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

The best open source alternative to GitHub is GitLab. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to GitHub and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to GitHub are Codeberg, Gitea, Gogs and Forgejo.

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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

     139 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.

    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. Gogs icon

    Gogs

     141 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
  7. 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.

    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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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.

    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
  11. Launchpad icon

    Launchpad

     112 likes

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

    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
  12. 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
  13. Trac icon

    Trac

     147 likes

    Trac is an enhanced wiki and issue tracking system for software development projects. Trac uses a minimalistic approach to web-based software project management. Our mission is to help developers write great software while staying out of the way.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Trac screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    Trac vs GitHub Comments
    Ron Bowman
    Positive
    4

    The best issue tracker money can b... oh, wait, it's free!

    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    Its usability is a trip into the past I did not miss.

    • Trac is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Trac is a Project Management GitHub is a Source Code Hosting Service
  14. gitdot icon

    gitdot

     5 likes

    Open-source platform focused on quality for developers, featuring a highly performant Git server written in Rust, code review with stacked diffs, and a secure, locally testable, and reproducible CI/CD system. Avoids unnecessary AI, encourages code craftsmanship.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Rust
    • Homebrew
    gitdot screenshot 1
     
12 of 61 GitHub alternatives