Skip to main content

Is GitHub not meeting your team's needs? You might encounter limitations with collaboration features, seek stronger security controls, or seek pricing models that better align with your budget. These challenges drive many development teams to explore alternatives that support their specific workflows.

After thoroughly evaluating the current landscape of code repository platforms, I've compiled a selection of GitHub alternatives that excel in different areas. This comparison will highlight how each platform addresses specific pain points and offers unique advantages that GitHub may lack.

From enhanced compliance features to improved CI/CD integration and customizable workflows, you'll discover which alternative best matches your priorities and potentially streamlines your development process in ways GitHub cannot.

What Is GitHub?

GitHub is a developer tool platform for version control and collaboration. It's widely used by software developers, project managers, and tech professionals to manage and track code changes. 

Features like repositories, pull requests, and issue tracking help organize projects, collaborate efficiently, and maintain code integrity. GitHub provides a platform for your team to collaborate on projects, ensuring code quality and transparency.

Best GitHub Alternatives Summary

This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top GitHub alternative selections, helping you find the best one for your budget and business needs.

Why Trust Our Software Reviews

We've been testing and reviewing SaaS development software since 2023. As tech experts ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software. We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions.

We've tested more than 2,000 tools for different SaaS development use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent and check out our software review methodology.

Best GitHub Alternatives Reviews

Below are my detailed summaries of the best GitHub alternatives that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at each tool’s key features, pros and cons, integrations, and ideal use cases to help you find the best one for you.

Best for enterprise cloud hosting

  • Free trial available
  • From $12.50/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

Assembla is a cloud-based platform offering version control and project management tools for enterprise teams. It serves businesses that need secure, scalable solutions for managing code repositories and coordinating development efforts. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Assembla provides enterprise-grade security and compliance, making it suitable for industries with strict regulatory requirements. It supports multiple version control systems, giving your team flexibility in choosing the best fit for your projects. Assembla's cloud hosting ensures your data is accessible and secure, with features like code reviews and merge requests to enhance collaboration. The platform's focus on enterprise needs means you can rely on it for robust performance and support.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include project management tools that help your team track progress and manage tasks efficiently. Assembla offers advanced security measures, ensuring your code and data are protected. It also provides detailed reporting and analytics, giving insights into project performance and team productivity.

Integrations include JIRA, Slack, GitHub, Bitbucket, Jenkins, Microsoft Teams, Trello, Zapier, Salesforce, and Basecamp.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Cloud hosting for scalability
  • Supports multiple VCS
  • Enterprise-grade security

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Basic user interface

Best for multi-VCS support

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $8/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 3.8/5

RhodeCode is an enterprise source code management platform designed for teams requiring support from multiple version control systems (VCS). It serves developers and organizations by providing a unified interface for managing Git, Mercurial, and Subversion repositories.

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: RhodeCode's multi-VCS support is a key differentiator, allowing your team to work within a single platform regardless of the VCS in use. Its advanced permissions system ensures that only authorized personnel can access specific codebases. With features like code review and audit logs, RhodeCode helps maintain code quality and compliance. The platform's self-hosted model gives you control over your data and infrastructure.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include an advanced permissions system, allowing you to control access at a granular level. RhodeCode offers built-in code review tools, helping your team maintain high code quality standards. It also provides detailed audit logs essential for tracking changes and ensuring compliance.

Integrations include Git, Mercurial, Subversion, Jenkins, Slack, LDAP, SAML, JIRA, Bitbucket, and GitHub.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Detailed audit logs
  • Advanced permissions system
  • Supports multiple VCS

Cons:

  • Requires technical expertise
  • Complex setup process

Best for Fedora integration

  • Free to use

Pagure is an open-source, self-hosted Git service tailored for developers and organizations seeking a collaborative platform. It's widely used by teams that require integration with Fedora and similar environments. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Pagure's tight integration with Fedora makes it a perfect choice for teams working within this ecosystem. It offers features like pull requests and issue tracking, enhancing collaboration and project management. Pagure supports multiple branches and forking, allowing you to manage different project versions effortlessly. Additionally, its open-source nature allows your team to customize and extend functionalities as needed.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a ticket-based issue tracking system, which helps you manage and prioritize tasks. Pagure supports markdown for documentation, making creating and maintaining project documentation easy. It also provides a built-in code review system, allowing your team to ensure code quality before merging changes.

Integrations include Fedora, Copr, OpenID, FAS, Pagure's API, Webhooks, Trac, Bugzilla, and Jenkins.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports multiple branches
  • Open-source and customizable
  • Strong Fedora integration

Cons:

  • Smaller user community
  • Limited to Fedora environments

Best for privacy-focused hosting

  • Free to use

Codeberg is a community-driven, non-profit platform for developers who want to host and collaborate on Free Software projects. It's ideal for individuals and teams focused on privacy and open-source development. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Codeberg prioritizes privacy and community involvement, setting it apart from commercial platforms. It offers tools for collaboration without relying on proprietary services, which supports the growth of Free and Open Source Software. The platform is operated by Codeberg e.V., allowing its members to participate in decision-making, enhancing transparency and control for your team.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include Codeberg Pages for hosting project websites, allowing you to showcase your work. The platform supports various programming languages, making it versatile for different development needs. It's non-profit and community-driven, ensuring decisions align with user interests rather than commercial goals.

