GitLab

Self Hosted Git repository management, code reviews, issue tracking, activity feeds and wikis.

GitHub stars: 7,172
License: MIT
Latest release: v18.11.0
16 April 2026
Last commit: 13 October 2026
Runs on: Ruby, Debian packages, Docker, Kubernetes

Commits per month, last 12 months

0 commits

Replaces

Paid products GitLab can stand in for.

Azure DevOpsMicrosoft's repos, boards and pipelines.GitLab.comHosted GitLab for code and CI.BitbucketAtlassian's code hosting.GitHubCode hosting and collaboration.

How to self-host GitLab

GitLab runs on Ruby, Debian packages, Docker and Kubernetes. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

Similar apps

Plane
Track issues, epics, and product roadmaps in the simplest way possible (alternative to JIRA, Linear and Height).
60.7k stars
Gitea
Git with a cup of tea! Painless self-hosted all-in-one software development service, including Git hosting, code review, team collaboration, package registry and CI/CD.
58.5k stars
Gogs
Painless self-hosted Git Service written in Go.
47.9k stars
Huly
All-in-one project management platform (alternative to Linear, Jira, Slack, Notion, Motion).
27.9k stars
OpenProject
Manage your projects, tasks and goals. Collaborate via work packages and link them to your pull requests on Github.
16.4k stars
OneDev
All-In-One DevOps Platform. With Git Management, Issue Tracking, and CI/CD. Simple yet Powerful.
15.3k stars

Questions

Is GitLab free?

Yes. GitLab is open source under the MIT license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host GitLab?

Yes. GitLab runs on Ruby, Debian packages, Docker and Kubernetes. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does GitLab replace?

People use GitLab instead of Azure DevOps, GitLab.com, Bitbucket or GitHub.

Is GitLab still maintained?

The last change to GitLab's code was on 13 October 2026, with 0 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.