Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitLab VS GitHub Copilot

Compare GitLab VS GitHub Copilot and see what are their differences

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GitLab logo GitLab

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

GitHub Copilot logo GitHub Copilot

Your AI pair programmer. With GitHub Copilot, get suggestions for whole lines or entire functions right inside your editor.
  • GitLab Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-17
  • GitHub Copilot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03

Trained on billions of lines of public code, GitHub Copilot puts the knowledge you need at your fingertips, saving you time and helping you stay focused.

GitLab

Release Date
2014 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Dmitriy Zaporozhets
Employees
1,000 - 1,999

GitLab features and specs

  • 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 of GitLab

  • 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.

GitHub Copilot features and specs

  • Productivity Boost
    GitHub Copilot helps developers write code faster by providing intelligent suggestions and automating repetitive tasks. This can save significant time and reduce the cognitive load on developers.
  • Learning Tool
    For less experienced developers, Copilot can serve as a learning tool by suggesting best practices and introducing them to new coding patterns and techniques.
  • Support for Multiple Languages
    Copilot supports a wide range of programming languages, making it a versatile tool for developers working in different tech stacks.
  • Context-Aware Suggestions
    Copilot offers context-aware suggestions based on the code that has been written so far, making its recommendations relevant to the current development task.
  • Integration with GitHub
    Seamless integration with GitHub simplifies the development workflow, enabling smoother transitions from coding to version control and collaboration.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Copilot

  • Code Quality Concerns
    The quality of the code generated by Copilot may vary, and it might introduce suboptimal code or practices that could lead to maintenance challenges.
  • Security Risks
    Copilot might suggest insecure code patterns or snippets, potentially introducing vulnerabilities into the project if not carefully reviewed by the developer.
  • Dependence on AI
    Over-reliance on Copilot's suggestions can lead to a lack of deep understanding of the code, which may hinder a developer's growth and problem-solving skills.
  • Licensing and Code Reuse Issues
    There are concerns about the legality and ethics of using AI-generated code snippets that might be derived from copyrighted sources, which can lead to licensing issues.
  • Limited Customizability
    Copilot may not always align with specific coding standards or preferences of a development team, and the ability to customize its behavior to enforce such standards is limited.

GitLab videos

Introduction to GitLab Workflow

More videos:

  • Review - GitLab Review App Working Session

GitHub Copilot videos

Game over… GitHub Copilot X announced

More videos:

  • Review - The New GitHub Copilot X Powered by GPT-4 is Here!
  • Review - GitHub Copilot X -- AI Programming Gets Better... and Scary.
  • Review - GitHub Copilot Review 2023: I Love It, But It's Not For Everyone
  • Review - Is Github Copilot Worth Paying For??

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitLab and GitHub Copilot)
Code Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Git
100 100%
0% 0
AI
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GitLab and GitHub Copilot

GitLab Reviews

  1. Reinhard
    · Boss at CLOUD Meister ·
    perfect for Freelancers!

The Top 11 Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools
GitLab’s in-context testing solution simplifies the development process by automating both application and infrastructure management on a single platform.Why We Picked GitLab: We like GitLab’s automation of testing and compliance across development workflows. Its in-context testing minimizes license costs and reduces the learning curve.
The Top 10 GitHub Alternatives
GitLab is a web-based DevSecOps (take that, Call of Duty) platform that allows software development teams to plan, build, and ship secure code all in one application. GitLab offers a range of features and tools to support the entire software development lifecycle, from project planning and source code management to continuous integration, delivery, and deployment.
The Best Alternatives to Jenkins for Developers
CI/CD GitLab, as a complete DevOps platform, provides an integrated CI/CD solution along with its other features. If your team is already using GitLab for controlling versions and managing projects, the addition of GitLab CI/CD can be very smooth. The offering in CI/CD by GitLab is quite customizable and it backs up many programming languages as well as application test...
Source: morninglif.com
Top 7 GitHub Alternatives You Should Know (2024)
Most of the listed alternatives offer free tier plans for individuals or small teams. Tools like GitLab and Bitbucket allow users to host unlimited repositories without cost.
Source: snappify.com
Best GitHub Alternatives for Developers in 2023
While GitLab features an extensive set of capabilities, this can also serve as a weakness since beginners may find the developer tool overwhelming to begin with. The user interface compounds this issue by being outdated and unintuitive. GitLab could benefit from more third-party integrations, and its performance tends to struggle when dealing with large repositories or CI/CD...

GitHub Copilot Reviews

  1. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    Indispensable

    It definitely increases my productivity.

