Gitlab vs Github: 2023, differences, which is best?

GitLab and GitHub are both web-based platforms that provide version control and collaboration tools for software development, but they have differences in terms of features, pricing, and intended use cases. In this article we give a detailed breakdown.

What are the differences between GitLab and GitHub?

About GitLab

• GitLab provides a complete DevOps platform, offering continuous integration, continuous delivery (CI/CD), issue tracking, code review and more. 
• There are both cloud-hosted (GitLab.com) and self-hosted options (GitLab CE and EE). This gives users the flexibility of choosing where to deploy their repositories. 
• GitLab's core features, including CI/CD, are available for free in the Community Edition (CE). The Enterprise Edition (EE) includes advanced features for larger teams and enterprises.
• GitLab's CI/CD features allow users to automate build, test, and deployment pipelines directly within the platform.
• It also includes features for Kubernetes integration, container registry, and monitoring tools.

About GitHub

• GitHub primarily focuses on providing a platform for hosting and collaborating on open-source and private software projects. While it started as a version control platform, it has added some CI/CD features (GitHub Actions) to its offerings.
• GitHub is a popular platform for open-source projects thanks to its social features, like forks, pull requests and a strong developer community. 
• GitHub Actions is a built-in CI/CD solution that allows users to define workflows directly within the repository. It's flexible and customizable.
• GitHub offers free public repositories, but private repositories and more advanced features are available through paid plans.
• GitHub Marketplace provides various integrations and tools to enhance the development workflow.

How much do they cost

GitLab has three different plans. There is the free plan that has basic features and is best suited for individuals or smaller teams. The Premium version offers more advanced features for larger teams, with additional collaboration tools. The Ultimate plan has additional security features and performance improvements. 

There are three plans if you want to use GitHub. There is the basic free plan that is catered towards individuals. The Team plan has more advanced collaboration tools, code review features and better user management. Then the Enterprise plan is designed for larger organisations and offers better security. 

Both companies offer free trials if you want to try their premium features. 

Which is better?

GitLab offers a more comprehensive DevOps platform with a wide range of integrated features, while GitHub has a strong focus on version control, collaboration, open-source projects, and its recently added CI/CD capabilities through GitHub Actions. The choice between the two platforms depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the development team or organization.