Home
 / 
Blog
 / 
GitHub vs GitLab vs Bitbucket: Functionality Comparison

GitHub vs GitLab vs Bitbucket: Functionality Comparison

In this article, we’ll be discussing the three most popular version control tools alternatives. They are GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket.

What Is GitHub?

GitHub is a popular Git-based repository hosting platform launched in 2008 and owned by Microsoft. It is used by developers to store and manage their code. In addition, it has a simple user interface that quickly gets developers in the flow of working with Git algorithms, making it an ideal platform for collaboration.

The free version of GitHub allows developers to work with public and private repositories, contribute to them, and collaborate. The cost depends on the number of users.

Some remarkable features of GitHub are its speed – the service pushes and pulls requests and merges versions quickly – as well as its commit history, graphs, members of it, and pulse system.

GitHub is a popular Git-based repository hosting platform

What Is GitLab?

GitLab provides an all-in-one product for the DevOps lifecycle. This includes features for project planning, code management, packaging, deployment, and monitoring. GitLab offers advanced features that are only available in paid versions, but it is relatively easier to use than GitHub for new users. Most developers are familiar with GitLab because it is one of the most popular options for managing git repositories.

GitLab provides an all-in-one product for the DevOps lifecycle.

What Is Bitbucket?

Bitbucket is a code-based collaboration tool that offers free and paid subscriptions, as well as integrations with powerful tools like Jira and Trello. Bitbucket was first developed by the Atlassian company in 2008, making it one of the oldest code-based collaboration tools around. It supports the software development life cycle process, meaning you can complete various stages of the SDLC with ease.

One of the main advantages of using Bitbucket is its wide range of integrations - including GitHub and Trello - which make working with team members easier than ever before. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, there's something here for you to use and grow into your coding skills with.

What Are the Differences Between GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket Developer Repositories?

We compared GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket on the most important features.

GitHub vs GitLab vs Bitbucket Repository

1. Overview

GitHub is the most popular version control system (VCS) and is used by developers around the world. GitLab and Bitbucket are also popular VCSs. However, GitHub is the most popular VCS because it is easy to use and has a lot of features but it is not free for private repositories. GitLab is free for private repositories, but it does not have as many features as GitHub. Bitbucket is also free for private repositories, but it has even fewer features than GitLab.

2. Permissions

GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket all have different permission options which can help manage different types of files. For example, on GitHub you can choose between public and private repositories. Public repositories are visible to anyone and anyone can contribute to them.
Private repositories, on the other hand, are only visible to people who have been given access by the repository owner. On GitLab, you can choose between three different visibility levels for your repositories: public, internal, or private. Public repositories are visible to anyone, internal repositories are only visible to people who have been given access by the repository owner or manager, and private repositories are only visible to the repository owner.
Bitbucket has two permission options: public and private.

3. Source Code

GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are all source code management platforms with features which are common to most repositories. GitLab has an open source code version of its service management platform. The three platforms have similar features, but each has its own unique advantages.
GitLab Community Edition is available on their website, and the corporate version is their property. GitHub is famous for it's open source software, but you have to pay to use it. Bitbucket is not an open source code host, but when you buy an autonomous version, a full source code is submitted with product configuration options.
Bitbucket is the only source code hosting site that supports different repositories. GitLab is popular because it supports Git, the most common VCS. Mercurial and SVN are not supported by Bitbucket, but they are supported by GitHub and Bitbucket.
GitLab and Bitbucket are both great for managing open source code, while GitHub is best for working on projects with other developers. GitLab and Bitbucket both support easy import from a variety of services, while GitHub supports a wider range of services.
In our opinion, if you need an open source code solution, GitLab is the best option. If you're a fan of Atlassian products, BitBucket should be your choice. Finally, if you work on an open source project, GitHub is the best option.

4. Platforms

GitLab platform provides the functionality to the user to see the complete code on their official website. In the GitHub platform, although there is a large category of the free, open-source project, it is not categorized in the open-source repository.
In GitHub platform, there are many free, open-source type projects and helps to connect people who have a similar interest. The next difference between all these platforms is the importing of repositories.
Bitbucket platform is used to distribute the project among the team members and is beneficial for them. GitHub platform uses the organization level to distribute the project and is widely used by companies and organizations.
In GitLab, these functionalities are also supported, while in Bitbucket they are only available if importing from a Mercurial source. In the GitLab platform, the projects are distributed in groups, and members of groups can access the project and share the code on the GitLab platform.
If you need a platform that can handle large projects with multiple developers, GitHub is the best option. If you only need a platform for small projects with few developers, then GitLab or Bitbucket may be better options.