    🏁 Competitors: Tabnine

Cursor vs Windsurf vs GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot Chat is similar — you can ask it to explain code or suggest improvements. It's integrated right into VS Code, so it feels pretty seamless. They've been rolling out some new features lately, like better chat history, drag and & folders and ways to attach more context. But if you're already using Cursor, you might not find anything groundbreaking here.
Source: www.builder.io
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot Chat is similar — you can ask it to explain code or suggest improvements. It's integrated right into VS Code, so it feels pretty seamless. They've been rolling out some new features lately, like better chat history, drag and & folders and ways to attach more context. But if you're already using Cursor, you might not find anything groundbreaking here.
Source: www.builder.io
Top 10 Vercel v0 Open Source Alternatives | Medium
Next up, we have GitHub Copilot, a popular AI-powered code completion tool that’s been making waves in the developer community. Built on top of OpenAI Codex, Copilot integrates seamlessly with various code editors and IDEs to provide intelligent code suggestions as you type.
Source: medium.com
10 Best Github Copilot Alternatives in 2024
GitHub Copilot is an excellent tool for developers, allowing them to boost their workflow and project quality. Are you looking for a GitHub Copilot alternative that fits your needs in 2024? Whether you’re searching for a free GitHub Copilot alternative, an open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot, or a tool that works well with VSCode, this guide is here to help.
The Best GitHub Copilot Alternatives for Developers
Moreover, GitHub Copilot provides a wide range of functionalities, such as code explanation, answering coding questions, refactoring code, and generation of unit tests and docs. With it, developers can automate coding tasks, improve productivity and focus more on complex coding. GitHub Copilot supports various programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Go,...
Source: softteco.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub Copilot should be more popular than GitLab. It has been mentiond 284 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GitLab mentions (133)

  • India Open Source Development: Harnessing Collaborative Innovation for Global Impact
    Indian developers have embraced platforms like GitHub and GitLab, which serve as global meeting points for coding projects. Developer communities such as FOSSAsia and Open Source India regularly organize hackathons, webinars, and code sprints that bring together enthusiasts to tackle both local and global problems. - Source: dev.to / 2 days ago
  • Open Source Funding: Strategies, Case Studies, and Best Practices
    In this article, we explore funding methods that empower projects such as Red Hat, GitLab, and Blender. Our discussion focuses on overlaying robust financial models with community-led efforts while incorporating advanced technologies like blockchain and smart contracts for secure, transparent fund distribution. With clear definitions, tables, bullet lists, and real-world examples, we aim to provide a holistic view... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • The Hidden Challenges of Building with AWS
    💡** My Take:** If you’re not ready to spend hours debugging AWS configurations, you might want to consider other cloud options, such as DigitalOcean or Gitlab for CI/CD. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Understanding Open Source Developer Support Networks
    The foundation of OSS is its community. OSDSNs offer platforms like GitHub and GitLab that encourage communication and collaboration, creating a sense of belonging among developers. These platforms are essential for managing projects and enhancing motivation within the community. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Navigating the Financial Landscape of Open Source Projects
    The open core model involves offering a core open-source product while providing premium features as part of a separate, paid product. This model encourages community involvement by allowing free access to the foundational version. Meanwhile, it supports sustainability by charging for advanced features tailored to specific market needs. GitLab exemplifies this model, offering a free version alongside premium... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

GitHub Copilot mentions (284)

  • Most Effective Approaches for Debugging Applications
    Artificial intelligence is transforming debugging by accelerating bug detection and suggesting fixes. Bill Mann, Privacy Expert at Cyber Insider, recounts, “I enlisted an LLM to help me, and within a few minutes, found the offending code and sorted out a workaround.” Tools like GitHub Copilot, DeepCode, or CodeQL analyze code patterns, identifying issues faster than manual reviews. A 2024 Gartner report predicts... - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • Top 10 Vibe Coding AI Tools Every Developer Needs in 2025
    GitHub Copilot uses OpenAI to provide autocomplete suggestions, generate entire code blocks, and even write tests based on comments. It supports a wide range of languages and integrates seamlessly with VS Code. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
  • The 10 best AI coding tools for 2025
    GitHub Copilot's model flexibility is something you may want to try. It lets you switch between Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet, OpenAI o3, and GPT-4o, depending on your task. This means you can use preferred models for different coding problems, optimizing for speed with one model and deep reasoning with another, without switching tools. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • AI in Software Development: Exploring Key Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
    AI is increasingly being utilized to assist with the coding, either by proposing from earlier work or by automatically producing boilerplate code. This makes it possible to save much time that would have otherwise been taken writing from scratch. Tools such as GitHub Copilot, using OpenAI, are but one method with which AI is able to explore the patterns that exist in available code and present optimized solutions.... - Source: dev.to / 26 days ago
  • Experimenting with Cursor
    Recently, the team experimented with Cursor, an AI-powered code editor, to replace GitHub Copilot. - Source: dev.to / 30 days ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitLab and GitHub Copilot, 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.

Codeium - Free AI-powered code completion for *everyone*, *everywhere*

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

Tabnine - TabNine is the all-language autocompleter. We use deep learning to help you write code faster.

Gitea - A painless self-hosted Git service

Visual Studio IntelliCode - Visual Studio IntelliCode is an experimental set of AI-assisted development capabilities for next-generation developer productivity.