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 Gitea, Codeberg, Gogs and Forgejo.

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GitHub alternatives are mainly Version Control Systems but may also be Source Code Hosting Services or Issue Tracking Systems.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of GitHub.
GitHub iconGitHub
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Web-based Git hosting service facilitating collaboration, with features like issue tracking, social networking, and wikis for project management.

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GitHub alternatives page was last updated Jan 5, 2025
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  1. GitLab icon
    GitLab icon

    GitLab

     716 likes
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    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.

    111 GitLab alternatives
    Activity stream

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Ruby
    • Cloudron
    File browser
    Git powered wiki
    +4
    Marge requests

    Top GitLab Features

    1.  Unlimited private repos
    2.  Continuous Integration
    3.  Continuous Deployment
    4.  Private repositories
    5.  Continuous builds
    6.  Kanban Board
    7.  CI/CD
    8. Git icon  Git Support
    9.  Unlimited users
    10.  Not Microsoft EEE
    11.  File Versioning
    12.  Syntax Highlighting
    GitLab iconGitHub Icon

    GitLab VS GitHub

    Is GitLab a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about GitLab as an Alternative to GitHub
     
       
    Comment summary: GitLab is frequently praised for its open-source core, free private repositories, and strong CI/CD features. Some users appreciate GitLab's independence from Microsoft and find its self-hosted option favorable. However, criticism arises due to GitLab's UI complexity and perceptions of being bloated compared to GitHub. GitLab's evolution into a comprehensive DevOps platform is noted, positioning it as both a functional and competitive alternative to GitHub.
    milkdoes

    No limit on collaborators of private repositories.

    Top positive comment •Jul 29, 2019
    6
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Jan 5, 2025
    0
    ub

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

    Positive comment •Jul 27, 2024
    3
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    3 of 20 comments
    GitHub Icon
    GitLab icon

    • Almost everyone thinks GitLab is a great GitHub alternative.

    • GitLab is the most popular Web-based, Linux & Self-Hosted alternative to GitHub.

    • GitLab is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to GitHub.

    • GitLab is Freemium and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Gitea icon
    Gitea icon

    Gitea

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

    50 Gitea alternatives
    Gitea screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Cloudron
    • Chocolatey
    Gitea screenshot 1
    Gitea screenshot 2
    +3
    Gitea screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Private repositories
    2.  Included wiki
    3.  Importing from Git
    4.  Webhook support
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  LDAP support
    7.  Rebase merging
    8.  Task Time Tracking
    9. Git icon  Git Support
    10.  FIDO U2F (2FA) support
    11.  File Versioning
    12.  Ad-free
    Gitea iconGitHub Icon

    Gitea VS GitHub

    Is Gitea a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about Gitea as an Alternative to GitHub
     
       
    6543

    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

    Top positive comment •Oct 28, 2019
    7
    Pierre LeBaux

    Self-hosted, simple, great.

    Positive comment •Jul 11, 2022
    0
    Freeplay

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

    Positive comment •Jun 25, 2021
    2
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    3 of 6 comments
    GitHub Icon
    Gitea icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Gitea is a great GitHub alternative.

    • Gitea is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to GitHub.

    • Gitea is Freemium and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Gitea is Lightweight and Privacy focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  4. Codeberg icon
    Codeberg icon

    Codeberg

     68 likes
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    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.

    53 Codeberg alternatives
    Short Landing page.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Landing page.
    Organization view.
    +5
    Repository view.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Non profit
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Issue Tracking
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Wiki
    8.  Kanban Board
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Support for @mentions
    11.  Syntax Highlighting
    12.  Support for MarkDown
    Codeberg iconGitHub Icon

    Codeberg VS GitHub

    Is Codeberg a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about Codeberg as an Alternative to GitHub
     
    nezort11

    In my opinion the best alternative to "GitHub" as a repo hosting service. Because it is managed by non-profit organization (.org TLD) compared to commercial companies (.com TLD).

    Positive comment •Apr 19, 2022
    3
    Guest

    Codeberg is an excellent alternative to GitHub, providing a home for libre software.

    Positive comment •Aug 12, 2021
    4
    Guest

    Easy-to-use interface and FOSS

    Positive comment •Aug 16, 2021
    3
    GitHub Icon
    Codeberg icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Codeberg is a great GitHub alternative.

    • Codeberg is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Codeberg is Lightweight and Privacy focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  5. Gogs icon
    Gogs icon

    Gogs

     131 likes
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    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.

    45 Gogs alternatives
    Gogs screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Web interface
    3.  Wiki
    Gogs screenshot 1
    Gogs screenshot 2
    Gogs iconGitHub Icon

    Gogs VS GitHub

    Is Gogs a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about Gogs as an Alternative to GitHub
     
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Sep 11, 2020
    0
    petardudas

    It's very simple to set up.

    Positive comment •Feb 14, 2017
    0
    GitHub Icon
    Gogs icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Gogs is a great GitHub alternative.

    • Gogs is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Gogs is LightweightGitHub is not according to our users
  6. Forgejo icon
    Forgejo icon

    Forgejo

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

    57 Forgejo alternatives
    Short landing page

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    Landing page
    Dashboard
    +9
    Creating a repo

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Community-based
    3. Git icon  Git Support
    4.  Federated
    5.  Issue Tracking
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Kanban Board
    8.  Support for @mentions
    9.  Two-factor Authentication
    10.  Decentralized
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  No Tracking
    Forgejo iconGitHub Icon

    Forgejo VS GitHub

    Is Forgejo a good alternative to GitHub?
     
  7. GitBucket icon
    GitBucket icon

    GitBucket

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

    64 GitBucket alternatives
    User Interface

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Scala
    News Feed

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Pull requests
    6.  Java based
    7.  Wiki
    8.  Private repositories
    9.  Support for GitHub API
    GitBucket iconGitHub Icon

    GitBucket VS GitHub

    Is GitBucket a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about GitBucket as an Alternative to GitHub
     
    kounoike

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

    Positive comment •Sep 11, 2016
    3
    GitHub Icon
    GitBucket icon

    • Most users think GitBucket is a great GitHub alternative.

    • GitBucket is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
    • GitBucket is Privacy focusedGitHub is not according to our users
  9. Launchpad icon
    Launchpad icon

    Launchpad

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

    95 Launchpad alternatives
    Launchpad screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Python

    Launchpad Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  PPA
    3.  Debian package compatible
    4.  Translation-platform
    Launchpad iconGitHub Icon

    Launchpad VS GitHub

    Is Launchpad a good alternative to GitHub?
     
    Comments about Launchpad as an Alternative to GitHub
     
    Guest

    Launchpad is not a git server

    Negative comment •Sep 3, 2015
    1
    Guest

    you can host code on launchpad, and publish ubuntu packages

    Positive comment •Sep 25, 2015
    0
    GitHub Icon
    Launchpad icon

    • Most users think Launchpad is a great GitHub alternative.

    • Launchpad is Free and Open SourceGitHub is Freemium and Proprietary
7 of 57 GitHub alternatives