GitHub Vs GitLab: Difference Between GitHub & GitLab
By Rohan Vats
Updated on Jul 17, 2025 | 8 min read | 10.57K+ views
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By Rohan Vats
Updated on Jul 17, 2025 | 8 min read | 10.57K+ views
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Latest update: GitHub rolled out enterprise-level access for GitHub Apps and installation automation APIs on July 1, 2025, making it easier than ever for enterprises to manage and deploy GitHub Apps at scale with enhanced control and automation. |
GitHub and GitLab are both powerful platforms that help developers collaborate, manage code, and streamline DevOps workflows. GitHub is widely recognized for its massive open-source community, while GitLab distinguishes itself with its built-in CI/CD and self-hosting capabilities.
The difference between GitHub vs GitLab can be confusing, especially when choosing the right platform for your team or project.
This article will break down each tool, highlighting how they compare in terms of features, pricing, integrations, and overall developer experience.
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GitHub and GitLab are two of the most popular platforms for managing Git repositories and streamlining DevOps workflows. While both offer robust version control, CI/CD integration, and team collaboration tools, they differ in features, flexibility, and how they fit into your development pipeline.
Choosing between GitHub vs GitLab can be confusing, especially when considering long-term project needs like scalability, automation, and security. Migrating or managing repositories across platforms can be challenging if you don't have the right DevOps tools and strategies in place.
Want to grow your Git skills and understand how platforms like GitHub and GitLab fit into modern development workflows? Here are some curated courses to help you get hands-on with version control, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices.
To help you better understand the difference between GitHub vs GitLab, check out the table below:
Aspect |
GitHub |
GitLab |
Hosting Options | Cloud-hosted; self-hosting via GitHub Enterprise Server | Offers both cloud and robust self-hosted options (GitLab CE/EE) |
CI/CD Integration | GitHub Actions for CI/CD (built-in, but separate from core repo management) | Built-in CI/CD is tightly integrated into the platform |
Open Source Support | Dominant in the open-source community | Popular in enterprise and self-hosted open-source projects |
Interface & Usability | Simple, clean, and widely adopted interface | Slightly more complex but highly customizable |
Permissions & Roles | Granular, but some features are gated behind paid tiers | Offers advanced role management even in self-hosted versions |
DevOps Lifecycle | Focus on SCM, Issues, and Actions | Complete DevOps lifecycle from planning to monitoring |
Marketplace Extensions | Extensive GitHub Marketplace with apps and integrations | Limited marketplace, but supports custom integrations via APIs |
Merge Request/PR Flow | Pull Request (PR) based workflow | Merge Request (MR) based; similar, but includes additional options |
Issue Tracking | Built-in, but basic | Advanced issue tracking, boards, and epics |
Cost Structure | Free for public repos; private repos have tiered pricing | Free self-hosted option; cloud tiers available with additional features |
Community & Ecosystem | Massive community, especially for open-source projects | Strong DevOps and enterprise user base |
Performance & Scalability | Scales well with cloud infrastructure | Great for scaling via Kubernetes and on-prem deployments |
Also Read: DevOps Architecture Tutorial: Introduction, Components & Benefits
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Next, let’s explore what GitHub and GitLab offer individually, and when to choose one over the other.
GitHub and GitLab both offer robust version control, CI/CD tools, and team collaboration features, but they excel in different areas. GitHub is the go-to platform for open-source projects. GitLab, on the other hand, stands out for its built-in DevOps tools and easy self-hosting.
If you're trying to decide between the two, consider what each one does best and where they can complement each other in your workflow.
GitHub is a cloud-based Git repository hosting service designed for distributed version control, collaboration, and open-source development. Core features include pull requests for code reviews, Git for version control, and GitHub Actions for automation.
Core Concepts
Example: Pushing Code to GitHub Using Git CLI
GitHub’s open-source community and intuitive pull-request-centric workflow make it a go-to for collaborative development and rapid CI/CD pipelines. Let’s say you've made changes to your local project and now want to upload them to your GitHub repository. Here's a step-by-step guide with commands:
1. Initialize Git (if you haven’t already):
git init
2. Add the remote GitHub repository:
Replace the URL with your actual repo URL.
git remote add origin
https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name.git
3. Add your changes:
git add .
