The Best GitHub AlternativesTop Source Code Hosting Services & Version Control Systems like GitHub

GitHub is described as 'Web-based Git hosting service facilitating collaboration, with features like issue tracking, social networking, and wikis for project management' and is a leading source code hosting service in the development category. There are more than 100 alternatives to GitHub for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Self-Hosted, Linux, Windows and Mac apps. The best GitHub alternative is GitLab, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GitHub are Codeberg, Gitea, Bitbucket and SourceForge.

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Alternatives list

  1. GitLab icon

    GitLab

     777 likes

    Provides a robust platform for on-premise or hosted Git repository management, integrating seamlessly with various dev tools, facilitating efficient workflow through offerings like issue tracking, code reviews, continuous integration, CI/CD pipelines, and option for unlimited private repositories.

    123 GitLab alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Ruby
    • Cloudron
    Activity stream
     
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    21
    GitLab vs GitHub Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    soul1472
    1

    Gitlab is better than Github if you don't mind it having "AI", too.

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    Not controlled by the privacy-hostile (many times) convicted felon Microsoft.

    ub
    Positive
    4

    why is github not open source? all of your code was stolen and used to train co-pilot, thanks microsoft.

    3 of 21 comments
    • GitLab is Freemium and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • GitLab is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • GitLab is Security-focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  2. Codeberg icon

    Codeberg

     138 likes

    A free Git source code hosting service with the objective to give the open-source code that is running our world a safe and friendly home, and to ensure that code remains free and secure forever.

    56 Codeberg alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Short Landing page.
     
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    7
    Codeberg vs GitHub Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Buster_Blue
    4

    Codeberg is FOSS and it's run by a non-profit organization. This makes it a fitting home for open source projects.

    fernandosoares
    Positive
    1

    Codeberg is not intrusive. It does not collect user data as the mainstream alternative.

    Alex
    Positive
    1

    It comes from EU and offers translated UI

    3 of 7 comments
    • Codeberg is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Codeberg is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • Codeberg is Lightweight and Privacy focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  4. Gitea icon

    Gitea

     184 likes

    Gitea is a fork of Gogs, lightweight code hosting solution written in Go and published under the MIT license.

    52 Gitea alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Cloudron
    • Chocolatey
    Gitea screenshot 1
     
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    6
    Gitea vs GitHub Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    6543
    7

    gitea v1.9.4 and newer has all features you want and know from github ... but selfhosted and lightweight! And if there is one feature missiong its sure on a list

    Pierre LeBaux
    Positive
    0

    Self-hosted, simple, great.

    Freeplay
    Positive
    3

    You can run your own instance, but you can use other instances like Codeberg as well!

    3 of 6 comments
    • Gitea is Freemium and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Gitea is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • Gitea is Lightweight, Privacy focused and Security-focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  5. Ad
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    Backlog icon
    Backlog

    Cloud-based platform combining project management, issue tracking, code collaboration, bug management, real-time dashboards, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, burndown charts, and team workspace for progress and sprint tracking withou...

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  6. Bitbucket icon

    Bitbucket

     409 likes

    Provides Git repository hosting with integrated issue tracking, wiki for documentation, pull requests, code review features, support for public and private repos, CI/CD integration, branch permissions, team collaboration, notification tools, and API access.

    85 Bitbucket alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Bugtracker
     
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    7
    Bitbucket vs GitHub Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    jamilsonjunior
    1

    Unlimited private repositories makes Bitbucket perfect for personal and scholar projects.

    Top Negative Comment
    Korwin
    3

    I wouldn't recommend one FOSS adversary as an alternative to another FOSS adversary.

    Ron Bowman
    Positive
    0

    Great if using other Atlassian products. Still very good if using it on its own.

    3 of 7 comments
    • Bitbucket is Freemium and ProprietaryGitHub is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Bitbucket is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
  8. SourceForge icon

    SourceForge

     346 likes

    Centralized open source platform providing code hosting for 502,000+ projects, version control, analytics, project wikis, software reviews, and access to a business software directory listing over 50,000 titles, serving millions of downloads and users monthly.

