2 Best GitHub Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
GitHub is a popular tool for software development teams and open-source projects. While it offers a free tier (Unlimited public/private repos), its paid plans start at $4/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best GitHub alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (GitLab, Gitea)
- Open-source options: GitLab, Gitea
- Best overall: GitLab
- Best free: GitLab
Why Look for GitHub Alternatives?
People commonly look for GitHub alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While GitHub has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $4/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Microsoft owned and can be complex are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find GitHub overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub | ✓ Unlimited public/private repos | $4/user/mo | ⭐ 4.7 | No | Software development teams and open-source projects |
| GitLab | ✓ Free with 5 GB storage | $29/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting all-in-one DevOps |
| Gitea | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting lightweight self-hosted Git |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
GitLab
Complete DevOps platform delivered as a single application.
GitLab is a complete DevOps platform that covers the entire software development lifecycle in a single application. From planning and source code management to CI/CD, security testing, and deployment, GitLab provides everything a development team needs. It can also be self-hosted.
Pros
- ✓ All-in-one DevOps
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Great CI/CD
- ✓ Security features
Cons
- ✗ Complex interface
- ✗ Can be slow
- ✗ Expensive premium
- ✗ Resource heavy to host
Gitea
Lightweight, self-hosted Git service.
Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service written in Go. It provides repository hosting, code review, issue tracking, and CI/CD in a package that's easy to install and requires minimal resources. Gitea is perfect for teams and organizations wanting to self-host their code.
Pros
- ✓ Lightweight
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ GitHub-like UI
- ✓ Easy to install
Cons
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Self-hosting required
- ✗ Less polished
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to GitHub?
The best free alternative to GitHub is GitLab, which offers Free with 5 GB storage.
Is there an open-source alternative to GitHub?
Yes! GitLab, Gitea are open-source alternatives to GitHub that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to GitHub?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: GitLab, Gitea. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $29/mo.
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