GitLab is an integrated DevOps platform combining version control, CI/CD, and project management in one system, while Jira is a specialized issue tracking and project management tool that excels at agile workflows but requires integration with other tools for development operations.
GitLab vs Jira — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose GitLab if your team needs an integrated DevOps platform with built-in CI/CD, repository hosting, and project management to reduce tool sprawl and simplify workflows. Choose Jira if your primary focus is agile project management with highly customizable workflows, you already have development tools in place, or you need the most cost-effective entry point for issue tracking.
DevOps-first Git platform with built-in CI/CD, available as SaaS or self-hosted for complete control.
Enterprise project management platform with advanced agile workflows, reporting, and automation.
Structured comparison data for GitLab vs Jira with 182 attributes.
Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)
Maximum CI/CD Pipeline Minutes (free tier/month)
Advanced Agile Features (Sprint Velocity Tracking)
GitLab vs Jira — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for GitLab vs Jira.
Can Jira replace GitLab for development teams?
No. Jira is an issue tracking and project management tool, not a DevOps platform. It cannot replace GitLab's Git hosting or native CI/CD capabilities. However, Jira can integrate with external Git repositories and CI/CD tools to support development workflows. GitLab can replace Jira's project management for smaller teams, but Jira offers superior agile customization.
It depends on team size and features needed. Jira's entry price ($7.50/user/month) is lower initially, making it cheaper for small teams. However, at 50+ users, GitLab ($29/user/month) can become the better value if you eliminate costs for separate Git hosting, CI/CD, and other DevOps tools. Jira's per-seat licensing scales linearly, while GitLab's value increases with integrated features.
Jira is purpose-built for Scrum with 100+ customizable templates, sprint planning tools, and advanced burndown reporting. GitLab has basic agile features but lacks Jira's depth in Scrum-specific workflows. For pure Scrum execution, Jira is the stronger choice. However, GitLab works well for DevOps-heavy teams practicing agile who need Git and CI/CD in one platform.
Yes, GitLab includes basic issue tracking integrated with repositories and CI/CD pipelines. However, its issue management features are simpler than Jira's. GitLab's strength is linking issues to code commits and CI/CD builds, while Jira excels at agile board customization, reporting, and sprint planning.
Yes. Many teams use Jira for project management and agile workflows while using GitLab for development. Jira integrates with GitLab repositories through its issue linking and commit tracking features. This approach leverages each tool's strengths but increases complexity and cost compared to using one platform.