GitLab vs Bitbucket - Which Git repository management tool is better?
As we all know, Git is one of the most popular version control systems out there. Git repository management tools such as GitLab and Bitbucket have taken the market by storm and made version control a lot easier for developers. But which tool offers the best value for your money?
In this blog post, we will compare GitLab and Bitbucket side-by-side to help you decide which one to use. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let's begin!
Pricing
Pricing is a significant factor when deciding which tool to use, and both GitLab and Bitbucket offer different pricing models.
GitLab offers a free version that can be self-hosted or used on GitLab's servers. Besides that, GitLab offers three different plans called Starter, Premium, and Ultimate. The pricing for GitLab starts at $19 per user per month for the Starter plan and goes up to $99 per user per month for the Ultimate plan.
Bitbucket, on the other hand, offers a free plan for up to five users, self-hosted or cloud-based. They also have three different plans called Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. The pricing for Bitbucket starts at $3 per user per month for the Standard plan and goes up to $7 per user per month for the Premium plan. The Enterprise plan has a custom pricing model.
When it comes to pricing, Bitbucket seems to be more affordable than GitLab. However, pricing is not the only factor to consider when choosing between the two.
Features
Both GitLab and Bitbucket offer a similar set of features, including code review, issue tracking, and continuous integration/development (CI/CD) pipelines. However, some features differ between the two tools.
GitLab offers some unique features such as a built-in container registry, project management tools, and monitoring tools, which are not present in Bitbucket.
Bitbucket offers some unique features such as smart mirroring, which enables high-speed cloning of repositories within a local network or globally. The tool also offers branch permission management, which allows administrators to restrict writing access to specific branches.
User Interface
The User Interface (UI) is a significant factor when it comes to user experience. GitLab and Bitbucket have very distinct UIs.
GitLab has a modern and sleek UI that is very easy to navigate, and it's apparent they've recently invested time and resources to improve it.
Bitbucket, on the other hand, seems to have an older UI, with a slightly dated look and feel. However, the UI is still incredibly easy to use and navigate.
Overall, both GitLab and Bitbucket have a user-friendly UI, with GitLab offering a more modern look and feel.
Performance
Performance is critical when it comes to Git repository management tools, and both GitLab and Bitbucket have unique parameters to measure their performance.
GitLab uses Runner to run continuous integration pipelines, and this platform can be scaled horizontally to have multiple Runner instances running side-by-side.
On the other hand, Bitbucket uses Smart Mirroring to improve performance on a global scale. The tool creates a local mirror of the repository, and developers can clone from the nearest mirror location.
Overall, both tools have good performance measures, and the choice comes down to what type of repository management the user needs.
Conclusion
Now it's time to answer the main question: which is better?
The truth is, there is no straightforward answer. GitLab and Bitbucket are both excellent Git repository management tools that offer unique features, pricing models, UIs, and performance measures.
If you're looking for a more affordable tool, Bitbucket is the way to go. If you're looking for more modern UI and cutting-edge features like container registry and monitoring tools, GitLab is your best choice.
We hope our comparison has helped you make an informed decision. Happy coding!