GitLab is a unified DevOps platform with built-in CI/CD and stronger open-source capabilities, while Azure DevOps offers deeper Microsoft ecosystem integration and superior scalability for large enterprises. GitLab has lower base costs, but Azure DevOps provides better for teams already invested in Microsoft technologies.
GitLab vs Azure DevOps — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
DevOps-first Git platform with built-in CI/CD, available as SaaS or self-hosted for complete control.
Microsoft's integrated platform offering version control, CI/CD pipelines, testing, and project management in one suite.
Pricing Model. Built-in CI/CD. Microsoft Integration. Self-Hosting Support. Container Registry. Test Management Features. Enterprise Scalability
Choose GitLab if you prioritize cost-effectiveness, open-source flexibility, and want all DevOps features unified in one platform without vendor lock-in. Choose Azure DevOps if your team relies on Microsoft technologies, requires enterprise-grade test management, needs deeper Active Directory integration, or operates at massive scale with complex governance requirements.
GitLab: 400 minutes with shared runners | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Community and Enterprise editions available | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Unlimited on all plans | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Built-in for all tiers | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Approximately 30 million users | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes, with 5GB storage limit | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: $10.50 for Premium | Azure DevOps: N/A
Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)
GitLab: 5 GB per project | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 900+ Templates | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Included in Ultimate ($99/month per user) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Issues, Epics, Roadmaps, advanced Boards, Milestones | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Requires separate account/platform | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 10 concurrent pipelines | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 12-15 seconds | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes (SAST, DAST, container, dependency) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Native Git (no external required) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 45-60 minutes | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes (issues, boards, wiki, milestones) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 80+ Templates | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes (free Docker registry) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: $228/year ($19/month) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Third-party plugin required | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes (free Community Edition) | Azure DevOps: N/A
Maximum CI/CD Pipeline Minutes (free tier/month)
GitLab: 400 minutes/month | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Built-in full-featured system | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 30-45 minutes | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes (GitLab CI/CD) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 3 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Native (included) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 5 (SAST, DAST, dependency, secret, container) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Forgejo, GitLab Community Edition | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: $8.25 (Premium at $99/year) | Azure DevOps: $12.00 (Premium tier)
GitLab: 400 minutes (shared) | Azure DevOps: 1,800 minutes (Microsoft-hosted agents)
GitLab: Yes, included in all tiers | Azure DevOps: No, requires separate Azure Container Registry
GitLab: 10,000+ (with performance degradation) | Azure DevOps: 50,000+ (enterprise proven)
GitLab: Open-source Community Edition available | Azure DevOps: Deprecated; Server edition EOL in 2024
GitLab: Via third-party plugins/SAML | Azure DevOps: Native, deeply integrated
GitLab: Basic; limited test case tracking | Azure DevOps: Dedicated Test Plans with full lifecycle management
GitLab: 400+ via marketplace | Azure DevOps: 600+ via marketplace and native Azure services
GitLab: 10 GB (projects) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: $29 (Premium plan) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Included in Free tier (SAST, DAST, Dependency, Container) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 600 (authenticated) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Community, Premium, and Ultimate editions | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Yes - includes 50,000 CI/CD minutes | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Native GitLab CI/CD | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: 5-8 built-in | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: $99 (Premium Edition) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: GitLab CI/CD (native pipeline engine) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: Merge Requests with code owner enforcement | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: DORA metrics, advanced audit, compliance reporting (Premium+) | Azure DevOps: N/A
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Azure Boards (native)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Branch policies, approval gates, build validation
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Unlimited (public), 1,800 (private)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: 1 (Git only)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: $6 (or free tier)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Yes (Azure Pipelines native)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Yes (Git and TFVC included)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Standard (basic custom fields, limited automation)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Up to 5 (full features)
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: $6 per user/month
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Not public-facing
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: Branch policies with reviewer requirements
GitLab: N/A | Azure DevOps: 2 (Git + TFVC)
How to choose between GitLab and Azure DevOps
GitLab vs Azure DevOps — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for GitLab vs Azure DevOps. Contains 89 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
GitLab vs Azure DevOps — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for GitLab vs Azure DevOps.
Which platform is cheaper for small teams?
GitLab is significantly cheaper for small teams. GitLab's free tier includes unlimited private repositories and core DevOps features, while Azure DevOps free tier is limited to 5 users. GitLab Premium costs $99/year per user ($8.25/month), compared to Azure DevOps at $12/month. For a 10-person team over one year, GitLab would cost $990 vs Azure DevOps at $1,440, saving 31%.
Does Azure DevOps have better CI/CD than GitLab?
Azure DevOps offers more free CI/CD minutes (1,800 vs 400), but GitLab includes native CI/CD in all tiers while Azure requires Pipelines as a separate service. GitLab's CI/CD is faster to set up with unified workflows, while Azure DevOps pipelines offer more granular enterprise controls and parallelization options. For small projects, GitLab is simpler; for complex enterprise pipelines, Azure edges ahead.
Which is better for Microsoft-heavy organizations?
Azure DevOps is substantially better for Microsoft-centric organizations. It has native integration with Active Directory, Office 365, Azure services, Power Platform, and Azure Policy. GitLab requires third-party SAML connectors for AD integration. If 70%+ of your stack is Microsoft, Azure DevOps eliminates friction; otherwise, GitLab's unified approach often wins.
GitLab's self-hosting is superior. The open-source Community Edition is free and well-documented with strong community support. Azure DevOps Server was deprecated in 2020 and fully end-of-life in 2024, forcing enterprise customers to migrate to cloud. If self-hosting is a requirement, GitLab is the only viable choice.
Which platform scales better for 50,000+ users?
Azure DevOps is proven at 50,000+ concurrent users in Fortune 500 deployments, with enterprise-grade governance and compliance controls. GitLab supports up to 10,000 users but experiences performance degradation beyond that. For massive enterprise scale, Azure DevOps is the recommended choice; GitLab is optimal for mid-market teams.
How to Choose Between GitLab and Azure DevOps
Pricing Model: GitLab has Free tier with unlimited private repos; $99/year per user (Premium), while Azure DevOps has Free tier limited to 5 users; $6-12/month per user (Standard/Premium).
Built-in CI/CD: GitLab has Native CI/CD included in all tiers with 400 compute minutes free/month, while Azure DevOps has Requires separate Pipeline service; 1,800 free minutes/month for Microsoft-hosted agents.
Microsoft Integration: GitLab has Basic Azure integration; works via plugins, while Azure DevOps has Native integration with Active Directory, Office 365, Azure services, and Power Platform.
Self-Hosting Support: GitLab has Excellent; open-source Community Edition available; strong community support, while Azure DevOps has Limited; Server edition deprecated in favor of cloud; less mature self-hosting.
Container Registry: GitLab has Built-in Container Registry included in all tiers, while Azure DevOps has Requires separate Azure Container Registry subscription.
Test Management Features: GitLab has Basic test reporting; limited test case management, while Azure DevOps has Dedicated Test Plans module with comprehensive test case management and reporting.
Enterprise Scalability: GitLab has Strong; handles 10,000+ users; some limitations at massive scale, while Azure DevOps has Superior; designed for 50,000+ user deployments; proven in Fortune 500 companies.