GitHub vs GitLab vs Gitea: What are the differences?
Introduction:
GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea are popular web-based Git repository hosting services that offer version control, collaboration, and project management features. While all three platforms share similarities, there are key differences that set them apart. Here are the six main differences between GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea:
-
Hosting and Ownership: GitHub is a cloud-based service owned by Microsoft, offering both cloud-hosted and self-hosted options for Git repositories. GitLab, on the other hand, provides both cloud-hosted and self-hosted options with the added benefit of being open-source. Gitea is a community-driven, lightweight self-hosted Git service.
-
Pricing and Plans: GitHub offers different pricing plans depending on the features required, including free options for public repositories. GitLab, on the other hand, offers a similar pricing structure but has a free plan that includes more features compared to GitHub. Gitea is entirely free and open-source.
-
Deployment Options: GitHub is typically used as a cloud-hosted solution, making it easy to set up and get started quickly. GitLab, on the other hand, provides both cloud-hosted and self-hosted options, giving users more flexibility in terms of deployment. Gitea is primarily focused on self-hosted deployments, making it suitable for those who prefer to have complete control over their infrastructure.
-
Integrated CI/CD: GitLab offers integrated Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools, which allow developers to automate various stages of the software development lifecycle. GitHub also offers CI/CD functionalities through its Actions feature, but they are not as integrated as GitLab. Gitea, however, does not have built-in CI/CD capabilities and relies on external tools for this functionality.
-
Project Management Features: GitLab provides robust project management features such as issue tracking, kanban boards, and time tracking, making it suitable for Agile and Scrum project management methodologies. GitHub also offers similar project management features but with a slightly simpler interface. Gitea, on the other hand, focuses primarily on code hosting and collaboration, lacking extensive project management capabilities.
-
Community and Ecosystem: Over the years, GitHub has built a large and active community of developers, which leads to a vibrant ecosystem with a wide range of integrations, plugins, and third-party tools. GitLab has a growing community and ecosystem, parallel to GitHub, but it may not have the same level of integration options. Gitea, being relatively new and lightweight, has a smaller community and ecosystem compared to GitHub and GitLab.
In summary, GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea differ in terms of ownership, pricing, deployment options, integrated CI/CD, project management features, and community/ecosystem. The choice between these platforms depends on individual needs, preferences, and the scale of the project.