When it comes to dealing with codes, working in teams, and syncing the software development processes, GitHub and GitLab are amongst some of the most popular tools around. They both have effective means of tracking project versions as well as managing the project, but they are used in different scenarios.

Git vs GitLab vs GitHub vs Bitbucket

Git is DVCS free software, useful for every project from small to very large applications at very high speed. GitHub is a place built for the programmer community and is aimed at open-source projects, so any software developer who wants to be surrounded by like-minded people will find a place here. Whereas GitLab offers a single platform that hosts all DevOps tools, ranging from CI/CD pipelines to project management tools. Bitbucket is a hosting service for computing source code version control systems more specifically an offshoot of git and is owned by Atlassian

In this blog post, let’s learn a comprehensive Git vs GitLab vs GitHub vs Bitbucket comparison that includes product details, pricing, and a comparison of CI/CD offerings.

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What is Git?

Git is DVCS-free software, useful for every project from small to very large applications at very high speed. Originally developed by Linus Torvalds in 2005 for the Linux Kernel development, Git has turned into the most used VCS for software development.

Use cases of Git

  • Version control: Be able to monitor shifts over time.
  • Collaborative development: Facilitate the work of several developers on the given project at the same time.
  • Experimentation: Set up branches in order to introduce new functionalities without disrupting the rest of the program structure.
  • Code review: Use Git’s diff and merge tools to review code changes.
  • Backup: Maintain a complete history of your project, allowing you to revert to previous states if needed.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a leading platform for version control and collaborative software development, built on Git, a distributed version control system created by Linus Torvalds. Launched in 2008, GitHub has become synonymous with open-source collaboration and code sharing, hosting millions of public repositories and serving as a hub for developers around the globe.

GitHub is a stage for software developers to demonstrate their coding skills and a source of free and open-source software. It has a simple user interface, yet it is filled with strong tools and options that millions of software developers from all over the world use now.

Use cases of GitHub

So, what can you actually do with GitHub? Let’s break it down:

  1. Open-source project hosting: GitHub is the developer’s heaven specifically for open-source contributors.
  2. Collaboration: Often, teams are spread across different parts of the world, making effective project management crucial. GitHub supports this with features such as pull requests and code reviews, which facilitate seamless collaboration regardless of geographic location.
  3. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): This means you can automate your workflow from the idea of how it is going to look like, testing, to production all through GitHub Actions.
  4. Learning and exploration: GitHub is a goldmine of code snippets, tutorials, and entire courses. It’s like a university for developers, minus the student loans!

What is GitLab?

GitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform that provides a unified solution for the entire software development lifecycle. Founded in 2011, GitLab offers a suite of tools designed to streamline the software development, deployment, and management of software projects.

GitLab’s CI/CD capabilities are a key highlight, providing built-in pipelines that automate the process of building, testing, and deploying code. GitLab’s flexible deployment options suit both small teams and large enterprises, while its built-in security tools provide application testing, dependency scanning, and compliance features.

Use cases of GitLab

GitLab’s versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of use cases:

  1. End-to-end DevOps: GitLab is great when you are in a situation that requires all-in-one solution for planning and monitoring.
  2. Self-hosted solutions: GitLab offers self-hosted options for companies that need to manage their own version control.
  3. Continuous Integration: As you know, GitLab CI is an extremely versatile feature present in GitLab by default.
  4. Security and compliance: Due to the provided security tools, it is appreciated by enterprises that strive for the protection of their data.

What is Bitbucket?

Bitbucket is a hosting service for computing source code version control systems more specifically an offshoot of git and is owned by Atlassian. Initially released in 2008, it became popular and is now a cloud-hosted service as well as self-hosted. It is most famous for how well it is connected with the rest of Atlassian products, so it is highly popular among the teams that are already using such tools as Jira for project management.

Use cases of Bitbucket

  • Private repositories: Bitbucket provides an unconditional plan of a free account, which contains numerous private repositories applicable for small groups and teams, and individual coders.
  • Atlassian ecosystem integration: If you are a team that works with Jira, Confluence or any other Atlassian products, then, welcome to Bitbucket.
  • CI/CD with Bitbucket Pipelines: Organizational CI/CD integrations that exist enable the automatic creating, testing, and releasing of applications.
  • Code review: This is due to the fact that Bitbucket provides tools for pull requests and code review that enhance collaboration.

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How are Git, GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket Different?

Let’s see GitHub vs GitLab in some key areas. Remember, this isn’t about declaring a winner – it’s about helping you find the best fit for your needs.

Core Focus

Git

  • Provides the fundamental distributed version control system.
  • Focuses on tracking changes in source code during software development.
  • Offers powerful branching and merging capabilities.
  • Operates primarily through a command-line interface.

GitHub

  • Strong with elements of social coding and working together.
  • Supports an energetic and constructive open-source community.
  • Explains projects and allows for their presentation.
  • Makes it easy to share repositories and create new ones from existing ones that one finds.
  • Encourages networking among software developers.

