The GitLab Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about GitLab in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
GitLab
The Insider’s Guide
DevSecOps platform with issue boards, epics and CI/CD built in
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among project management tools, read from GitLab’s own pages.
Made by GitLab · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from GitLab’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on GitLab’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 38 of the 149 other project management tools we grade
GitLab is a DevSecOps platform that keeps source code, CI/CD pipelines and planning in one place. For project management it offers issues, epics, boards, roadmaps and milestones next to the repositories the work belongs to. It runs as GitLab.com, a self-managed install or the single-tenant GitLab Dedicated.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about GitLab, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Planning, pipelines and permissions come as one big platform, so there is a learning curve.
- 1
Best for software teams that want planning next to their code
GitLab puts issues, epics and boards on the same platform as repositories and pipelines, with a free plan for up to 5 users per group.
- 2
Paid plans start at $29 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $29 per user / month, billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free plan on GitLab.com: 5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes a month and 10 GiB of storage.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Issues, epics and boards
Planning uses issues and epics, with issue boards that support Scrum and Kanban workflows and parent-child relationships between items.
- 6
Planning next to code
Work items live on the same platform as repositories and pipelines, so each item can be tied to the code and deployments behind it.
- 7
Reports and dependency views
Burnup and burndown charts, drill-down reports and the Value Streams Dashboard, plus a view of dependencies across issues, epics and roadmaps.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 38 of 149
That is against the other project management tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace GitLab you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
GitLab at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $29 per user / month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day Ultimate trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- GitLab, since 2011
- Category
- Project Management
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for software teams that want planning next to their code
GitLab puts issues, epics and boards on the same platform as repositories and pipelines, with a free plan for up to 5 users per group. Premium costs $29 per user a month and Ultimate is quote only, and it is not built for non-technical teams.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Premium is $29 per user a month on annual billing, about three times the category's middle of $9. Ultimate has no published price. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free plan: 5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes a month and 10 GiB, plus a 30-day Ultimate trial with no card. The 5-user cap is where you will stop. |
| Features | C | Issues, epics, boards, burndown charts and wikis tied to code. The listing says it is not a general task manager for non-technical teams. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Planning, pipelines and permissions come as one big platform, so there is a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web app with Jira, Slack, Jenkins and AWS CodePipeline integrations and an API. Self-managed and single-tenant versions exist; no desktop or phone apps. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who GitLab is for
- Fits if your team already keeps code and CI/CD on GitLab
- Works for organizations that need to host the tool themselves
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a simple task manager for non-technical people
- Pricey if you outgrow 5 users, as Premium is $29 per user a month
- Watch out: Ultimate has no published price
- Watch out: AI features need the GitLab Credits add-on beyond a limited-time promotional amount
Good to know
Good for
- Software teams that want planning and code in one tool
- Organizations that need to self-host or use single-tenant SaaS
- Teams already running their CI/CD on GitLab
Worth knowing
- The Free plan on GitLab.com is capped at 5 users per top-level group.
- Ultimate has no published price; it is quoted through sales.
- AI features need the GitLab Credits add-on beyond the included promotional credits, which the page says are available for a limited time.
- Project tracking is aimed at software delivery; it is not a general task manager for non-technical teams.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
GitLab has a free plan. Paid plans start at $29 per user / month, billed annually.
Free
$0
5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes a month, source code management, CI/CD and static application security testing.
Premium
$29
per user / month, billed annually
Unlimited users, 10,000 compute minutes a month, advanced CI/CD, team project management, SLA management and priority support.
Ultimate
Custom
50,000 compute minutes a month, guest users, security testing, value stream management and strategic portfolio management.
The free plan
Free plan on GitLab.com: 5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes a month and 10 GiB of storage.
Trying it first
30-day Ultimate trial, no credit card required
Read from about.gitlab.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Ultimate free for qualifying open source projects
GitLab for Open Source gives qualifying open source projects Ultimate-tier features, including 50,000 compute minutes, at no cost.
Stated on about.gitlab.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
DevSecOps platform with issue boards, epics and CI/CD built in. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API, AI features, kanban boards, issue tracking, workflow automation.
Issues, epics, boards, burndown charts and wikis tied to code.
- Issues, epics and boards
- Planning uses issues and epics, with issue boards that support Scrum and Kanban workflows and parent-child relationships between items.
- Planning next to code
- Work items live on the same platform as repositories and pipelines, so each item can be tied to the code and deployments behind it.
