GitLab vs GitHub: Key Differences, Features, and When to Use Each

In the world of modern software development, choosing the right version control and collaboration platform is more than a technical decision. It’s a strategic one. And for growing businesses, particularly those scaling globally or offshoring teams, the choice between GitLab and GitHub can make a tangible difference in team efficiency, data control, and cost.

So let’s dive in.

What Are GitLab and GitHub?

Both GitLab and GitHub are Git-based platforms for source code management. They help teams collaborate, track changes, and build better software. GitHub, launched in 2008, is the more well-known of the two, largely due to its popularity among open-source communities. GitLab, introduced in 2011, takes a different angle, it positions itself as a comprehensive DevOps platform, offering an end-to-end software delivery pipeline within a single UI.

As of 2024, GitHub has over 100 million developers on its platform, according to their Octoverse report. GitLab, while smaller, reports that over 50% of the Fortune 100 use its platform to manage secure, large-scale development workflows.

Core Similarities

Despite their distinct positioning, GitLab and GitHub offer a strong set of shared capabilities that make them both solid choices for modern development teams:

• Version Control with Git
  Both platforms are built on Git, enabling teams to manage source code with robust versioning, branching, and collaboration features.
• Project Management Tools
  Issues, milestones, project boards, and task labels are standard across both systems, supporting agile workflows and team coordination.
• Integrated Wikis
  Each platform provides built-in wikis, ideal for maintaining internal documentation, onboarding guides, or technical references.
• Third-Party Integrations
  Both tools integrate seamlessly with popular services like Jira, Slack, Trello, and hundreds more via REST APIs and marketplaces.
• CI/CD Support (to a degree)
  While GitHub relies on GitHub Actions or third-party apps, GitLab offers a fully native CI/CD pipeline, though both support automation and continuous delivery in practice.

Key Differences That Matter in B2B Use Cases

Parameters	GitLab	GitHub
Authentication and Access Control	Offers more flexibility in setting and modifying access permissions	Provides simpler read/write access options
Pricing Models	Offers a free plan with unlimited private repositories	Free plans for public repositories but paid options for private ones
Self-Hosting Options	Self-hosting possible on your own servers	Offers a cloud-based service only
Built-In Features	Project management, CI/CD, issue tracking, etc.	Few functions require integration with external programs
Security Features	Appropriate for projects with greater security requirements	For projects that have community involvement and integrations
CI/CD Support	Built-in CI/CD pipelines	CI/CD integration through third-party applications
Project Analysis	Allows users to review project development charts	Does not provide in-depth project analysis
Customization	Highly customizable and can be tailored to fit specific needs	Has limited customization options
License Compliance	Offers built-in license compliance tools	Does not offer this feature
Team Discussions	Supports team discussions	Supports team discussions
Load Performance Testing	Offered in paid plans	Offered in free plan as well

Authentication and Access Control

GitLab offers greater flexibility in setting and modifying access permissions. This is essential for managing sensitive environments or clients with strict regulatory oversight. GitHub, while user-friendly, provides a simpler read/write access model that may lack the nuance needed in larger or segmented teams.

Pricing Models

GitLab’s free plan includes unlimited private repositories, making it more attractive for smaller teams and startups prioritizing security. GitHub offers free plans for public repositories, but accessing private repository features often requires a paid tier, especially for teams needing advanced controls.

Self-Hosting Options

GitLab can be self-hosted on your own servers, giving you complete control over deployment and data governance. GitHub, in contrast, is cloud-based by default, with self-hosting only available under GitHub Enterprise, which may not be feasible for all organizations.

Built-In Features

GitLab consolidates critical tools, project management, CI/CD, issue tracking, security testing, into a single platform. GitHub supports similar workflows, but it relies more heavily on integrations, which may introduce friction or added cost.

Security Features

GitLab includes SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, and container scanning natively. GitHub requires third-party tools or higher-tier plans for equivalent coverage.

Organizations practicing DevSecOps, especially those integrating security earlier into the development process, tend to deploy software more frequently and with significantly fewer incidents.

CI/CD Support

GitLab provides native CI/CD pipelines with zero third-party setup required. It’s integrated by design. GitHub uses GitHub Actions or external tools, which may require extra configuration or billing considerations.