    82 SourceForge alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    SourceForge screenshot 1
     
    |
    7
    SourceForge vs GitHub Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    5

    SourceForge has been consistent & reliable, thus a very capable alternative to GitHub.

    Top Negative Comment
    RemovedUser
    8

    I would not trust SourceForge because of the past controversies involving malicious activity.

    Erik Estrada
    6

    A few years ago Sourceforge hijacked projects and bundled malware in them. It's supposed to be clean now but who knows...

    3 of 7 comments
    • SourceForge is Free and ProprietaryGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SourceForge is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • SourceForge is LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
  9. Gogs icon

    Gogs

     140 likes

    The easiest, fastest, and most painless way of setting up a self-hosted Git service. With Go, this can be done with an independent binary distribution across ALL platforms that Go supports, including Linux, Mac OS X, Windows and ARM.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    Gogs screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Gogs vs GitHub Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Self-hosted and really light weight. Installs on docker in just a few minutes. Super excellent!

    petardudas
    Positive
    0

    It's very simple to set up.

    • Gogs is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Gogs is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • Gogs is LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
  10. Forgejo icon

    Forgejo

     72 likes

    Beyond coding. We forge. Forgejo is a self-hosted lightweight software forge. Easy to install and low maintenance, it just does the job.

    59 Forgejo alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    Short landing page
     
    |
    1
    Forgejo vs GitHub Comments
    Subscribe6225
    Positive
    3

    Open Source, European, Self-hosted

    • Forgejo is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Forgejo is Lightweight, Privacy focused, Decentralized and CustomizableGitHub is not according to our users
  11. GitHub Desktop icon

    GitHub Desktop

     171 likes

    GitHub Desktop is a native Git client for Mac OS X and Windows with a graphical user interface.

    68 GitHub Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    On Windows
     
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    1
    GitHub Desktop vs GitHub Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    The Github Desktop is a desktop application which connects to the github service. It is like comparing oranges to apples.

    • GitHub Desktop is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • GitHub Desktop is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • GitHub Desktop is LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
  12. GitBucket icon

    GitBucket

     54 likes

    GitBucket is the easily installable open-source GitHub clone written with Scala.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Scala
    User Interface
     
    |
    1
    GitBucket vs GitHub Comments
    kounoike
    Positive
    3

    GitBucket has most powerful API compatibility to GitHub.com/GitHubEnterprise!

    • GitBucket is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • GitBucket is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • GitBucket is Privacy focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  13. SourceHut icon

    SourceHut

     28 likes

    sourcehut is a network of useful open source tools for software project maintainers and collaborators, including git repos, bug tracking, continuous integration, and mailing lists.

    23 SourceHut alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Hosted git repositories
     
    |
    2
    SourceHut vs GitHub Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Minimal but usable, perfectly lightweight

    Travis FW
    Positive
    0

    First-class Mercurial support; snappy no-BS interface; reliable; no apparent morally objectionable business practices.

    • SourceHut is Freemium and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SourceHut is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • SourceHut is Privacy focused and LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
  14. Launchpad icon

    Launchpad

     112 likes

    Launchpad is a collaboration and Bazaar code hosting platform for (primarily open-source) software projects.

    100 Launchpad alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Python
    Launchpad screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    Launchpad vs GitHub Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Launchpad is not a git server

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    you can host code on launchpad, and publish ubuntu packages

    • Launchpad is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
  15. Radicle icon

    Radicle

     21 likes

    Peer-to-peer, open source stack built on Git enables decentralized, censorship-resistant code sharing and local-first data control, employing cryptographic verification, extensible collaborative objects, modular interfaces, and seamless data migration with no central entity.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Radicle screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Radicle vs GitHub Comments
    dataculi
    Positive
    0

    This is unique amongst alternatives in that it's built on p2p software. It's surprisingly mature and well made

    • Radicle is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Radicle is a Version Control GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
    • Radicle is Decentralized, Privacy focused and LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
12 of 115 GitHub alternatives