GitLab

  • Services on annual recurring revenue that encompass the whole DevOps life cycle.
  • Applies to planning, creating, verifying, packaging, releasing, configuring, and monitoring.
  • Extends version control, and fits it into the CI/CD context.
  • Incorporates project management features.
  • Concentrates on the rationalization of the software development process.

Bitbucket

  • Focuses on providing a robust Git repository management system.
  • Emphasizes integration with other Atlassian products.
  • Caters to both small teams and large enterprises with its scalable solutions.

Pricing Model

Git

  • Completely free and open-source.
  • No paid tiers or subscription models.
  • Can be downloaded and used without any cost.

GitHub

  • Ensures that there are free, public unlimited repositories.
  • Offers basic features for free to the individual developers.
  • Provides student and teacher discounts on bringing the concept of education to the next level.
  • It has a Pro plan that supports individual features.

GitLab

  • Gives a better free tier containing more functionalities.
  • All essential features, such as CI/CD minutes in the Free plan, are also included.
  • Offers hosted versions that are self-serviced, though it has different pricing models.
  • Provides easily-customizable per-user models of pricing for any enterprise company.

Bitbucket

  • Offers a free tier with unlimited private repositories for up to 5 users.
  • Provides a tiered pricing structure based on the number of users.
  • Includes Bitbucket Pipelines minutes in paid plans.

CI/CD capabilities

Git

  • Does not include built-in CI/CD capabilities.
  • Can be integrated with external CI/CD tools through hooks.

GitHub

  • Based on the workflow automation GitHub actions are used.
  • Supports a custom flow that a user can design using YAML files.
  • It allows for a certain amount of canned actions to be sold.
  • Facilitates matrix builds and concurrent run of jobs.

GitLab

  • Inbuilt CI/CD pipelines are implemented with GitLab CI.
  • Comes with break-bulk or containerized runners for flexibility in handling large volumes of orders.
  • Includes built-in container registry.
  • Enables operation in multi-project pipelines and parent-child pipelines.

Bitbucket

  • Features Bitbucket Pipelines, a built-in CI/CD tool.
  • Allows for custom pipeline configurations using YAML.
  • Integrates well with Atlassian’s Bamboo for more advanced CI/CD needs.

Self-hosting Options

Git

  • Inherently self-hosted, as it operates on the user’s local machine.
  • Can be set up on a server for team collaboration without the need for third-party hosting.
  • Requires manual setup and maintenance of server infrastructure if used for remote collaboration.

GitHub

  • Restricts itself to the GitHub Enterprise edition.
  • Has a different license for different installations from the cloud.
  • Offers cloud-hosted enterprise options.
  • Also supports LDAP and SAML for large business organizations.

GitLab

  • Provides Community Edition for clients to host the software on their own for free.
  • Enables Enterprise Edition to have more functions.
  • Allows for various deployment possibilities like Kubernetes, Docker, and the like.
  • Enables changes from one self-managed version to another.
  • Comes with integrated monitoring and administrative functionalities.

Bitbucket

  • Offers Bitbucket Server (now called Bitbucket Data Center) for self-hosting.
  • Provides options for cloud, server, and data center deployments.
  • Includes features for high availability and disaster recovery in the Data Center version.

Issue Tracking and Project Management

Git

  • Does not include built-in issue tracking or project management features.
  • Primarily focuses on version control and does not offer native tools for task management.
  • Can be extended with third-party tools or scripts for basic issue tracking, but this is not a core feature.

GitHub

  • Has very limited issue-tracking capabilities.
  • Includes file/project boards where the project tasks are displayed.
  • Contains points that will help to measure the work progress.
  • Enables including issues to the pull requests.
  • Includes labels and assignees for the organization.

GitLab

  • Contains rich project management functions.
  • Consists of boards such as Kanban and Scrum boards.
  • Provides time tracking features and burndown charts.
  • Provides epics for the management of large projects.
  • Features integrated wiki for note/documentation.

Bitbucket

  • Includes basic issue-tracking capabilities.
  • Integrates tightly with Jira for more comprehensive project management.
  • Offers Trello board integration for visual task management.

User Interface

Git

  • Primarily command-line based.
  • Offers some basic GUI tools, but these are not the primary focus.
  • Requires more technical knowledge to use effectively.

GitHub

  • Presents a neat and clear layout of its interface without drawing much attention to the code.
  • Available information is organized to be simple and easy to find.
  • Ensures uniformity of the look in different sections.
  • Provides a dark theme for better visibility.
  • Has some keyboard shortcuts recommended for power users.

GitLab

  • Provides a GUI that spans across the whole DevOps life cycle.
  • Arrange the tools in an organizational structure that follows a specific process of work.
  • Provides customizable dashboards.
  • Provides Web Integrated Development Environment for the coding to be done inside the browser.
  • Utilizes the whole DevOps process in a single gateway.

Bitbucket

  • Provides a clean, intuitive interface that aligns with other Atlassian products.
  • Offers a customizable dashboard for quick access to relevant information.
  • Includes a source browser with syntax highlighting and code review tools.

Security Features

Git

  • Provides cryptographic authentication of history using SHA-1 hashes.
  • Offers data integrity checks to ensure the consistency of repository data.
  • Includes basic access control through SSH keys for remote repositories.

