Comparison
GitLab vs Forgejo
Overview
GitLab is an all-in-one DevSecOps platform covering the full software lifecycle in a single application — source control, built-in CI/CD, security scanning, package registry and project planning. It is available as SaaS or fully self-managed.
Forgejo is a lightweight, self-hosted Git forge and a community-governed fork of Gitea, stewarded by Codeberg e.V. It provides repositories, pull requests, issues, CI (Forgejo Actions) and a small footprint, focused on independence and open governance.
Which should you choose?
GitLab is a comprehensive, freemium DevSecOps platform with built-in CI/CD and security scanning, self-managed or SaaS, up to $29/month Premium. Forgejo is a free, lightweight, community-governed forge you self-host, without GitLab's built-in security scanning or CI/CD depth. Choose GitLab for the deepest built-in DevSecOps tooling; choose Forgejo if you want the lightest-weight, fully open-source self-hosted option.
TLDR
- —If you need the deepest built-in DevSecOps tooling, choose GitLab.
- —If you want the lightest-weight, fully open-source self-hosted Git forge, choose Forgejo.
Features
- —Git repository hosting
- —Built-in CI/CD pipelines
- —Security and compliance scanning (DevSecOps)
- —Issue boards and planning
- —Container and package registry
- —Self-managed or SaaS deployment
- —Lightweight self-hosted Git forge
- —Pull requests and code review
- —Issues and project tracking
- —Forgejo Actions CI
- —Federation (ActivityPub) roadmap
- —Fully open source and community-governed
Pricing
GitLab
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Core source control and CI/CD. |
| Premium | $29/mo | Per user/month. |
| Ultimate | Contact sales | Advanced security and compliance. |
Forgejo
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free | Self-hosted. |
Company Fit
GitLab
Forgejo