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GitLab vs GitHub: Which One to Choose in 2025?

Quick Summary : If your work is related to software development, you’ve likely heard about GitLab vs GitHub debate come up multiple times. They’re two of the largest players when it comes to hosting code, working with teams, and handling DevOps workflows. Okay, they’re both Git-based, but when you look closer, they begin to seem quite different—how they operate, what they provide, how they tie in with your process, and yes, how much they’ll cost you.
In this blog, I’ll take you through the major differences, analyze their pros and cons, and help you determine who’s a better match, whether you’re crafting a side project, running a startup, or working in an enterprise setting.

If you’re a newbie to the version control segment, you can be easily confused by Git vs GitHub vs GitLab. They all look and sound similar, but are used for different types of things. Imagine Git as the underlying engine that makes everything run: it’s the system that records changes in your code. Github and Gitlab, however, are platforms that use Git to enable you to collaborate, manage repositories, and deploy code more effectively. It’s similar to inquiring about the difference between electricity (Git) and that which operates on it (GitHub and GitLab). Once one realizes that connection, everything else begins to make a whole lot more sense.

Whether you’re working on a side project at 2 a.m. or supporting a huge CI/CD pipeline for a billion-dollar business, you don’t just work in a space where you can hold your code—you need a platform that truly enables the way you work. That’s where this choice becomes serious.

Every developer has asked themselves the same question at some point:

• GitHub or GitLab? What do I use?
• Is Gitlab and GitHub the same?

I’ve worked with multiple teams that use GitHub, and others that’ve fully switched to GitLab. Honestly, both camps have solid reasons. GitHub tends to be the go-to for open-source projects, and its massive community makes it incredibly appealing. On the other hand, GitLab often has the upper hand for teams that want a tightly integrated, all-in-one DevOps solution right out of the box, mainly when control and customization matter to you.

So, how do you decide which is worth your time (and money)? Let’s break it down—what they have in common, where they differ, and how that affects your work.

Did you know? Nearly 56 million users prefer GitHub, while GitLab has around 31 million in comparison.

What Is Git?

Before we compare the platforms, it’s helpful to take a step back for a moment and discuss the engine powering both: Git.

Git is similar to your code’s memory. It’s a version control system that allows multiple coders to work on the same project without making a mess. With Git, you can record every single change, branch out to try ideas, merge once ready, and roll back when something breaks down (because, let’s face it, something always breaks).

It’s why collaborative development works, and both GitHub and GitLab are constructed on top of it.

Git is the engine. GitHub and GitLab are the garages where you store, manage, and tune that engine.

What Are GitHub and GitLab?

Both GitHub and GitLab are widely known platforms that have been developed to store Git repositories, but this is only the start.

They assist in offering a single location for teams to run CI/CD pipelines, manage code, track issues, and work on pull/merge requests. Their DevOps, permissions, integrations, and hosting differ considerably, though.

According to reports, GitHub hosts over 420 million repositories globally, reflecting a 12.9% increase from the previous years.

History & Ownership

GitHub launched in 2008 and was the world’s most widely used code hosting platform. It was acquired by Microsoft in 2018. Although there had been some initial doubts, the acquisition added further enterprise-level support and more integrations with Azure.

GitLab began as an open-source competitor in 2011 and rapidly expanded. It remains independent and continues to espouse a culture of transparency, self-hosting, and single-vendor DevOps.

Need to connect your Git platform with tools like Slack, Jira, or your internal systems? Check out our complete guide to API development

Key Features

Pricing

Both platforms offer free plans, but with different trade-offs:

• GitHub: Free for public & private repos, includes Actions with limits
• GitLab: More CI/CD minutes on free plans, includes self-hosting from the start

For enterprise-grade control, GitLab often ends up more affordable with better customization options.

GitHub vs GitLab: Market Share

GitHub is significantly larger in terms of user base and repository volume. As of 2024, GitHub has over 100 million users, with a strong open-source community.

