Software Alternatives & Startups

GitHub CLI VS GitLab

Compare GitHub CLI VS GitLab and see what are their differences

GitHub CLI

Official CLI tool for using GitHub from the command-line.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
GitLab

Create, review and deploy code together with GitLab open source git repo management software | GitLab

Rating
5.0 · 1 review

Which is more popular?

GitLab might be a bit more popular than GitHub CLI. We know about 145 links to it since March 2021 and only 144 links to GitHub CLI.

social mentions
144 vs 145
Git popularity
20% vs 80%
alternatives listed
121 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GitHub CLI
GitLab
Website cli.github.com about.gitlab.com
Pricing
Open source
Company — Startup from the United States · 1,000 - 1,999 employees · 2014
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GitHub CLI 6 features
GitLab 5 features
  • Seamless Integration
    GitHub CLI allows for seamless integration with GitHub, enabling users to perform repository and organization management tasks directly from the command line.
  • Automation
    Enables automation of workflows such as pull requests, issues, and CI/CD pipelines, which can save time and reduce errors.
  • Scriptability
    Command line tools can be scripted, allowing for batch processing and the inclusion of GitHub operations in larger automated scripts and processes.
  • Environment Consistency
    Consistent environments across different development systems can be maintained since command line interfaces are less susceptible to changes than GUI-based tools.
  • Lightweight
    As a CLI tool, GitHub CLI is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources compared to graphical interface alternatives.
  • Offline Access
    Some operations can be prepared or queued up offline and then executed when connectivity is restored, allowing for flexibility in workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    Understanding and using a CLI can be challenging for users new to command line operations, requiring them to learn syntax and commands.
  • Limited Visuals
    Command line interfaces lack the visual appeal and ease-of-use provided by graphical user interfaces, potentially making complex operations harder to manage.
  • Manual Errors
    Manual input of commands can lead to human error, such as mistyping commands or arguments, which can result in unintended actions.
  • Feature Parity
    Some advanced features and integrations available in the GitHub web interface may be missing or less accessible in the CLI version.
  • Dependency Management
    Requires users to manage dependencies and versions of other command-line tools and scripting environments, which may add complexity for some setups.
  • Integrated DevOps Platform
    GitLab provides a single application for the entire DevOps lifecycle, which simplifies the workflow and reduces the need for multiple tools.
  • CI/CD Capabilities
    It offers powerful Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) features, enabling automated testing and deployment.
  • Self-Hosted and SaaS Options
    GitLab can be hosted on your own servers or used as a cloud-hosted service, providing flexibility depending on your needs.
  • Strong Security Features
    GitLab includes various security features such as code quality analysis, vulnerability management, and compliance management.
  • Robust Community and Support
    There is a large community and extensive documentation available, along with professional support options.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity for New Users
    The extensive features and functionalities can be overwhelming for newcomers, requiring a steep learning curve.
  • Resource Intensive
    Self-hosting a GitLab instance requires substantial server resources, which can be costly.
  • Price
    While there is a free tier, the advanced features are part of the paid plans, which can be expensive for small teams or startups.
  • User Interface
    Some users find the interface less intuitive and harder to navigate compared to other platforms like GitHub.
  • Performance Issues
    Large repositories or high usage can sometimes lead to performance issues, especially on self-hosted instances.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

GitHub CLI
GitLab

No analysis of GitHub CLI yet.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, GitLab is generally considered a good platform, especially for teams looking for an integrated set of tools for software development and DevOps. Its features and flexibility make it a strong choice for many organizations.

Why this product is good

  • GitLab is a popular DevOps platform that provides a comprehensive suite of tools for software development, including version control, issue tracking, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and more. It is valued for its open-source model, strong security features, user-friendly interface, and a wide range of integrations. GitLab's all-in-one approach allows teams to manage their entire DevOps lifecycle from a single application, which can help improve collaboration and efficiency.

Recommended for

    GitLab is well-suited for developers, DevOps engineers, project managers, and teams that require robust CI/CD capabilities, strong security features, and an open-source platform that can be self-hosted or used as a cloud service. It is particularly beneficial for organizations looking for a comprehensive solution to streamline their development workflows.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GitHub CLI 3 videos + Add
GitLab 2 videos + Add

NEW GitHub CLI 1.0 is here! | GitHub CLI Tutorial - Demo & Commands

More videos

  • - New GitHub CLI Crash Course - First Look
  • - GitHub CLI demo

Introduction to GitLab Workflow

More videos

  • - GitLab Review App Working Session

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GitHub CLI
GitLab
20% 20%
Git
80% 80%
13% 13%
87% 87%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using GitHub CLI and GitLab. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

GitHub CLI no reviews yet
GitLab 5.0 · 1 review

We have no reviews of GitHub CLI yet. Be the first one to post

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

GitHub CLI 144 mentions
GitLab 145 mentions
  • gitsmith: A Terminal UI for Both GitLab and GitHub
    Requirements: glab authenticated for GitLab repos, and/or gh authenticated for GitHub repos. - Source: dev.to / 28 days ago
  • Rebuilding my terminal from a git clone
    Step two is the whole bootstrap surface: chezmoi, the Bitwarden CLI and the GitHub CLI. Step four clones the repo, installs the Brewfile, applies the macOS defaults and renders every dotfile including the secrets. It takes as long as... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • AI Agent Attempted to Social Engineer Open Source Maintainer to Merge Malware
    It’s worth pointing out that if you’re not aware of it, you can install the github cli[1] and view, merge, close etc prs and issue from the command-line. As well as (for me at least) being a significant step up in terms of productivity... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago

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Alternatives to GitHub CLI and GitLab

When comparing GitHub CLI and GitLab, you can also consider the following products.

  • GitHub

    Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

    Compare GitHub to GitHub CLI or GitLab:

  • Git

    Git is a free and open source version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It is easy to learn and lightweight with lighting fast performance that outclasses competitors.

    Compare Git to GitHub CLI or GitLab:

  • BitBucket

    Bitbucket is a free code hosting site for Mercurial and Git. Manage your development with a hosted wiki, issue tracker and source code.

    Compare BitBucket to GitHub CLI or GitLab:

  • Homebrew

    The missing package manager for macOS

    Compare Homebrew to GitHub CLI or GitLab:

  • Jira

    The #1 software development tool used by agile teams. Jira Software is built for every member of your software team to plan, track, and release great software.

    Compare Jira to GitHub CLI or GitLab:

  • VS Code

    Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

    Compare VS Code to GitHub CLI or GitLab: