As the world of software development continues to evolve, version control platforms like GitHub and GitLab have become essential tools for developers, teams, and organizations to manage and collaborate on code. Both platforms have seen significant advancements over the years, and as we look into 2025, many developers and teams are left asking: which platform is preferred for version control, collaboration, and CI/CD workflows? Let’s break down the key differences, trends, and use cases to help you make an informed decision.
Overview of GitHub and GitLab
GitHub is the most popular code-hosting platform globally, especially known for its strong community engagement and vast repository ecosystem. It was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 and offers a robust set of tools for version control using Git, as well as features like GitHub Actions, GitHub Pages, and integrations with a wide range of third-party tools. GitHub has long been the go-to platform for open-source projects, personal repositories, and collaborative development.
GitLab, on the other hand, is an integrated DevOps platform that focuses on the full software development lifecycle, from planning and development to testing, deployment, and monitoring. GitLab has grown in popularity for its robust CI/CD capabilities and strong focus on automation, security, and performance. It is open-source, self-hosted, and offers both cloud-based and enterprise solutions for teams that require more control over their development environment.
Key Differences Between GitHub and GitLab in 2025
Collaboration and Community
GitHub: GitHub’s massive user base and vast number of open-source projects make it the dominant platform for community-driven development. It has a highly active ecosystem with numerous repositories, which makes collaboration on public projects easy and efficient. GitHub’s social features (e.g., pull requests, issues, discussions) encourage collaboration across teams and the global developer community.
GitLab: GitLab is a strong contender in enterprise environments and private repositories. While GitLab does support open-source projects, it doesn’t have the same social engagement and widespread community activity as GitHub. However, GitLab shines in providing robust collaboration features for private teams and enterprise-level DevOps processes.
CI/CD and DevOps
GitHub: In recent years, GitHub has significantly improved its DevOps capabilities, especially with the introduction of GitHub Actions. This tool allows developers to automate their workflows, such as testing, building, and deploying applications, directly within the GitHub ecosystem. While GitHub Actions has closed the gap with GitLab in terms of CI/CD functionality, it is still considered less feature-rich compared to GitLab’s native CI/CD pipeline.
GitLab: GitLab is often considered the leader in integrated CI/CD, offering one of the most complete, fully integrated DevOps platforms in the market. GitLab provides native, out-of-the-box CI/CD tools that are highly customizable and can be used at every stage of the development pipeline—from code commits to continuous testing and production deployment. For teams focused on automation, GitLab’s CI/CD features are second to none.
Self-Hosting and Flexibility
GitHub: GitHub’s focus is primarily on its cloud-based services, and although it offers GitHub Enterprise for self-hosting, it is still somewhat limited in terms of flexibility compared to GitLab. GitHub Enterprise is an enterprise version that allows for private repositories and customizable integrations, but the core experience is geared toward cloud usage.
GitLab: GitLab has a strong advantage when it comes to flexibility. It is one of the few platforms that offer a fully-featured self-hosted version, allowing teams to set up GitLab on their own servers. This is crucial for organizations that require more control over their infrastructure, especially in highly regulated industries. GitLab’s open-source edition can also be self-hosted, giving companies the ability to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
Security and Compliance
GitHub: GitHub has improved its security features over the years, especially with GitHub Advanced Security which offers capabilities like secret scanning, vulnerability scanning, and dependency management. GitHub’s integration with security tools such as Dependabot has been a big plus for developers looking to manage security and compliance concerns in their codebase.
GitLab: GitLab has long been ahead of GitHub when it comes to native security features and compliance tools. GitLab provides an integrated suite of security features including static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST), dependency scanning, container scanning, and more—all built into the CI/CD pipeline. For organizations that prioritize compliance, GitLab’s extensive security capabilities make it an attractive option.
Pricing and Plans
GitHub: GitHub offers a free tier with unlimited public repositories, and it has introduced free private repositories with limited features as well. For teams and organizations, GitHub offers GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, and GitHub Enterprise, with varying levels of access and features depending on the plan. Pricing is generally more affordable for small teams but can get more expensive as you scale up.
GitLab: GitLab also provides a free version with an impressive set of features, including CI/CD capabilities. For businesses that need advanced DevOps features, security tools, and self-hosting, GitLab offers paid tiers such as GitLab Premium and GitLab Ultimate. While GitLab’s pricing can be more expensive than GitHub’s at scale, the platform’s comprehensive toolset justifies the cost for teams focused on DevOps and continuous integration.
Ease of Use and UI/UX
GitHub: GitHub has long been lauded for its clean and intuitive user interface, which makes it easy for both beginners and advanced developers to navigate. The platform’s focus on simplicity and user experience has made it the go-to for many individual developers and open-source communities.
GitLab: GitLab’s user interface is functional but more complex than GitHub’s, especially for teams leveraging its full DevOps pipeline features. While GitLab offers more customization and tools, the platform can feel overwhelming to new users or those who don’t require its advanced capabilities.
Which Platform Is Preferred in 2025?
In 2025, the choice between GitHub and GitLab largely depends on the specific needs of the development team or organization.
GitHub is still the preferred choice for most open-source projects and individual developers, thanks to its vast community, ease of use, and seamless integration with third-party tools. If you are primarily looking for a platform to host code, manage repositories, and collaborate with other developers in a social environment, GitHub is likely the better choice.
GitLab is gaining traction, especially in enterprise environments where teams are looking for an all-in-one DevOps solution. For organizations that need a comprehensive platform that includes native CI/CD, security, compliance, and DevOps features, GitLab is hard to beat. It’s especially ideal for teams that need to self-host or manage their infrastructure with tight control over every aspect of the software development lifecycle.
Final Thoughts
While GitHub is still the go-to platform for many developers, GitLab is rapidly closing the gap and becoming the platform of choice for DevOps-driven development environments. Both platforms offer unique strengths, and the decision between the two should depend on your team’s specific needs—whether that’s community-driven collaboration (GitHub) or a fully integrated, end-to-end DevOps pipeline (GitLab).
As we move further into 2025, expect both GitHub and GitLab to continue evolving and expanding their capabilities to meet the changing demands of the software development industry.