According to GitLab’s 2023 Global DevSecOps report, respondents using CI/CD were twice as likely to deploy multiple times per day compared to those who did not.

Project Analysis

GitLab provides built-in analytics like burndown charts, velocity metrics, and code quality scoring. GitHub lacks native tools in this space, teams must rely on external dashboards or integrations for equivalent visibility.

Customization

GitLab is highly customizable, ideal for businesses with hybrid or offshore structures that need granular workflow control. GitHub is more opinionated, focusing on scalability via its marketplace but offering fewer options for deep customization.

License Compliance

GitLab includes built-in license compliance tools, a key advantage for companies needing to manage open-source obligations or vendor audits. GitHub does not offer native license compliance tracking, making it less suited for enterprise-grade governance needs.

Team Discussions

Both GitLab and GitHub support team-level discussions, threaded comments, and collaboration. It’s a neutral category, as neither platform holds a clear advantage here.

Load Performance Testing

GitHub offers load testing in its free plan, which is beneficial for smaller teams or early-stage testing. GitLab includes similar features, but they’re often reserved for paid tiers, which could affect budget-conscious companies.

Pros and Cons of Using GitLab

Pros of GitLab

1. All-in-One DevOps Platform
   GitLab consolidates version control, CI/CD pipelines, project management, issue tracking, and security tools in a single interface. This all-in-one setup reduces reliance on third-party plugins and simplifies end-to-end delivery.
2. Self-Hosting Capabilities
   GitLab allows teams to deploy on their own infrastructure. This is critical for organizations dealing with data residency regulations, internal security policies, or clients requiring full control over repositories.
3. Unlimited Private Repositories (Free Plan)
   Unlike many competitors, GitLab offers unlimited private repos even in its free tier, making it highly cost-effective for startups, smaller teams, or early-stage MVPs.
4. Native CI/CD Pipelines
   GitLab’s CI/CD is fully integrated and doesn’t require additional configuration or third-party services. It enables faster feedback loops, automated testing, and streamlined deployments right out of the box.
5. Built-in Security and Compliance Tools
   From mandatory code reviews to SAST/DAST scans and license compliance tracking, GitLab’s built-in security features meet enterprise-grade needs, without the need for add-ons.
6. Extensive Customization
   Highly customizable for unique workflows, especially in offshore or hybrid development setups. GitLab’s open-core model also allows deeper platform-level modifications.

Cons of GitLab

1. Slower User Interface at Scale
   Some users have noted that GitLab’s interface can lag, particularly with large repositories or high activity levels. Performance has improved in recent releases, but it’s still a known trade-off.
2. Too Feature-Rich for Simple Use Cases
   For freelancers or very small projects, GitLab’s comprehensive feature set can feel excessive, adding complexity where simplicity is preferred.
3. Steeper Learning Curve
   With great power comes more ramp-up time. Teams unfamiliar with DevOps or Git workflows may need training or documentation support to get the most out of GitLab.
4. Fewer Marketplace Integrations
   While GitLab offers native integrations, its plugin ecosystem isn’t as broad as GitHub’s. Teams looking for niche tools or ecosystem extensibility might find GitHub more plug-and-play.

Pros and Cons of Using GitHub

Pros of GitHub

1. Thriving Open-Source Ecosystem
   GitHub powers the world’s largest open-source community, making it the go-to platform for open collaboration, global visibility, and developer engagement. It’s where innovation happens in the open.
2. User-Friendly and Intuitive UI
   Designed with clarity in mind, GitHub’s interface enables smooth navigation, repo management, and team collaboration, even for developers new to version control or Git workflows.
3. Strong Integration Ecosystem
   GitHub supports hundreds of third-party integrations, CI tools, testing platforms, chat apps, and more. This makes it highly adaptable to existing tech stacks and development pipelines.
4. Built-In Project Management
   With native tools like issues, milestones, labels, and Kanban-style boards, GitHub enables agile task tracking without leaving the repo.
5. Unlimited Public Repositories (Free)
   Ideal for open-source initiatives, GitHub lets teams host unlimited public repositories at no cost, making it a budget-friendly option for non-commercial projects.
6. GitHub Actions for CI/CD
   GitHub’s native CI/CD engine allows developers to build, test, and deploy directly from the platform, no external orchestration needed. It supports event-driven automation and containerized workflows.
7. Deep Microsoft Ecosystem Integration
   As a Microsoft product, GitHub integrates natively with Azure DevOps, Visual Studio, and other Microsoft enterprise tools, giving Microsoft-focused teams a seamless experience.
8. Robust Community and Documentation
   Thanks to a massive contributor base, GitHub offers extensive community support, tutorials, and documentation, making troubleshooting faster and onboarding smoother.

