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GitHub alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GitHub: advanced security and AI features cost extra, and self-hosted Enterprise Server is expensive. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GitHub, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GitLab currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Forgejo logoForgejoOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web, Linux4 of 457.2
2Gitea logoGiteaOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web, Linux +24 of 455.3
  1. Forgejo logo

    1. ForgejoTop pick

    Best for: Self-hosters who want a light forge run by a non-profit community rather than a company

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitHub

    Self-host a lightweight forge with Actions-compatible CI and full control.

    Pros

    • Community governance under a non-profit
    • Light to run with built-in Actions CI
    • Copyleft licence guards against proprietary forks

    Cons

    • Smaller ecosystem than GitHub or GitLab
    • No official paid support from the project
    • Federation features are still in progress
    Visit Forgejo Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Forgejo a good GitHub alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL v3+ (from v9.0)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forgejo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Stewardship
    Non-profit Codeberg e.V.
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forgejo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forgejo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Free software
    Always
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forgejo.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Gitea logo

    2. Gitea

    Best for: Teams and individuals who want a GitHub-like forge on their own modest hardware

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web, Linux, macOS, Windows

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from GitHub

    Easy-to-run self-hosted Git service with a GitHub-like interface.

    Pros

    • Single binary that runs on very little hardware
    • Actions CI compatible with many GitHub workflows
    • Free with unlimited users

    Cons

    • Smaller ecosystem than GitHub or GitLab
    • Company-led governance split the community
    • Some enterprise features are paid
    Visit Gitea Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Gitea a good GitHub alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open-source edition
    Free, unlimited users and repos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.gitea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Managed hosting
    Gitea Cloud
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.gitea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CI/CD
    Gitea Actions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.gitea.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best GitHub alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

GitLab logo

Best GitHub alternative for most people

GitLab

One application for code, CI/CD and DevSecOps, with a self-managed open-core edition.

Codeberg logo

Best GitHub alternative for a free option

Codeberg

Non-profit, community-run hosting for free and open-source projects.

Bitbucket logo

Best GitHub alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bitbucket

Tighter Jira integration for teams already using Atlassian tools.

Forgejo logo

Best GitHub alternative for open source

Forgejo

Self-host a lightweight forge with Actions-compatible CI and full control.

Gitea logo

Best GitHub alternative for self-hosting

Gitea

Easy-to-run self-hosted Git service with a GitHub-like interface.

Gitea logo

Best GitHub alternative for Mac

Gitea

Easy-to-run self-hosted Git service with a GitHub-like interface.

Gitea logo

Best GitHub alternative for Windows

Gitea

Easy-to-run self-hosted Git service with a GitHub-like interface.

Forgejo logo

Best GitHub alternative for Linux

Forgejo

Self-host a lightweight forge with Actions-compatible CI and full control.

Azure DevOps logo

Best GitHub alternative for working in the browser

Azure DevOps

Boards, Repos and Pipelines for Microsoft-centric enterprises.

GitHub alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GitHub?

GitLab ranks first right now. One application for code, CI/CD and DevSecOps, with a self-managed open-core edition. Bitbucket and Codeberg follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GitHub?

Yes. GitLab (free plan + paid), Bitbucket (free plan + paid), Codeberg (free) and Forgejo (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to GitHub?

Yes: GitLab, Forgejo and Gitea. GitLab, Forgejo and Gitea can also be self-hosted.

Which GitHub alternatives work on Linux?

Forgejo and Gitea run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GitHub?

The complaints we hear most: advanced security and AI features cost extra; self-hosted Enterprise Server is expensive; owned by Microsoft, which some open-source projects avoid.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces GitHub, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.