5. Services

GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are all code management platforms that allow for the sharing of code with others. While each platform has its own features, they all serve the same goal of managing code.
Unlike GitLab, which has open source code available for use, GitHub is not an open source repository service itself. When you purchase a full version of either BitBucket or GitHub, the company provides you with the full source code for your project configuration options.

6. Pull Requests

When you create a pull request on GitHub, you are required to provide your login details. This will allow other developers to review your code and provide feedback. If you forget your login details, or if you would like to change your password, you can do so via the EDUCBA Login page. You will also be able to view the terms of use and privacy policy when signing up for this course.
On the GitLab platform, there is a feature called "merge requests" which allows for more collaboration between developers. This feature allows developers to get feedback and updates on their code from others. To be a part of the course, you need to provide your email address. The email address will be used to send you login details for the course. You will also be able to find more information about the course by signing up for it.

7. Merge Requests

On both GitHub and GitLab, merge requests allow developers to let others know about the changes they have made to a project, and request that those changes be merged into the main project. Merge requests can be assigned to teammates, opened before they are ready to be merged, and include a diff of the changes between the source and base branch. On GitLab, team members can subscribe for notifications when a merge request is merged.

8. DevOps

GitHub is the most popular code hosting platform and is known for its ease of use. It offers a wide range of integrations, including with popular IDEs such as Visual Studio Code. GitHub also offers a mobile app for managing repositories on the go.
GitLab is a close second to GitHub in terms of popularity. It offers many of the same features as GitHub, such as issue tracking and project management tools. However, GitLab has a strong focus on DevOps full cycle management, with built-in tools for testing and deploying applications. This makes GitLab the leading provider of DevOps solutions.
Bitbucket is less popular than GitHub and GitLab but offers comparable features. It has a user-friendly interface and also offers a wide range of integrations. Bitbucket also has a mobile app for managing repositories on the go.

9. Jira

Jira integrates with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket to help developers manage their code repositories. There are many similarities between Jira and these other code management tools, making them a good choice for integrators. Jira integrates with GitHub and GitLab to allow for collaboration on projects.

10. Bitbucket Pipelines

Bitbucket Pipelines is a tool for managing and deploying software. It is different from GitHub and GitLab in that it focuses more on automation. Bitbucket Pipelines allows developers to work more quickly and reliably by automating common tasks. Bitbucket Pipelines is a free service that lets developers manage and deploy code.

11. GitLab CI

GitLab CI is a different type of Continuous Integration (CI) platform than GitHub and Bitbucket. GitLab CI allows for more flexibility in terms of testing and deploying code. GitLab CI is a Continuous Integration (CI) tool which differs from GitHub and Bitbucket in terms of how it handles authentication. GitLab CI allows you to manage authentication and cookies through its Privacy Policy.

12. GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions are a way for developers to automate tasks in their GitHub repositories. This can be anything from building and testing code to deploying code to a server. GitLab and Bitbucket are two popular alternatives to GitHub Actions. Both GitLab and Bitbucket offer similar features, but GitHub Actions are simpler to use. Another advantage of using GitHub Actions is that they are free to use.

13. Community

The GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket developer communities differ in size, focus, and features.
GitHub is the leader in the developer community, with nearly 50,000 questions on Stack Overflow about GitHub. GitLab is smaller in terms of community size but still popular among coders. Bitbucket has a corporate-like workflow and integrations, but lacks a strong community core.

14. Documentation

Documentation on GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket differ in terms of format, style, and approach. GitHub is known for its "GitHub Flow" model which encourages collaboration and flow of code between developers. Bitbucket is known for its "Bitbucket Pipelines" tool which helps automate the process of building, testing, and deploying applications. Documentation on GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket also differ in terms of how they are organized and structured.

15. Support

GitHub offers the most comprehensive support of the three platforms. It offers features such as issue tracking, code reviews, and wikis. Private projects require a subscription plan.
GitLab offers more limited support than GitHub but is still a versatile platform. It supports more import formats than GitHub and has an open source code version.
Bitbucket is the only code hosting site that supports importing repositories from other VCS systems (such as Git). It has features similar to those of Atlassian products.