Cons of GitHub

1. Private Repo Limitations (Free Plan)
   The free plan limits the number of private repositories and users per repo, potentially a blocker for small teams with confidentiality needs.
2. Essential Features Behind Paywall
   Features like advanced security settings, team management, and code review workflows are locked behind GitHub’s paid tiers, which may not scale well cost-wise for startups or SMEs.
3. Lacks Native Code Quality Tools
   Unlike GitLab, GitHub doesn’t offer built-in SAST, DAST, or code quality analysis. Developers must rely on third-party tools to fill the gap.
4. Heavily Dependent on Integrations
   GitHub’s core strengthcits extensibility can also be a drawback. Relying on third-party plugins introduces potential version conflicts, additional maintenance, and ecosystem lock-in.
5. No True Self-Hosting
   GitHub Enterprise Cloud is the closest offering, but there’s no GitHub equivalent to GitLab’s on-premise deployment. For regulated industries or privacy-centric teams, this is a clear limitation.

Who Uses What? Real-World Adoption

GitHub is widely adopted by tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Netflix, and Twitter. Its integration with Microsoft Azure and Visual Studio makes it a natural fit for companies embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.

GitLab powers the DevOps workflows of NASA, Siemens, IBM, Sony, and NVIDIA. These organizations often require stricter access controls, regulatory compliance, or fully integrated security scanning. These organizations often require stricter access controls, regulatory compliance, or fully integrated security scanning. Learn how top tech companies hire exceptional IT talent.

Additionally, the JetBrains Developer Ecosystem Survey 2023 confirms GitHub’s continued dominance among developers working on open-source projects, unsurprising given its massive community and default presence in public repositories.

Meanwhile, GitLab has positioned itself as a strong alternative for organizations prioritizing secure software development practices. As security and compliance become non-negotiables in software delivery, platforms like GitLab, offering built-in DevSecOps and self-hosting options, are increasingly evaluated by teams operating in regulated or privacy-sensitive industries.

Use Case Scenarios: When to Use GitLab or GitHub

Choosing between GitLab and GitHub isn’t about which platform is “better”, it’s about which one aligns with your delivery model, compliance posture, and team structure.

Use GitLab if:

• You need an all-in-one DevSecOps solution with native CI/CD, project management, and security scanning.
• Your organization requires self-hosted deployment for compliance, data sovereignty, or IP protection.
• You’re managing distributed or offshore teams and need granular access controls across clients, projects, or geographies.
• License compliance, vulnerability scanning, and role-based permissions are part of your must-have stack, not nice-to-haves.

Use GitHub if:

• You’re building in the open-source ecosystem and want immediate visibility, collaboration, and community support. Explore the types of IT roles best suited for GitHub-centric teams.
• Your stack is already integrated with Microsoft tools like Azure DevOps, Visual Studio, or Teams.
• You prioritize ease of onboarding, widespread community documentation, and low setup friction.
• Your team already has a working CI/CD pipeline via third-party tools (e.g., Jenkins, CircleCI) and just needs seamless repo management.

The right platform isn’t just a technical choice, it’s a team-enablement decision. GitLab gives you control. GitHub gives you scale. Match your tool to your growth path.

Final Thoughts

Neither GitLab nor GitHub is inherently better. They’re built for different philosophies. One favors customization and built-in control. The other prioritizes simplicity and scale. The key is matching your toolset with your growth model, compliance needs, and operational complexity. And when you’ve made your decision? The real work begins, building the team to execute it. Discover why IT outsourcing is the future of business growth.

That’s where Penbrothers comes in. Whether you need a GitLab-trained DevSecOps engineer or a GitHub-native frontend developer, we help companies build offshore teams that work like in-house ones. Hire remote IT experts in less than 1 month. Because the right platform means little without the right people behind it.