- Reports and dependency views
- Burnup and burndown charts, drill-down reports and the Value Streams Dashboard, plus a view of dependencies across issues, epics and roadmaps.
- Scaled agile frameworks
- The vendor says it supports SAFe, LeSS and Disciplined Agile with governance controls for larger organizations.
- Wikis and documentation
- Wikis and static websites can be written and published directly from GitLab, next to the code they describe.
- Duo Agent Platform
- AI features for planning and delivery are available through the GitLab Credits add-on, and each paid plan includes a promotional amount of credits.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Jira
- Slack
- Jenkins
- AWS CodePipeline
GitLab is made by GitLab, and has been around since 2011.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
38/149
Other project management tools it is graded above
GitLab's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 38 of the 149 other project management tools we grade, and level with 31.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 101 of 149) and worst on value for money (D, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $29 a month for each person, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 103 of the 121 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 60 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 150 project management tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. GitLab’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 1 of 149
- BFree plan and trialAbove 101 of 149
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 149
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 149
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 26 of 149
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 128 project management tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. GitLab is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace GitLab you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 80 of the 149 other project management tools grade higher. It costs $348 a year. GitLab is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Issue tracking and kanban boards: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. GitLab’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
GitHub Issues, Jira, YouTrack, Zenhub and Assembla
The 5 tools GitLab is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
GitHub Issues
Free plan · from $4/mo
Issue tracking and project planning built into GitHub.
- Only GitHub Issues lists iOS and Android apps.
- GitLab is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- GitHub Issues also covers Markdown and Gantt & timelines.
- 3.2GPA
Jira
Free plan · from $9.70/mo
Issue and project tracking for software and business teams.
- Only Jira lists iOS and Android apps.
- GitLab is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Jira also covers tasks and Gantt & timelines.
- 3.2GPA
YouTrack
Free plan · from $4.50/mo
Issue tracker and project management tool from JetBrains.
- Only YouTrack lists iOS and Android apps.
- GitLab is open source, according to its own site.
- YouTrack also covers wiki, Gantt & timelines and time tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Zenhub
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Agile project management built on top of GitHub issues.
- Only Zenhub lists a browser extension.
- GitLab is open source, according to its own site.
- Zenhub also covers reports.
- 2.2GPA
Assembla
Free trial · from $12.50/mo
Managed Git, SVN and Perforce hosting with project management.
- GitLab has a free plan. Assembla does not, though it has a free trial.
- GitLab is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- GitLab also covers kanban boards and workflow automation.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is GitLab free?
GitLab has a free plan. Free plan on GitLab.com: 5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes a month and 10 GiB of storage.
How much does GitLab cost?
GitLab lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does GitLab work on?
GitLab is available on Web.
Does GitLab offer any discounts?
GitLab publicly lists the following: Ultimate free for qualifying open source projects.
Does GitLab have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. GitLab is listed for Web.
Does GitLab have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. GitLab is listed for Web.
Is GitLab open source?
Yes. GitLab is open source, according to its own site.
Does GitLab have an API?
Yes. GitLab offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does GitLab integrate with?
GitLab's listing names Jira, Slack, Jenkins and AWS CodePipeline. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does GitLab have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day Ultimate trial, no credit card required.
Who makes GitLab?
GitLab is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2011.
What are the alternatives to GitLab?
The closest alternatives to GitLab in our directory are GitHub Issues, Jira, YouTrack, Zenhub and Assembla.
How does GitLab compare with other project management tools?
GitLab's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 38 of the 149 other project management tools we grade, and level with 31.
Is GitLab good value for money?
ToolGPA grades GitLab D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $29 a month for each person, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 103 of the 121 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of GitLab?
To replace GitLab you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from GitLab’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from GitLab's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by GitLab. Prices change, so check about.gitlab.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- GitLab, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/gitlab
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "GitLab: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/gitlab
Know someone choosing between project management tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/gitlab/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded project management tools after GitLab, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Project Management Insider's GuideEvery one of the 150 project management tools we grade, compared
- GitHub Issues Insider's GuideIssue tracking and project planning built into GitHub3.4 GPA
- Freedcamp Insider's GuideProject management suite with a free plan for unlimited users3.2 GPA
- Huly Insider's GuideOpen-source project management with chat, docs and video calls3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what GitLab’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. GitLab is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by GitLab. Prices and plans change: check about.gitlab.com before you buy.