GitHub

  • Leverages Dependabot for dependency analysis.
  • Provides code safety checks for vulnerabilities.
  • Offers a means to scan for secrets to avoid leakage of credentials.
  • Comprises security advisories for reporting vulnerabilities.
  • Offers private vulnerability reporting.

GitLab

  • Has some integrated Static Application Security Testing (SAST).
  • Constitutes dynamic application security testing also known as DAST.
  • In addition, it provides container scanning for Docker images.
  • Offers functions for dependency scanning and license compliance.
  • Has a security dashboard that gives an individual an overall view.

Bitbucket

  • Offers IP whitelisting and two-step verification.
  • Provides branch permissions and merge checks.
  • Includes Atlassian-grade security and compliance features in the Data Center version.

Integrations

Git

  • Allows for branching and merging, facilitating parallel development.
  • Provides tools for resolving merge conflicts.
  • Lacks built-in features for code review or issue tracking.

GitHub

  • Extensive third-party application store.
  • Offers GitHub apps for more features.
  • Supports the use of integration hooks for third-party applications.
  • It also comprises OAuth apps for authentication.
  • Has a strong API to be used for custom development.

GitLab

  • Has fewer add-ons than the paid version but has more utilities that are initially included.
  • Gives a list of native integrations that are constantly expanding.
  • Offers API to allow additional integration with other software as per client’s requirements.
  • Consists of options like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
  • Introduces support for integration with Jenkins for the existing CI/CD implementations.

Bitbucket

  • Excels in integration with other Atlassian products.
  • Offers a marketplace for third-party add-ons and integrations.
  • Provides webhooks and REST APIs for custom integrations.

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Which Platform is Used More: Git or GitHub or GitLab or Bitbucket?

While Git and GitHub remain the most widely used platform, especially for open-source projects, Bitbucket has carved out a significant niche, particularly among teams that are heavily invested in the Atlassian ecosystem. Its popularity is notable in enterprise settings where integration with Jira and other Atlassian tools is a priority.

What Should You Choose: Client’s Perspective?

Whether to go for GitHub or GitLab, depends on several factors. GitHub is a good pick if community is your priority and if you are working on open-source projects given that it is a large network of developers and has a dense ecosystem. However, its unique value seems to be in the area of sharing public projects and interaction with open-source projects.

If your team is already using Atlassian products like Jira or you need unlimited private repositories for a small team, Bitbucket could be the ideal choice. Its seamless integration with other Atlassian tools can significantly streamline workflows for teams that rely on these products.

On the other hand, if your main goal is to address CI/CD requirements together with project management, then GitLab can effectively meet your needs. This provides you a single environment for development that eradicates complexity and makes the work more efficient. A large number of various features that GitLab offers might be especially beneficial for organizations that are looking to have one tool that would cover both the development and deployment of their projects.

Conclusion

Git, GitHub, and GitLab possess great features and tools adapted to various spheres of the software development process. GitHub shines with an active community, simplicity, and flexibility combined with massive integration options. GitHub is a perfect tool for open-source projects and collaborative code development.

On the other hand, the major strategic advantage that GitLab has over other DevOps platforms is that it offers all the tools that are needed in the DevOps cycle as one integrated platform.

Bitbucket, with its strong ties to the Atlassian ecosystem, offers a compelling option for teams that prioritize integration with tools like Jira and Confluence. Its unlimited private repositories in the free tier make it an attractive choice for small teams and startups.

Ultimately, the choice between Git vs GitLab vs GitHub vs Bitbucket depends on your specific needs, from budget and feature requirements to deployment preferences. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select the platform that best supports your software development goals and aligns with your team’s workflow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Git is the core version control system that tracks changes in files and coordinates work among multiple people. GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket are hosting services that provide remote access to Git repositories. In addition, they offer various collaboration features, such as issue tracking, code reviews, and integration with other tools. Each platform has its unique set of functionalities tailored to different aspects of project management and team collaboration.
Yes, you can migrate repositories between these services. Each platform has its own import/export tools, and you can also use Git’s native commands to clone and push repositories. The migration process involves several steps and may require adjustments, especially when dealing with large repositories or those with complex histories.
All three, GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, offer free private repositories. They differ in the number of collaborators allowed in the free tier and the features available. For instance, GitHub provides unlimited collaborators for public repositories, GitLab offers a comprehensive set of free DevOps tools, and Bitbucket is known for its integration with Jira and Trello.
GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket have their own CI/CD services that seamlessly integrate with the repositories hosted on their platforms. These services enable automated testing, building, and deployment of code, facilitating a smooth workflow for continuous integration and continuous deployment. They support various programming languages and frameworks and offer a range of tools to customize pipelines according to project needs.
GitLab is not just a repository hosting service; it’s a complete DevOps platform that covers the entire software development lifecycle. GitHub is the largest host of source code in the world and is highly regarded for its vibrant community and collaborative features. Bitbucket is part of Atlassian’s suite of tools and offers deep integration with Jira, Trello, and Confluence, making it a great choice for teams already using these tools.