Integrations include Forgejo, Codeberg Pages, Git, Gitea, Markdown, Staticman, Webhooks, and API access.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports open-source growth
  • Community-driven platform
  • Privacy-focused hosting

Cons:

  • Fewer third-party integrations
  • Smaller community support

Best for lightweight self-hosting

  • Free demo available
  • Free to use

Gogs is a self-hosted Git service designed for developers seeking a lightweight, easy-to-install solution. It caters to individuals and small teams who need a simple way to manage Git repositories. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Gogs is lightweight, making it ideal for running on minimal hardware like a Raspberry Pi. Its cross-platform compatibility allows you to deploy it on various operating systems. The open source platform provides you with flexibility and control over your code hosting. Additionally, Gogs is straightforward to install and requires minimal setup effort.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include easy installation, allowing you to run the binary for your platform with minimal setup. Gogs is cross-platform, running anywhere Go can compile, which includes Windows, Mac, Linux, and ARM devices. It's open source, meaning you can access the source code and modify it to suit your needs.

Integrations include GitHub, Docker, Vagrant, Windows, Mac, Linux, ARM, Raspberry Pi, NAS devices, and the MIT License.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Runs on minimal hardware
  • Open source and customizable
  • Lightweight and efficient

Cons:

  • Less popular than GitHub
  • Smaller community support

Best for Java-based deployments

  • Free to use

GitBucket is an open-source Git platform, designed for developers who prefer Java-based environments. It's suitable for teams that need a self-hosted solution to manage and collaborate on their code repositories. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: GitBucket's Java-based architecture makes it ideal for teams using Java environments, offering a familiar setup for your team. Its plugin system allows you to extend functionalities to meet specific requirements. GitBucket also provides vital Git repository management features, including pull requests and issue tracking, ensuring you can efficiently handle project workflows.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a plugin system that lets you customize and extend the platform's capabilities. GitBucket supports markdown rendering, which allows you to create detailed documentation directly within the platform. It also offers code review tools, helping your team maintain code quality and collaborate effectively.

Integrations include LDAP, Active Directory, S3, SMTP, Webhook, OAuth2, Google Authentication, GitHub, Bitbucket, and Jenkins.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive repository management
  • Customizable with plugins
  • Java-based architecture

Cons:

  • Fewer advanced features
  • Limited to Java environments

Best for simple Git server setup

  • Free to use

GitBlit is a pure Java stack for managing, viewing, and serving Git repositories. It's aimed at teams needing a straightforward Git server and is perfect for those looking for an easy-to-deploy, self-hosted solution. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: GitBlit offers a simple setup and deployment, making it accessible for teams that want to get started quickly without complex configurations. It provides a web-based interface that simplifies repository management, allowing you to easily view and manage your repositories. GitBlit supports various authentication methods, giving your team flexibility in user management. Its Java-based architecture ensures compatibility across different operating systems.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a web-based user interface, which makes managing repositories straightforward. GitBlit offers built-in repository viewer capabilities, helping you visualize and navigate your codebase easily. It also supports various access control options, allowing you to manage user permissions effectively.

Integrations include LDAP, Redmine, Jenkins, Maven, Jira, Bugzilla, Trac, Subversion, GitHub, and Bitbucket.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports multiple authentication methods
  • Web-based interface
  • Simple setup and deployment

Cons:

  • Smaller community support
  • Limited advanced features

Best for comprehensive project management

  • Free to use

Phabricator is a suite of open-source tools for software development and project management, designed for teams that need an all-in-one solution. It supports developers and project managers in code review, task management, and bug tracking tasks. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Phabricator offers a comprehensive suite of project management tools beyond basic code hosting. Its detailed code review features allow your team to maintain high code quality. The task management system helps organize and prioritize work, making it easy to track progress. Phabricator's open-source nature allows you to customize it to fit your team's needs.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a built-in wiki for documentation, which helps your team maintain and share knowledge efficiently. Phabricator provides a solid search function, making finding and accessing information across projects easy. It also has a built-in chat system, allowing your team to communicate and collaborate in real-time.

Integrations include LDAP, JIRA, Jenkins, Slack, GitHub, Bitbucket, Conduit API, Mercurial, and SVN.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable open-source platform
  • Detailed code review features
  • Comprehensive project management tools

Cons:

  • Requires technical expertise
  • Complex setup and configuration

Best for game development

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $23/user/month (billed annually)

Plastic SCM is a version control system that handles large files and complex branching and caters to game developers and teams in similar industries. It excels in managing code and assets efficiently, making it a go-to for projects with extensive assets. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Plastic SCM's ability to manage large binary files and advanced branching capabilities make it ideal for game development. It provides visual tools for branch visualization, helping your team understand and manage complex project histories. The platform's distributed and centralized workflows allow flexibility in how your team collaborates. With built-in merge tools, Plastic SCM ensures smooth conflict resolution, keeping your development process on track.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a graphical user interface that simplifies navigation and usage. Plastic SCM supports distributed and centralized version control, allowing your team to choose the best workflow. Its built-in merge tools help resolve conflicts quickly, maintaining project momentum.

