Bitbucket Pipelines vs GitLab CI: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this Markdown document, we will discuss the key differences between Bitbucket Pipelines and GitLab CI. Both Bitbucket Pipelines and GitLab CI are popular continuous integration and deployment platforms used in software development projects. While they have similar goals, there are several distinct differences that set them apart.

1. Pricing Model:

Bitbucket Pipelines is a part of Bitbucket, a platform owned by Atlassian. Bitbucket Pipelines offers a free tier for small teams and has a flexible pricing structure for larger teams. On the other hand, GitLab CI is a part of GitLab, an open-source platform that offers a free community edition and a subscription-based enterprise edition with additional features. The pricing model of GitLab CI is more focused on providing the enterprise edition with advanced functionalities.

2. Hosted vs Self-hosted:

Bitbucket Pipelines is a hosted service, meaning it is hosted by Atlassian, and users do not have control over the underlying infrastructure. GitLab CI, on the other hand, provides the option of self-hosting, allowing users to have full control over their deployment infrastructure. This allows organizations to have more flexibility and security in managing their CI/CD processes.

3. Integration with Version Control Systems:

Bitbucket Pipelines is tightly integrated with Bitbucket, a popular Git version control system also owned by Atlassian. This integration provides seamless access to code repositories and simplifies the setup process. GitLab CI, on the other hand, is built within the GitLab platform, which is a complete DevOps platform with integrated version control. GitLab CI offers native support for Git repositories and has built-in features specifically designed for code collaboration and version control.

4. Runner Architecture:

Bitbucket Pipelines relies on hosted runners managed by Atlassian for executing CI/CD pipelines. While this provides a convenient solution, it limits the customization options for users. GitLab CI, on the other hand, uses a distributed runner architecture that allows users to deploy their own runners on their infrastructure. This flexibility enables organizations to have control over the resources used for running their pipelines and can improve the performance of CI/CD processes.

5. Extensibility and Customization:

Bitbucket Pipelines offers a limited set of predefined steps and integrations, limiting the extensibility and customization options for CI/CD pipelines. GitLab CI, on the other hand, provides a wide range of features and customizability options. Users can define their own build scripts, leverage a large number of predefined CI/CD templates, and integrate with various third-party tools and services to build complex pipelines tailored to their specific requirements.

6. Community and Ecosystem:

GitLab CI has a large and vibrant community due to its open-source nature. This community actively contributes to the development and enhancement of GitLab CI, providing support, sharing resources, and creating a broader ecosystem. Bitbucket Pipelines, although popular, may have a comparatively smaller community. The availability of a thriving community and ecosystem around GitLab CI provides users with an extensive knowledge base, plugins, and integrations to enhance their CI/CD workflows.

Summary

In summary, Bitbucket Pipelines and GitLab CI differ in their pricing models, hosting options, integration with version control systems, runner architecture, extensibility, and community size. These differences make each platform suitable for different use cases and organizational requirements.