GitLab vs Gitea 2026: DevOps vs Lightweight Git
GitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform with built-in CI/CD, issue tracking, and advanced security features, while Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service focused on simplicity and minimal resource consumption. GitLab suits enterprises needing integrated workflows; Gitea suits teams prioritizing low overhead and self-control.
GitLab
All-in-one DevOps platform with Git repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and project management built-in.
Enterprise teams, DevOps-focused organizations, and projects requiring integrated CI/CD and security scanning.
Gitea
Lightweight, self-hosted Git service written in Go requiring <500MB RAM with no dependencies
Small teams, hobby projects, resource-constrained environments, and organizations wanting simple Git hosting without DevOps integration.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryGitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform with built-in CI/CD, issue tracking, and advanced security features, while Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service focused on simplicity and minimal resource consumption. GitLab suits enterprises needing integrated workflows; Gitea suits teams prioritizing low overhead and self-control.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose GitLab if you need an enterprise-grade DevOps platform with integrated CI/CD, advanced security scanning, and comprehensive project management across teams. Choose Gitea if you want a lightweight, minimal-overhead Git hosting solution for small teams or projects where simplicity and resource efficiency matter more than integrated tooling.
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Choose GitLab if
Best pickEnterprise teams, DevOps-focused organizations, and projects requiring integrated CI/CD and security scanning.
Choose Gitea if
Small teams, hobby projects, resource-constrained environments, and organizations wanting simple Git hosting without DevOps integration.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Deployment Model:✓ Gitea wins(Self-hosted only (lightweight) vs Cloud SaaS + Self-hosted Enterprise)
- Built-in CI/CD Pipelines:✓ GitLab wins(Yes (GitLab CI/CD included) vs No (requires third-party integration))
- Minimum RAM Requirement:✓ Gitea wins(512MB or less vs 4GB recommended)
Key Facts & Figures
42 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | GitLab | Gitea | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in CI/CD Minutes (Free Plan)(minutes/month) | 400 minutes with shared runners | — | — |
| Storage (Free Plan)(GB) | 5GB total | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Approximately 30 million users | — | — |
| Starting Price (Per User/Month)(USD) | $10.50 for Premium | — | — |
| Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)(minutes) | 400 minutes | — | — |
| Container Registry Free Storage(GB) | 5 GB per project | — | — |
| Marketplace Ecosystem Size(actions/templates) | 900+ Templates | — | — |
| Enterprise Security (SAST) Cost(USD/month per user) | Included in Ultimate ($99/month per user) | — | — |
| Maximum Parallel Jobs (Free Tier)(concurrent jobs) | 10 concurrent pipelines | — | — |
| Job Startup Time(seconds) | 12-15 seconds | — | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Minutes(build minutes) | 400 minutes | — | — |
| Self-Hosted Annual Cost (Single User)(USD) | $990 | — | — |
| Setup Time to First Pipeline(minutes) | 45-60 minutes | — | — |
| Pre-built Integration Orbs/Templates(count) | 80+ Templates | — | — |
| Pro Plan Annual Cost (per user)(USD) | $228/year ($19/month) | — | — |
| Maximum CI/CD Pipeline Minutes (free tier/month)(minutes) | 400 minutes/month | — | — |
| Minimum RAM Requirement(GB) | 4GB | 0.5GB | |
| Setup Time (Fresh Installation)(minutes) | 30-45 minutes | 5-10 minutes | |
| Database Options Supported(count) | 3 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) | 3 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) | |
| API Rate Limit (Unauthenticated)(requests/hour) | 300 | 60 | |
| Security Scanning Features(count) | 5 (SAST, DAST, dependency, secret, container) | 0 | |
| Community-Maintained Forks/Mirrors(count) | Forgejo, GitLab Community Edition | 1+ active forks | |
| Monthly Cost (Single User, Premium)(USD) | $8.25 (Premium at $99/year) | — | — |
| Free CI/CD Minutes Monthly(minutes) | 400 minutes (shared) | — | — |
| Maximum Concurrent Users Supported(users) | 10,000+ (with performance degradation) | — | — |
| Platform Integration Count(integrations) | 400+ via marketplace | — | — |
| Free Tier Storage Limit(GB) | 10 GB (projects) | — | — |
| CI/CD Minutes Included (Free Tier)(minutes/month) | 400 minutes | — | — |
