What is the main difference between Forgejo and GitLab?

Forgejo and GitLab are both git platforms but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Forgejo or GitLab?

The choice between Forgejo and GitLab depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Forgejo to GitLab?

Migration between Forgejo and GitLab is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Forgejo vs GitLab

Learn how Forgejo and GitLab differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these git platforms is best for you.

Forgejo

Self-hosted software forge offering GitHub-like features with minimal resources. Easy installation, low maintenance, and 100% free software for secure project management.

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5,796stars+186(+3.3%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
10 hours ago
Repository age
4 years
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
forgejo/forgejo

GitLab

A comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps platform that integrates development, security, and operations, streamlining software delivery and enhancing productivity.

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24,552stars

Last 30 days

Last commit
16 days ago
Repository age
15 years
License
MIT
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
gitlabhq/gitlabhq

Detailed Comparison

GitLab appears to have several advantages over Forgejo, particularly in popularity, maturity and licensing. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

GitLab wins

Community & Popularity

GitLab significantly outpaces Forgejo in community adoption with 24,552 stars compared to 5,796 stars on GitHub. This 4.2x difference suggests GitLab has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, GitLab has 5,945 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Forgejo wins

Growth Momentum

Forgejo is growing faster, adding 186 stars in the last 30 days (+3.3%) against losing 1 stars for GitLab (0%). Forgejo is the smaller project of the two, so it is closing the gap rather than extending a lead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Forgejo last updated 10 hours ago and GitLab 16 days ago.

GitLab wins

Project Maturity

GitLab has been in development longer, starting 15 years ago, compared to Forgejo which began 4 years ago. This 11.3-year head start suggests GitLab may have more mature features and established processes.

GitLab wins

Licensing

GitLab is licensed under MIT, while Forgejo's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Git Platforms. However, they also have distinct specializations: GitLab extends into Project Management Suites, CI/CD Platforms.

Comparable