GitLab vs Gitea
A detailed comparison of GitLab and Gitea to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | GitLab | Gitea |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free with 5 GB storage | ✓ Free (self-hosted) |
| Lowest Paid | $29/user/mo | Free |
| Enterprise | $99/user/mo | Paid cloud coming |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | GitLab | Gitea |
|---|---|---|
| Git hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| CI/CD pipelines | ✓ | — |
| Issue tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Security scanning | ✓ | — |
| Container registry | ✓ | — |
| Wiki | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto DevOps | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes integration | ✓ | — |
| CI/CD (Gitea Actions) | — | ✓ |
| Packages | — | ✓ |
| OAuth | — | ✓ |
| Webhooks | — | ✓ |
| Lightweight | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.3 | ⭐ 4.2 |
Pros & Cons
GitLab
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
Pros
- ✓ Lightweight
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ GitHub-like UI
- ✓ Easy to install
Cons
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Self-hosting required
- ✗ Less polished
🏆 The Verdict
Choose GitLab if: You need teams wanting all-in-one devops. GitLab excels with its all-in-one devops and self-hostable.
Choose Gitea if: You need teams wanting lightweight self-hosted git. Gitea stands out with its lightweight and self-hosted.
Best free option: Both GitLab and Gitea offer free tiers. GitLab offers "Free with 5 GB storage" while Gitea offers "Free (self-hosted)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is GitLab better than Gitea?
It depends on your needs. GitLab is better for teams wanting all-in-one devops, while Gitea is better for teams wanting lightweight self-hosted git. Both are excellent tools rated 4.3 and 4.2 respectively.
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Gitea?
GitLab starts at $29/user/mo while Gitea starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from GitLab 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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