| Pro Plan Cost Per User(USD/month) | $29 (Premium plan) | — | — |
| API Rate Limits (free tier)(requests/minute) | 600 (authenticated) | — | — |
| Community Forum Members (approx)(members) | 150000 | — | — |
| Cloud Pricing (Starting Tier)(USD/user/month) | $29/month | — | — |
| Agile Board Templates(number) | 5-8 built-in | — | — |
| Public Repositories (Total)(repositories) | 14,000,000+ | — | — |
| Free Tier CI/CD Minutes(minutes/month) | 400 minutes/month | — | — |
| Self-Hosting Cost (Per User/Year)(USD) | $99 (Premium Edition) | — | — |
| Marketplace Integrations(count) | 2,500+ | — | — |
| Base Monthly Cost (100 users)(USD) | $2,900 (Premium tier at $29/user) | — | — |
| Custom Issue Field Types(field types) | ~20 standard field types | — | — |
| Global Active Users(millions) | 12 million+ monthly active users | — | — |
| Setup Time (Initial Configuration)(hours) | 2-4 hours for basic CI/CD pipeline with templates | — | — |
| Maximum Scalable Team Size(users) | 500-1,000 per instance; sharding available | — | — |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Cloud SaaS + Self-hosted EnterpriseDeployment ModelSelf-hosted only (lightweight)(winner)
- Yes (GitLab CI/CD included)(winner)Built-in CI/CD PipelinesNo (requires third-party integration)
- 4GB recommendedMinimum RAM Requirement512MB or less(winner)
- Advanced (epics, roadmaps, requirements)(winner)Issue Tracking & Project ManagementBasic (issues, labels, milestones)
- Native support included(winner)Container RegistryNot included
- SAST, DAST, dependency scanning (paid plans)(winner)Security Scanning FeaturesNone built-in
- Moderate (Docker, Kubernetes options)Setup ComplexityVery simple (single binary)(winner)
- Deployment Model
GitLab
Cloud SaaS + Self-hosted Enterprise
Gitea
Self-hosted only (lightweight)(winner)
- Built-in CI/CD Pipelines
GitLab
Yes (GitLab CI/CD included)(winner)
Gitea
No (requires third-party integration)
- Minimum RAM Requirement
GitLab
4GB recommended
Gitea
512MB or less(winner)
- Issue Tracking & Project Management
GitLab
Advanced (epics, roadmaps, requirements)(winner)
Gitea
Basic (issues, labels, milestones)
- Container Registry
GitLab
Native support included(winner)
Gitea
Not included
- Security Scanning Features
GitLab
SAST, DAST, dependency scanning (paid plans)(winner)
Gitea
None built-in
- Setup Complexity
GitLab
Moderate (Docker, Kubernetes options)
Gitea
Very simple (single binary)(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | GitLab | Gitea |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in CI/CD Minutes (Free Plan)(minutes/month) | 400 minutes with shared runners | — |
| Built-in CI/CD Pipeline(included) | Native GitLab CI/CD | — |
| Built-in CI/CD Pipelines(pre-built templates) | 400+ templates included | — |
| Self-Hosting Support | Community and Enterprise editions available | — |
| Self-Hosted Option Available | Yes (free Community Edition) | — |
| Self-Hosted Edition Available | Community, Premium, and Ultimate editions | — |
| Public Repositories | Unlimited on all plans | — |
| Storage (Free Plan)(GB) | 5GB total | — |
| SAST Security Scanning | Built-in for all tiers | — |
| Native Security Scanning | Yes (SAST, DAST, container, dependency) | — |
| Security Scanning Features(count) | 5 (SAST, DAST, dependency, secret, container)(winner) | 0 |
| Built-in Security Scanning Tools | Included in Free tier (SAST, DAST, Dependency, Container) | — |
| Integrated Security Scanning | SAST, DAST, dependency scanning included in Premium | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Approximately 30 million users | — |
| Free Plan Available | Yes, with 5GB storage limit | — |
| Starting Price (Per User/Month)(USD) | $10.50 for Premium | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Minutes(build minutes) | 400 minutes | — |
| Self-Hosted Annual Cost (Single User)(USD) | $990 | — |
| Monthly Cost (Single User, Premium)(USD) | $8.25 (Premium at $99/year) | — |
Show 7 more attributesFree Tier Storage Limit(GB) 10 GB (projects) — Pro Plan Cost Per User(USD/month) $29 (Premium plan) — Cloud Pricing (Starting Tier)(USD/user/month) $29/month — Free Tier Access Yes - includes 50,000 CI/CD minutes — Self-Hosting Cost (Per User/Year)(USD) $99 (Premium Edition) — Free Public Repo Storage(GB) Unlimited — Base Monthly Cost (100 users)(USD) $2,900 (Premium tier at $29/user) — | ||
| Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)(minutes) | 400 minutes | — |
| Container Registry Free Storage(GB) | 5 GB per project | — |
| Marketplace Ecosystem Size(actions/templates) | 900+ Templates | — |
| Platform Integration Count(integrations) | 400+ via marketplace | — |
| Marketplace Integrations(count) | 2,500+ | — |
