GitHub vs Gitea
A detailed comparison of GitHub and Gitea to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
GitHub
The world's leading platform for software development and version control.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | GitHub | Gitea |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Unlimited public/private repos | ✓ Free (self-hosted) |
| Lowest Paid | $4/user/mo | Free |
| Enterprise | $21/user/mo | Paid cloud coming |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | GitHub | Gitea |
|---|---|---|
| Git hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pull requests | ✓ | — |
| Code review | ✓ | ✓ |
| GitHub Actions | ✓ | — |
| Copilot AI | ✓ | — |
| Issues | ✓ | — |
| Projects | ✓ | — |
| Packages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codespaces | ✓ | — |
| Security features | ✓ | — |
| Issue tracking | — | ✓ |
| CI/CD (Gitea Actions) | — | ✓ |
| Wiki | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| OAuth | — | ✓ |
| Webhooks | — | ✓ |
| Lightweight | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.7 | ⭐ 4.2 |
Pros & Cons
GitHub
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Massive community
- ✓ Great CI/CD
Cons
- ✗ Microsoft owned
- ✗ Can be complex
- ✗ Limited free CI minutes
- ✗ Expensive Copilot
Gitea
Pros
- ✓ Lightweight
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ GitHub-like UI
- ✓ Easy to install
Cons
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Self-hosting required
- ✗ Less polished
🏆 The Verdict
Choose GitHub if: You need software development teams and open-source projects. GitHub excels with its industry standard and generous free tier.
Choose Gitea if: You need teams wanting lightweight self-hosted git. Gitea stands out with its lightweight and self-hosted.
Best free option: Both GitHub and Gitea offer free tiers. GitHub offers "Unlimited public/private repos" while Gitea offers "Free (self-hosted)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is GitHub better than Gitea?
It depends on your needs. GitHub is better for software development teams and open-source projects, while Gitea is better for teams wanting lightweight self-hosted git. Both are excellent tools rated 4.7 and 4.2 respectively.
Which is cheaper, GitHub or Gitea?
GitHub starts at $4/user/mo while Gitea starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from GitHub to Gitea?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Gitea's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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