2 Best GitLab Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
GitLab is a popular tool for teams wanting all-in-one devops. While it offers a free tier (Free with 5 GB storage), its paid plans start at $29/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best GitLab alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (GitHub, Gitea)
- Open-source options: Gitea
- Best overall: GitHub
- Best free: GitHub
Why Look for GitLab Alternatives?
People commonly look for GitLab alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While GitLab has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $29/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Complex interface and can be slow are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find GitLab overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitLab | ✓ Free with 5 GB storage | $29/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting all-in-one DevOps |
| GitHub | ✓ Unlimited public/private repos | $4/user/mo | ⭐ 4.7 | No | Software development teams and open-source projects |
| Gitea | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting lightweight self-hosted Git |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
GitHub
The world's leading platform for software development and version control.
GitHub is the world's largest code hosting platform, used by over 100 million developers. It offers Git repository hosting, code review, project management, CI/CD (GitHub Actions), and Copilot AI. GitHub has become the default platform for open-source and collaborative software development.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Massive community
- ✓ Great CI/CD
Cons
- ✗ Microsoft owned
- ✗ Can be complex
- ✗ Limited free CI minutes
- ✗ Expensive Copilot
Gitea
Lightweight, self-hosted Git service.
Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service written in Go. It provides repository hosting, code review, issue tracking, and CI/CD in a package that's easy to install and requires minimal resources. Gitea is perfect for teams and organizations wanting to self-host their code.
Pros
- ✓ Lightweight
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ GitHub-like UI
- ✓ Easy to install
Cons
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Self-hosting required
- ✗ Less polished
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to GitLab?
The best free alternative to GitLab is GitHub, which offers Unlimited public/private repos.
Is there an open-source alternative to GitLab?
Yes! Gitea is open-source alternative to GitLab that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to GitLab?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: GitHub, Gitea. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $4/mo.
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