GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI/CD
Compare GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI/CD features, pricing, and performance metrics side-by-side to find the optimal platform for your engineering workflow.
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | GitHub Actions | GitLab CI/CD |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted Runners | ✓ Linux, Windows, macOS runners included | ✓ Shared runners on GitLab.com |
| Deployment Gate Approvals | ✓ Environment protection rules with required reviewers | ✓ Manual jobs in pipeline, environment approvals |
| Self-Hosted Runners | ✓ Self-hosted runners supported on all plans | ✓ Bring your own runners |
| Docker/Kubernetes Support | ✓ Docker container support, native K8s deploy actions | ✓ Docker-in-Docker, K8s integration, container registry |
| Matrix Builds | ✓ Matrix strategy for OS and version combinations | ✓ Parallel matrix jobs in GitLab 13+ |
| Pipeline as Code | ✓ YAML-based .github/workflows | ✓ .gitlab-ci.yml in repository root |
| Marketplace/Plugins | ✓ Marketplace with 20,000+ actions | ✓ Limited, primarily custom images |
| Parallel Execution | ✓ Parallel jobs with matrix strategy | ✓ Parallel jobs, DAG pipelines, needs keyword |
| Cache Management | ✓ Built-in caching with cache actions | ✓ Cache with paths, distributed caching via S3 |
| Secrets Management | ✓ Encrypted secrets with environment-level scoping | ✓ CI/CD Variables with masking and scoping |
| Get Started | Deploy GitHub Actions | Deploy GitLab CI/CD |
About GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions is a CI/CD platform integrated directly into GitHub repositories. It allows developers to automate software workflows with YAML-based configuration, supporting any language or cloud provider. With a massive marketplace of pre-built actions and seamless GitHub integration, it is one of the most popular CI/CD choices for teams already on GitHub. It offers both GitHub-hosted and self-hosted runners, matrix builds, and fine-grained access control.
Explore GitHub ActionsAbout GitLab CI/CD
GitLab CI/CD is a robust continuous integration and delivery platform built into GitLab. It offers a complete DevOps lifecycle in a single application, from planning to monitoring. With native Kubernetes integration, auto DevOps, and built-in container registry, it provides a comprehensive solution for teams wanting an all-in-one platform. It supports distributed runners, complex pipelines with DAG, and detailed merge request integrations.
Explore GitLab CI/CD