams that need end-to-end control over their projects.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud-based platform that allows teams to manage code and collaborate efficiently. It is built to simplify version control and teamwork for developers. The main purpose of GitHub is to create an open-source platform through code sharing and external tool integration, which makes it popular for public projects, startups, and teams that need fast, seamless collaboration. 

However, while GitLab offers built-in and automated features, this platform still needs manual setup before using GitHub Actions for CI/CD in the platform. GitHub also integrates well with third-party services. Its simplicity and strong developer ecosystem make it ideal for teams that prioritize ease of use and open-source contributions.

GitLab vs. GitHub: Detailed Comparison

Before going into detail, let’s have an overview of GitLab vs. GitHub differences in this comparison table.

Repository Management

GitLab: Self-Hosting & Cloud-based (Full Control)

GitLab gives businesses and developers more control over their repositories. Depending on your project requirements, it allows you to self-host on your servers or use GitLab.com (a cloud-based hosting option) for free. If you're working in an industry that requires strict security measures, such as finance or healthcare, self-hosting GitLab ensures that your code stays behind your firewall.

GitHub: Cloud-Hosting with Enterprise Options

GitHub, on the other hand, was built with a cloud-first approach. It’s widely known for public repositories with limited self-hosted runners, but it also supports private repositories under various paid plans. Although GitHub Enterprise Server does allow for on-premise deployment, it’s not as seamless as GitLab’s self-hosted option.

Branching Strategies

GitLab: Stronger Protection

GitLab lets you enforce strict rules on branches. You can lock down critical branches and define exactly who can push, merge, or even view certain branches. The access control settings in GitLab are also more detailed including guest, reporter, developer, maintainer, and owner. Each role has specific permissions, ensuring teams have the right level of access without overexposing sensitive code. This is useful when working with sensitive codebases where unauthorized changes could cause serious issues.

For teams that follow GitFlow, trunk-based development, or other structured workflows, GitLab supports them out of the box. You can even implement merge request approvals, meaning no code gets merged without multiple people reviewing it first.

GitHub: Simpler Role Management

GitHub supports Git’s standard branching model. You can use protected branches to prevent direct changes to main branches, but the access controls aren’t as detailed as GitLab’s. GitHub only provides 3 basic roles which are read, write, and admin. With these roles, you can only prevent force pushes, require pull request reviews, and enforce specific status checks before merging. If you need more control, GitHub Enterprise allows organizations to define custom permissions, but this requires an additional paid plan.

Code Review & Collaboration

Both GitLab and GitHub offer tools for reviewing code and suggesting changes before merging into the main branch. However, they take different approaches.

GitLab: Merge Requests Built for Teamwork

GitLab provides a more controlled and organized way to review code. Developers submit changes using Merge Requests (MRs), where team members can review, discuss, and approve before merging. In GitLab, teams can set approval rules, requiring one or more senior developers to review changes, ensuring higher code quality and compliance.

The discussion feature also makes tracking feedback and resolving issues easier. GitLab also offers merge rules and automatic checks to ensure that only approved, high-quality code is merged. 

GitHub: Pull Requests for Open-Source & Simplicity

GitHub is designed for quick and simple collaboration. Developers propose changes using Pull Requests (PRs), allowing teammates to review and discuss before merging. Unlike GitLab, GitHub does not require approvals by default, making it more flexible for teams that prefer faster development cycles.

GitHub’s forking model allows developers to copy a project, make improvements, and submit changes. This makes GitHub the best option for open-source contributions, where external developers can easily participate. While GitHub supports inline comments and discussions, it lacks the structured review and approval system that GitLab provides.

>> Read more: Top 10 Automated Code Review Tools For Developers

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

GitLab: Integrated CI/CD

GitLab has CI/CD fully built into the platform. This means that as soon as you create a project in GitLab, you already have CI/CD features available, so your teams don’t need to set up extra tools like Jenkins or CircleCI. 

Setting up automation in GitLab is simple. Developers create a YAML configuration file that tells GitLab what tasks to run, such as compiling code, running tests, and deploying the project. Whenever someone changes the code, GitLab automatically runs these tasks to check for errors. Then, once the code is approved, GitLab can deploy it to production and launch without manual work. The built-in features save time and ensure our deployments are consistent.

GitHub: GitHub Actions

Unlike GitLab, GitHub does not include built-in CI/CD. Instead, teams must manually set up automation using a feature called GitHub Actions. Developers need to write the instructions for testing and deploying their code in a .github/workflows/*.yml file.

GitHub Actions is flexible but, it requires more setup compared to GitLab CI/CD. There’s also no auto DevOps, and you need to configure runners manually. For teams running many CI/CD jobs, GitHub can become costly over time. Therefore, many companies using GitHub still rely on external tools like Jenkins or CircleCI, while GitLab provides everything in one platform without extra setup.

