GitLab Review: The DevOps platform that does (almost) everything

Surely you have wondered if there is a single solution to manage code, automate tests, and collaborate with your team without having to use a thousand independent applications. Well, rest assured, because GitLab comes precisely to meet that need with a platform that brings together repositories, CI/CD, project management, and security in one place.

It has served us as a "dashboard" to centralize everything, from uploading the code of an app to automating deployments, reviewing changes, or controlling who does what. And the best part is that it is not only useful for developers, as operations, security teams, and even product managers can work in the same space, with tools adapted to each role. If in your daily routine you have to coordinate several technical tasks, you will likely identify with this.

In this review, we will share our experience thoroughly testing GitLab, going over its key features, strengths and weaknesses, who we think it is best suited for, how it differs from other platforms, and why we would (or wouldn’t) adopt it in different scenarios. So, if you were looking for a solution that fits the daily work of a modern team, you may find exactly what you need.

What is GitLab?

GitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform where we can manage everything from writing and reviewing code to delivery and version control all from a single place. This integration is very valuable if one of the company's goals is to save time and minimize complications between separate tools, as it greatly streamlines day-to-day processes.

The story of GitLab begins in 2011, when Dmitriy Zaporozhets and Valery Sizov created the project in Ukraine. What started as an open source solution gradually grew thanks to the community, until in 2014 Sid Sijbrandij helped found the current company, GitLab Inc. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, currently employing remote workers in more than 60 countries, always maintaining that philosophy of openness and collaboration.

One of the aspects that caught our attention most about GitLab is its commitment to open development and transparency. The company publishes a lot of documentation, its main base code remains accessible, and it fosters a culture of remote and flexible work. Basically, it is a rara avis in the tech world that leads by example, both technically and in internal organization, which then shows in the final product.

Why GitLab?

After thoroughly analyzing GitLab and testing it in different scenarios, we have assigned it a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score reflects the balance between its enormous potential to centralize the DevOps cycle and its robustness in areas such as security and regulatory compliance. What convinced us most was its ability to bring together everything necessary for demanding teams into a single tool.

In our opinion, GitLab is the perfect choice for companies that want to leave behind the headaches of managing multiple fragmented applications and workflows. When you need an environment where each phase (from development to deployment and auditing) can be orchestrated from the same place, this platform makes it very easy. Additionally, its security and automatic analysis features stand out compared to more basic alternatives.

That said, we believe that for small teams or personal projects, GitLab can be a bit excessive, both in price and complexity. However, if you are looking for something powerful, ready to scale, and designed for companies where collaboration, security, and traceability truly matter, few options can compete. The decision, as always, will depend on the real needs and context of each organization.

13 points where GitLab stands out

GitLab brings together a wide variety of tools under one roof. Beyond storing code, the platform allows us to cover practically every phase of the DevOps cycle. Here are the points where it has most surprised and convinced us:

1. Source code management

GitLab stands out for its advanced Git repository management. We can create branches, merge changes, control access, and launch code reviews directly from the same web page. If we have very large files, Git LFS integration makes it easy and headache-free.

2. Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD)

One of the main attractions is the ability to automate all compilation, testing, and deployment tasks. Pipelines are easy to set up, we can integrate them with Kubernetes, and Auto DevOps allows us to have the CI/CD configuration ready with just a few clicks. This saves us a lot of time day to day.

3. Security and regulatory compliance

We like how GitLab incorporates security testing at all stages: from SAST and DAST to dependency and container scanning, fuzzing, and secret detection. All this is accompanied by security dashboards and compliance with standards like SOC2, ISO 27001, or GDPR, providing peace of mind when handling sensitive projects.

4. Project management

GitLab integrates agile management features such as issue tracking, epics, milestones, Kanban boards, and time tracking. If we use Scrum or Kanban, we can adapt the tools to our workflow. This way, the whole team (not just developers) can plan and track tasks from a single place.

5. Analytics and reporting

With GitLab dashboards, we have data on code quality, deployment frequency, and team performance. Value Stream Analytics stands out, helping us visualize and optimize the delivery cycle by detecting bottlenecks that sometimes go unnoticed.

6. Value stream management

This feature allows us to see at a glance how work flows from idea to production. It is very useful for identifying which phase processes are getting stuck in and improving overall team efficiency.

7. Portfolio management

When managing multiple projects or programs simultaneously, GitLab provides a global view to plan strategically and allocate resources wisely. It’s an important extra for teams that have already grown or handle multiple products.

8. Design management

We have noticed how easy it is to share prototypes or mockups within GitLab. We can version design assets, collaborate, and leave feedback within the same environment where the rest of the project lives.

9. Service Desk

With this tool, we can connect customer support directly to the development workflow. Users can submit issues, and the team manages and tracks their progress from the platform itself, avoiding information loss across different systems.

10. Release orchestration

When coordinating complex releases across several projects or environments, GitLab helps automate and monitor these processes, ensuring each version arrives safely and with fewer surprises.

11. Package management and registry

It allows hosting and managing private package repositories (npm, Maven, Docker, etc.) centrally. This way, we can control versions, share internal dependencies, and avoid relying on external services for something so basic.

12. Feature Flags

It allows us to enable or disable features in production without deploying new code. This way, we can do controlled testing or gradual rollouts without unnecessary risks.