4. Commit the changes with a message:
git commit -m "accepted"
5. Push the code to the main branch on GitHub:
git push -u origin main
Command Explanation: When you push code to a remote repository using Git (e.g., via git push), all committed changes along with their commit messages become visible on GitHub. Each commit entry includes a message summarizing the change, the timestamp, and the author. You can also view the latest updates to folders and files, including apps, components, and public content. You can also view metadata, including the number of commits, language usage, and the README.
Also Read: How to Use GitHub: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started and Exploring Its Benefits in 2025
GitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform that combines Git repository management, CI/CD, project planning, monitoring, and security features in a single application. It can be hosted on-premises or used in the cloud, making GitHub vs GitLab comparisons vital for large enterprises.
Core Concepts
Example: CI/CD Pipeline with GitLab
A simple .gitlab-ci.yml to test and build code:
# GitLab CI/CD Pipeline Configuration
stages:
- test
- build
- deploy
# Define variables
variables:
NODE_VERSION: "18"
CACHE_KEY: "$CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG"
# Cache node_modules for faster builds
cache:
key: "$CACHE_KEY"
paths:
- node_modules/
policy: pull-push
# Test stage
test:
stage: test
image: node:$NODE_VERSION
before_script:
- npm ci --cache .npm --prefer-offline
script:
- npm run test
- npm run lint
coverage: '/Lines\s*:\s*(\d+\.\d+)%/'
artifacts:
reports:
coverage_report:
coverage_format: cobertura
path: coverage/cobertura-coverage.xml
expire_in: 1 week
only:
- merge_requests
- main
- develop
# Build stage
build:
stage: build
image: node:$NODE_VERSION
before_script:
- npm ci --cache .npm --prefer-offline
script:
- npm run build
artifacts:
paths:
- dist/
expire_in: 1 hour
only:
- main
- develop
needs:
- test
# Deploy stage (example for staging)
deploy_staging:
stage: deploy
image: alpine:latest
before_script:
- apk add --no-cache rsync openssh
script:
- echo "Deploying to staging server..."
- rsync -avz --delete dist/ $STAGING_USER@$STAGING_HOST:$STAGING_PATH
environment:
name: staging
url: https://staging.example.com
only:
- develop
needs:
- build
when: manual
# Deploy stage (example for production)
deploy_production:
stage: deploy
image: alpine:latest
before_script:
- apk add --no-cache rsync openssh
script:
- echo "Deploying to production server..."
- rsync -avz --delete dist/ $PROD_USER@$PROD_HOST:$PROD_PATH
environment:
name: production
url: https://example.com
only:
- main
needs:
- build
when: manual
Explanation: A GitLab CI/CD pipeline is an automated workflow that runs whenever you push code to your GitLab repository. It automatically tests your code, builds the application, and can deploy it to different environments (staging and production) without manual intervention. This ensures code quality and enables continuous delivery by catching bugs early and streamlining the deployment process.
Also Read: Top 15+ Open Source Projects on GitHub to Explore in 2025
The choice between GitHub vs GitLab is about selecting the right tool for your development workflow. While both offer Git-based version control and CI/CD capabilities, GitHub stands out with its massive community, whereas GitLab excels with its built-in DevOps features.
To improve your workflow, learn how to automate testing with pipelines. Manage feature branches efficiently. Connect container tools, such as Docker or Kubernetes, directly to your project.
Still unsure where to start with GitHub or GitLab? upGrad’s tech courses can help you build real-world skills in Git, DevOps, and repository management so you can ship faster and collaborate better.
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Reference:
https://github.blog/changelog/
408 articles published
Rohan Vats is a Senior Engineering Manager with over a decade of experience in building scalable frontend architectures and leading high-performing engineering teams. Holding a B.Tech in Computer Scie...
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