| Enterprise Security (SAST) Cost(USD/month per user) | Included in Ultimate ($99/month per user) | — |
| Built-in Project Management Features | Issues, Epics, Roadmaps, advanced Boards, Milestones | — |
| Custom Issue Field Types(field types) | ~20 standard field types | — |
| Native GitHub Integration Required | Requires separate account/platform | — |
| Maximum Parallel Jobs (Free Tier)(concurrent jobs) | 10 concurrent pipelines | — |
| Job Startup Time(seconds) | 12-15 seconds | — |
| API Rate Limit (Unauthenticated)(requests/hour) | 300(winner) | 60 |
| Source Control Integration | Native Git (no external required) | — |
| Setup Time to First Pipeline(minutes) | 45-60 minutes | — |
| Setup Time (Fresh Installation)(minutes) | 30-45 minutes | 5-10 minutes(winner) |
| Built-in Project Management(status) | Yes (issues, boards, wiki, milestones) | — |
| Container Registry Included | Yes (free Docker registry) | — |
| Maximum CI/CD Pipeline Minutes (free tier/month)(minutes) | 400 minutes/month | — |
| Issue Tracking & Project Management | Built-in full-featured system | — |
| Built-in CI/CD Included | Yes (GitLab CI/CD) | No |
Show 4 more attributesContainer Registry Support Native (included) Not included Git Repository Hosting Integrated — Agile Board Templates(number) 5-8 built-in — Native Git Repository Support Unlimited public/private repos included — | ||
| Pre-built Integration Orbs/Templates(count) | 80+ Templates | — |
| Free Tier Private Repositories(count) | Unlimited | — |
| Pro Plan Annual Cost (per user)(USD) | $228/year ($19/month) | — |
| Jira Integration Quality(rating) | Third-party plugin required | — |
| Minimum RAM Requirement(GB) | 4GB | 0.5GB(winner) |
| Database Options Supported(count) | 3 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) | 3 (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) |
| Community-Maintained Forks/Mirrors(count) | Forgejo, GitLab Community Edition(winner) | 1+ active forks |
| Community Forum Members (approx)(members) | 150000 | — |
| Free CI/CD Minutes Monthly(minutes) | 400 minutes (shared) | — |
| Built-in Container Registry | Yes, included in all tiers | — |
| Free Tier CI/CD Minutes(minutes/month) | 400 minutes/month | — |
| Built-in CI/CD Integration | GitLab CI/CD (native pipeline engine) | — |
| Maximum Concurrent Users Supported(users) | 10,000+ (with performance degradation) | — |
| Maximum Team Members (Free Tier)(users) | Unlimited | — |
| API Rate Limits (free tier)(requests/minute) | 600 (authenticated) | — |
| Maximum Scalable Team Size(users) | 500-1,000 per instance; sharding available | — |
| Self-Hosting Capability | Open-source Community Edition available | — |
| Active Directory Integration | Via third-party plugins/SAML | — |
| Test Case Management Module | Basic; limited test case tracking | — |
| CI/CD Minutes Included (Free Tier)(minutes/month) | 400 minutes | — |
| Public Repositories (Total)(repositories) | 14,000,000+ | — |
| Web-based Code Review | Merge Requests with code owner enforcement | — |
| Enterprise Compliance Features | DORA metrics, advanced audit, compliance reporting (Premium+) | — |
| Global Active Users(millions) | 12 million+ monthly active users | — |
| Setup Time (Initial Configuration)(hours) | 2-4 hours for basic CI/CD pipeline with templates | — |
GitLabGiteaShow 7 more attributes
Show 4 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
GitLab
Pros
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines eliminate need for external tools
- Native container registry and Kubernetes integration
- Advanced security features (SAST, DAST, secret detection)
- Comprehensive project management with epics and roadmaps
- Supports 40+ integrations for webhooks and external services
Cons
- Higher resource requirements (4GB+ RAM minimum)
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Premium features locked behind paid tiers
Gitea
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight (runs on 512MB RAM or less)
- Single binary deployment with minimal dependencies
- Very fast setup and installation (5-10 minutes)
- Intuitive web interface requiring no special knowledge
- Low operational overhead and minimal maintenance
Cons
- No built-in CI/CD (requires external runners)
- Limited project management features
- No native container registry or security scanning
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Gitea does not have built-in CI/CD, but you can integrate external CI/CD systems like Drone, GitHub Actions runners, or Jenkins via webhooks. This requires additional setup and management compared to GitLab's integrated approach.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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