Integrations include Unity, Unreal Engine, Jenkins, JIRA, Bamboo, TeamCity, GitHub, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and Slack.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports distributed workflows
  • Advanced branching capabilities
  • Handles large binary files

Cons:

  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Smaller community support

Best for open-source collaboration

  • Free to use

Apache Allura is an open-source platform for managing source code repositories, bug reports, discussions, and more. It is aimed at developers and project teams and facilitates collaborative development by providing a range of tools for project management and code hosting. 

Why it's a good GitHub alternative: Apache Allura offers a comprehensive suite of tools for open-source collaboration, making it an excellent choice for projects that prioritize community involvement. It supports multiple version control systems, allowing your team to work with tools they're familiar with. With features like ticket tracking and project wikis, Apache Allura helps you manage projects from start to finish. Its open-source nature allows for high customizability, ensuring the platform meets your needs.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a modular architecture that lets you add or remove components based on your project's needs. Apache Allura supports multiple programming languages, providing flexibility for diverse development environments. It also offers a detailed issue tracking system, helping your team to manage and resolve bugs effectively.

Integrations include Subversion, Git, Mercurial, LDAP, OAuth, OpenID, Webhooks, Mailman, and Jenkins.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Modular architecture
  • Comprehensive project management tools
  • Supports multiple version control systems

Cons:

  • Smaller user community
  • Requires technical expertise

Other GitHub Alternatives

Here are some additional GitHub alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:

  1. Forgejo

    For community-driven projects

  2. Gitea

    For easy repository management

  3. Bitbucket

    For Jira software integration

  4. Azure Repos

    For Microsoft ecosystem compatibility

  5. AWS CodeCommit

    For AWS cloud integration

  6. Launchpad

    For Ubuntu and Debian projects

  7. SourceForge

    For open-source software distribution

  8. Perforce Helix Core

    For large-scale enterprise projects

  9. GitLab

    For integrated DevOps lifecycle

  10. Gitee

    For Chinese market accessibility

GitHub Alternatives Selection Criteria

When selecting the best GitHub alternatives in this list, I considered everyday buyer needs and pain points related to Developer Tools products, like scalability and integration capabilities. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:

Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:

  • Code hosting
  • Version control
  • Collaboration tools
  • Issue tracking
  • Code review

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • Advanced security options
  • Customizable workflows
  • Built-in CI/CD pipelines
  • Multi-language support
  • Detailed analytics

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:

  • Intuitive interface
  • Easy navigation
  • Minimal learning curve
  • Responsive design
  • Accessibility features

Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:

  • Availability of training videos
  • Interactive product tours
  • Comprehensive documentation
  • Chatbots for assistance
  • Webinars and live sessions

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:

  • 24/7 support availability
  • Response time
  • Multichannel support options
  • Availability of a knowledge base
  • Personalized support services

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:

  • Pricing transparency
  • Feature-to-cost ratio
  • Flexible pricing plans
  • Discounts for long-term commitments
  • Free trial availability

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:

  • Overall satisfaction ratings
  • Common praises
  • Common complaints
  • Frequency of updates
  • Feedback on support services

Why Look For A GitHub Alternative?

While GitHub is a good choice of Developer Tools, some users seek alternative solutions. You might be looking for a GitHub alternative because:

  • You need better privacy controls
  • Your team requires self-hosting options
  • You want more advanced project management features
  • You need support for large binary files
  • Your team prefers a different interface
  • You require integration with specific tools

If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several Developer Tools options better suited for teams facing these challenges with GitHub and looking for alternative solutions.

GitHub Key Features

Here are some of the key features of GitHub to help you contrast and compare what alternative solutions offer:

  • GitHub Copilot: AI-driven code suggestions enhance your coding efficiency.
  • Security Tools: Identify and fix vulnerabilities in your code with ease.
  • Actions: Automate workflows for building, testing, and deploying software.
  • Codespaces: Access instant cloud-based development environments.
  • Issues: Track and manage project tasks and bugs efficiently.
  • Code Review: Facilitate code changes and merge processes seamlessly.
  • Pull Requests: Manage contributions with notifications and access controls.
  • Protected Branches: Enforce merge restrictions for better governance.
  • APIs and Webhooks: Integrate and automate workflows with external applications.
  • GitHub Packages: Host and manage your software packages securely.

What's Next?

Boost your SaaS growth and leadership skills. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest insights from CTOs and aspiring tech leaders. 

We'll help you scale smarter and lead stronger with guides, resources, and strategies from top experts!

Katie Sanders
By Katie Sanders

As a data-driven content strategist, editor, writer, and community steward, Katie helps technical leaders win at work. Her 14 years of experience in the tech space makes her well-rounded to provide technical audiences with expert insights and practical advice through Q&As, Thought Leadership, Ebooks, etc.