GitLab is widely used in private enterprise environments where full DevOps control and security are priorities. The United States led the global scene with 80,000 contributors, making it the dominant force in generative AI development on GitHub.

Difference between GitLab and GitHub: Comparison Table

Learn more about popular developer tools in our guide to the best IDEs Read: Best IDEs for Web Development

Pros and Cons of GitHub

Pros

• Massive community and support
• Seamless integration with third-party tools
• GitHub Actions for workflow automation
• Great for open-source visibility
• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Self-hosting only on the enterprise plan
• Limited native DevOps features unless extended via integrations
• Some features are behind paywalls

Pros and Cons of GitLab

Pros

• Native, powerful CI/CD tools included in every tier
• Self-hosting is available from the free plan
• Strong security and permission management
• Open-core philosophy
• Ideal for private repositories and enterprise DevOps

Cons

• Smaller developer community
• Fewer third-party extensions
• Slightly steeper learning curve for some teams

GitHub vs GitLab: When to Use Which Platform

Let’s keep this practical. Here’s what we recommend based on real-world use cases:

Use GitHub when:

• You’re building an open-source project
• You want quick access to a huge developer community
• You value third-party integrations
• Your team is already familiar with GitHub’s interface

Use GitLab when:

• You need end-to-end DevOps workflows under one roof
• Your team prefers self-hosting
• You need strict access control and security auditing
• You’re managing multiple microservices with CI/CD pipelines

GitLab and GitHub: Pricing Overview

Here’s a quick snapshot of their pricing (as of 2025):

GitHub Pricing:

• Free: Unlimited public/private repos, limited CI/CD
• Team ($4/user/month): Required for code owners, insights
• Enterprise ($21/user/month): Includes SAML, advanced compliance

GitLab Pricing:

• Free: Full DevOps suite, 400 CI/CD minutes/month
• Premium ($19/user/month): Faster support, project planning tools
• Ultimate ($99/user/month): Advanced compliance, security, and portfolio management

Important Tip: GitLab’s free tier offers much more out of the box, especially for DevOps.

GitHub or GitLab: Which One to Choose?

If your project is heavy on collaboration, open-source visibility, and flexibility with tools, GitHub is excellent.

If your project demands integrated CI/CD, compliance, control, and a more tightly secured DevOps workflow, GitLab is a solid bet.

For many startups, GitHub is the starting point. But as complexity grows, teams often switch to GitLab for its integrated delivery model.

You can also use both! We’ve worked with companies that host their public-facing code on GitHub and internal pipelines on GitLab.

Conclusion

When it comes to GitLab vs GitHub, it’s not just about which tool is “better.” It’s about which tool matches your team’s goals, workflows, and growth strategy.

• Want open-source collaboration? GitHub has the edge.
• Need a centralized DevOps toolchain? GitLab shines there.
• Tight budget? GitLab’s free features go further.
• Already using Microsoft tools? GitHub plays nicer with Azure.

There’s no wrong choice—only the one that fits best.

At Technource, you can hire expert developers to implement both platforms into their workflows. From CI/CD planning to secure self-hosting, our role is to guide, build, and scale the tech that supports your growth.

FAQs

Which is easier for beginners: GitHub or GitLab?

GitHub is more newbie-friendly due to its simpler UI and massive support community. It's an ideal starting point if you are new to version control and open-source collaboration.

Does GitLab offer a free plan like GitHub?

Yes. GitLab's free plan offers more native features, such as CI/CD, than GitHub's free plan.

Is GitHub more secure than GitLab?

Both are secure. GitLab has finer permissions and self-hosting functionality, but GitHub provides extensive integration with Microsoft's ecosystem and periodic compliance updates.

Which one should I use for enterprise projects?

GitLab is used by most enterprises because it is an all-in-one model with self-hosting functionality. But GitHub Enterprise is strong when combined with Azure and Microsoft tools.

Does GitHub offer self-hosting like GitLab?

Only in its Enterprise plan. GitLab allows self-hosting even on its free version, making it more flexible for teams that want on-premise solutions.