16. Code Hosting

The three code hosting platforms each offer a variety of features that make them great for managing projects. They are all easy to use, with user-friendly interfaces. You can access code written by colleagues easily using code reviews and pull requests. Each platform is also capable of providing heated water quickly and reliably during colder weather conditions.

17. Code Management

GitHub and Bitbucket offer excellent code management features that make it easy to keep track of everything happening within your projects. Both platforms provide great integrations with a variety of other tools and services, making it easy to work on projects with colleagues or collaborators from around the world.
GitLab is especially well-suited for collaborative projects, thanks to its support for Git version control systems. If you're working with SVN or HG files, for example, GitLab is a great choice.
Both GitHub and Bitbucket offer bug tracking and code review features that are helpful in keeping development on track. If you're looking for a platform that's flexible enough to handle any kind of project requirements, GitLab is definitely the right choice!

18. Code Security

Code security is an important feature to consider when choosing a code hosting platform. Bitbucket offers built-in security scan automation and change approval options that can help keep your code safe. Additionally, Bitbucket's code encryption features can help protect your code from attackers. If you need a team platform or just want a single source of truth for your code, Bitbucket is a good option to consider.
But which one is best for you?
With Bitbucket, you can count on built-in security scan automation designed to work with solutions such as Snyk. Plus, change approval can be automated deeply with mapping options that allow incidents to be matched to deployments. Code encryption relies on two-factor authentication and IP whitelisting to keep out attackers.

19. Code Development Features

GitHub and Bitbucket are both code hosting platforms that offer different VCS systems. GitHub supports SVN, HG, TFS import while Bitbucket only supports Git. Both services offer easy export functionality to share projects with others. Bitbucket is a good alternative for those who work on closed source projects or applications. Finally, both GitHub and Bitbucket offer a wealth of integrative tools which make working with them very user-friendly indeed!

Conclusion

GitHub vs GitLab vs Bitbucket is trio that causes indecision to many companies and developers. The reason is that they are all great platforms, each with their own set of features and limitations. Therefore, before choosing, it is important that you have a clear picture of your needs and only then you can see which one is the right one for you.

FAQs

1. What are the main features of GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket?

GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are all version control software platforms that offer different features to aid in the software development life cycle.

GitHub's main features include its integration with GitHub Pages for hosting webpages, its support for a large number of programming languages, and its wide range of third-party integrations.

GitLab's main features include its built-in Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, issue tracking tools, and project management tools.

Bitbucket's main features include its support for Mercurial repositories, its built-in code search tool, and its integration with Atlassian Jira for issue tracking.

2. What are the differences between GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket?

GitHub and GitLab are both free and open source software projects management solutions. Bitbucket is a private company that offers a similar project management solution to GitHub and GitLab.

The main differences between these three solutions are as follows:

  • GitHub is more popular than GitLab and Bitbucket, and has more contributors.
  • GitLab is more feature-rich than either GitHub or Bitbucket, but is also more expensive than the two alternatives.
  • Bitbucket supports commits, branches, tags, issue tracking, and merge requests, while GitHub does not support all of these features.
  • GitHub is a code management and version control system with over 28 million users.
  • GitLab is a self-hosted source control management software with over 2 million users and is used by organizations such as Mozilla, Uber, and Pinterest.
  • Bitbucket is a code hosting and collaboration platform used by GitHub, GitLab, and other developers.

3. Which is better, GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket?

Teams that use Jira often prefer Bitbucket because it provides much better visibility of the overall project. While GitLab is more established, Bitbucket is catching up quickly.
The interface can be confusing, but as the platform becomes more popular, there are a lot more resources available. There are some key differences between GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.
While all three have their own strengths, GitLab is a better choice for those who need more features and flexibility.

4. What are the user reviews of GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket?

GitHub is a popular code management platform that offers free private repositories to its users. It has a well-organized interface with many advanced features. However, it lacks some native integrations with Jira.
GitLab is a popular code management platform that offers free public repositories to its users. It has a minimalistic and easy-to-understand interface. However, it lacks some interface features which are being addressed in the future.
Bitbucket is another code management platform which also offers cloud-based security and compliance features. It has a well-organized interface with many advanced features. However, it suffers from a lack of native integrations with Jira, but this will be fixed in the near future.