>> Read more:

• Top 9 Best DevOps Deployment Tools for Businesses
• 7 Ways DevOps Speeds Up the Digital Transformation
• Top 22 Best DevOps Automation Tools For Businesses

Security Features

GitLab: Built-in Security

GitLab offers free security scanning and compliance features built directly into the platform. You don’t need extra tools or third-party services to scan for vulnerabilities or enforce compliance. Some integrated security features of GitLab include:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Scans source code for vulnerabilities before deployment.
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): Detects security risks while the application is running.
• Dependency Scanning: Checks for outdated or vulnerable third-party libraries.
• Container Scanning: Ensures Docker and Kubernetes containers are secure.
• License Compliance: Monitors third-party libraries for legal risks.
• Audit Logs: Tracks all user activity, repository changes, and security events.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Allows teams to set detailed permissions for different users and teams.

GitHub: GitHub Advanced Security (Paid Feature)

GitHub provides basic security tools, but most advanced features require external services or a paid plan for GitHub Advanced Security. Unlike GitLab, GitHub relies more on third-party tools like Snyk, WhiteSource, or SonarQube for deeper security scanning. GitHub offers:

• Code Scanning (via CodeQL): Detects vulnerabilities in source code (requires setup).
• Secret Scanning: Finds API keys and passwords mistakenly added to repositories.
• Dependency Review: Warns about security risks in third-party dependencies.
• Security Alerts: Sends notifications when vulnerabilities are found.
• Limited Audit Logs: Only available for GitHub Enterprise users.
• Basic Access Control: GitHub roles are limited to read, write, and admin, offering less control than GitLab’s RBAC system.

Speed & Reliability

GitLab: More Features, But Can Be Slower

GitLab offers a full DevOps platform with built-in CI/CD, security tools, and project management features, which can sometimes perform slower than GitHub, especially for large repositories.

For teams using GitLab’s self-hosted version, speed depends on server performance and configuration. If the self-hosted instance is not optimized, GitLab can be slower compared to GitHub’s cloud service. However, GitLab allows businesses to scale their infrastructure by adding more resources, which can improve performance for larger teams.

GitHub: Faster Performance and Higher Uptime

GitHub is known for its fast performance and high reliability, especially for cloud users. Since GitHub is primarily cloud-based, its infrastructure is optimized for quick repository copy, fast code search, and smooth collaboration. 

GitHub also has higher uptime and fewer performance issues compared to GitLab. Its global infrastructure and caching mechanisms allow for faster repository access and more stable performance. For large repositories, GitHub’s speed is noticeably better than GitLab’s, making it the preferred choice for fast-moving teams and open-source projects.

Pricing & Subscription Plans

GitLab Pricing

GitLab offers free unlimited public and private repositories with built-in CI/CD and basic security tools. This makes it a cost-effective choice for teams looking for automation without extra costs.

For teams that need more advanced features, GitLab offers two paid plans:

• Premium ($29/user/month): Adds faster support, advanced code review tools, and more security features.
• Ultimate (contact sales for details): Includes full security scanning, compliance management, and advanced analytics for enterprises.

GitHub Pricing

GitHub free plan also offers unlimited usage of public and private repositories. However, the GitHub Actions with CI/CD functions have restricted usage to 2,000 minutes per month. It also does not contain security tools but requires customers to purchase GitHub Advanced Security.

GitHub offers three paid plans:

• Team ($4/user/month): Provides protected branches, required approvals, and advanced collaboration tools.
• Enterprise ($21/user/month): Includes audit logs, security tools, and compliance features.
• GitHub Advanced Security (extra cost): Gains access to deep security scanning in addition to compliance features.

Which One Should You Choose?

GitLab will be suitable for large organizations and regulatory industrial clients because it provides complete security functionalities with advanced DevOps capabilities. From a business perspective, GitLab delivers the best solutions for automated systems, secure protocols, and full control over code management. Your projects can benefit from GitLab’s full infrastructure control and unlimited self-hosted runners, all at no extra cost.

On the other hand, businesses requiring a basic yet affordable system to store and manage codes should use GitHub. The platform serves as the perfect solution for startups and small teams seeking basic collaborative features. GitHub offers more cost-effective paid plans than GitLab does, allowing businesses to get private repositories with budget constraints.

FAQs

1. Should I use GitLab or GitHub for personal projects?

In this case, GitHub can provide you with simple yet efficient project management for your personal projects because of its immediate setup procedure and active open-source network. However, when your project needs automation and security-specific development which requires integrated CI/CD and security detection systems, that’s when GitLab is a better choice.

2. Can I use both GitHub and GitLab?

Yes, you can use both GitHub and GitLab for development simultaneously. Both GitHub and GitLab serve different purposes in development, in which teams maintain open-source work on GitHub while using GitLab for their private internal systems through enhanced security automation capabilities. Some businesses also duplicate their repositories between both platforms, using GitHub for collaboration and GitLab for CI/CD pipelines.

Conclusion

GitLab and GitHub both have strong collaboration features and version control. They seem to be similar, but as you go deeper into them, their differences become clearer. Remember to align your business and project requirements to make the best choice. GitHub is appropriate for startups, open-source software, and teams that prioritize speed and ease of use, while GitLab is the better choice for enterprises, DevOps teams, and businesses that require automated built-in, security, and self-hosting. Hope this blog gives you sufficient information to make an informed decision!

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