GitHub vs GitLab
GitHub and GitLab are the two dominant code hosting platforms. GitHub has the largest developer community and marketplace of integrations. GitLab takes an all-in-one approach - it ships code hosting, CI/CD, container registry, package registry, and security scanning in a single platform. GitHub is the community choice; GitLab is the all-in-one DevOps platform.
Build a custom alternative freeSide-by-side
Code hosting, CI/CD, and collaboration platform vs Complete DevOps platform - code to deployment.
| Feature | GitHub | GitLab |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing from | Free / $4/user/month | Free / $29/user/month |
| Community and ecosystem | Largest developer community | Smaller but growing |
| All-in-one DevOps | Partial - GitHub Actions, Packages | Yes - CI/CD, registry, security all included |
| Self-hosted option | GitHub Enterprise Server | GitLab Community Edition (free) |
| Built-in security scanning | Advanced Security (paid add-on) | Included on paid tiers |
| AI features | GitHub Copilot (separate subscription) | GitLab Duo (included on paid) |
| Pricing at 10 devs | ~$40-190/month | ~$0-290/month |
The third option most teams miss
Picking between GitHub and GitLab isn't the only choice.
For engineering teams that need custom internal developer tools - deployment dashboards, incident trackers, on-call rotas - Appaca builds them alongside your code platform.
- No code, no deployment, no devops
- Built-in database, dashboards, team access
- Refine with chat as your needs change
- Free to start, no per-seat pricing surprises
Common questions
GitHub is better for open-source projects and teams that want the largest ecosystem. GitLab is better for teams that want everything in one tool - CI/CD, security, registry, and code - without paying for multiple services.
Yes, for most use cases. GitLab's Community Edition is free and self-hostable. Teams that need public repositories and community visibility may prefer GitHub. For private, enterprise development, both are equally capable.
Appaca is a third option for teams that don't want to choose between two existing tools. Instead of forcing your workflow into someone else's product, Appaca builds a custom app from a description - with built-in database, hosting, and team access. Try it free at appaca.ai.