13. GitLab Runner

This utility handles running CI/CD jobs on our servers or in the cloud. It gives us total flexibility to adapt the continuous integration environment to our needs, and we can scale as the project requires.

What sets GitLab apart from its competitors?

If we had to summarize in a few words what makes GitLab special compared to the competition, we would stick with the idea of having everything under one roof. Unlike other products like GitHub Enterprise, Azure DevOps, or the typical combination of Jenkins, Jira, and various standalone tools, here we don’t need to jump from one web page to another for each task. The entire DevOps cycle (from idea to delivery and security) is managed within the same platform, saving time and headaches.

Another differentiating factor is the depth of its integrated features; security (with SAST, DAST, IAST scans and more), value stream management, compliance, and advanced portfolio management are included by default, without needing extra licenses or external solutions. Also, we love being able to invite unlimited guest users at no cost, ideal for collaborating with clients or stakeholders without budget worries. All this allows us to work more transparently, efficiently, and simply, without the typical complications of other more fragmented platforms.

GitLab Pros ✅

• All-in-one DevOps platform
• Robust security and regulatory compliance
• Powerful CI/CD capabilities
• Very comprehensive project management
• Integrated Value Stream Management
• Large support community and extensive documentation
• Self-hosting option
• Most widely used version control system globally

GitLab Cons ❌

• Steep learning curve
• Ultimate plan can be expensive
• Requires significant resources
• Occasional performance issues
• All-in-one approach may not fit all teams
• Interface can be overwhelming
• Support response times can vary, especially on free plans or low-priority incidents

Who can benefit most from GitLab?

In this section, we want to clearly and simply highlight which companies can get the most out of using GitLab. They are the following:

• Large companies and corporations: If you manage multiple development teams and need to control complex projects, GitLab gives you a centralized view, advanced security tools, and portfolio management so nothing slips through the cracks.
• Companies in regulated sectors: If you work in banking, healthcare, or public administration and need to comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, here is a platform that makes it easier and helps you with audits and data security.
• Teams with a DevSecOps mindset: If security is a priority in your company and you want to integrate testing and scanning at every stage, GitLab offers automated security tools without relying on additional products.
• Growing technology startups: If you are looking for an all-in-one solution that avoids the headaches of managing multiple applications, here you can centralize everything, save time, and improve collaboration.
• Development agencies and consultants: If you handle projects for multiple clients, advanced project management, access control, and unlimited guest users allow you to collaborate and showcase progress without complications or extra costs.

Who might need another tool?

Despite its excellent results, GitHub may not fit the goals of your company or your team members. Below we detail which business models might need alternative software:

• Personal projects or small teams with basic needs: If you only want to host your code and make a couple of simple deployments, the free version of GitLab might be too much and a simpler or more economical option could be enough.
• Freelancers or self-employed with a small budget: If your projects don’t require advanced features or compliance with regulations, lighter alternatives like GitHub Free or Bitbucket might be more comfortable and easier to maintain.
• Companies that already have a consolidated toolchain: If you have everything perfectly organized with Jenkins, Jira, GitHub, and other custom integrations, changing your entire workflow might not justify the migration effort.

Reasons to choose GitLab in your company

• Unifies all DevOps phases: If you want to centralize development, testing, deployments, and project management in a single platform, here you have everything without relying on external applications.
• Advanced security features: Ideal if you need to automatically detect vulnerabilities and have security integrated at every stage of the software lifecycle.
• Simplified regulatory compliance: If your company must pass audits or comply with standards like ISO 27001 or GDPR, GitLab facilitates traceability and control of documentary content.
• Facilitates collaboration and transparency: Teams can work together in real time, share designs, and manage tasks without losing information or jumping between systems.

Scalability for ambitious projects: If your company is growing, GitLab allows adding projects, users, and guest clients effortlessly, adapting to the pace you need.

Reasons Why Users Abandon GitLab

• High cost in advanced plans: When the budget is tight, the price of Premium or Ultimate plans can be high compared to other options or open source tools.
• Too much complexity for small teams: If you don’t have dedicated DevOps staff, the number of options and configurations can be overwhelming and end up requiring more work than expected.
• Initial learning curve: The platform’s power means that at first you need to invest time learning how to make the most of it, which isn’t always worthwhile if the project is simple.
• Need for integration with other established tools: If your company relies heavily on a customized toolchain, the effort to migrate the entire workflow may not be worth it.

GitLab Plans and Pricing

The issue of price always comes up when looking for an all-in-one platform for project development and management. GitLab has a fairly clear pricing structure for its managed and self-hosted plans, but it's worth reviewing exactly what each includes and what extras are available, as the difference can be significant depending on the type of company and how you plan to use it:

• Free Plan: €0 per user/month. Allows up to 5 licensed users, 400 minutes of computation per month, and 10 GiB of storage. Includes code management, basic CI/CD, and essential functions for small teams or personal projects.
• Premium Plan: €19 per user/month (promotional price for new customers, annual billing). Includes everything in the Free plan, plus AI chat, code suggestions, unlimited licensed users, 10,000 minutes of computation, and priority support. Highly focused on teams needing more control and collaboration.
• Ultimate Plan: Price upon consultation with the GitLab sales team. Offers access to all advanced features: security, compliance, portfolio management, 50,000 minutes of computation, and unlimited guest users. Designed for organizations with complex needs or regulated environments.

Main add-ons and complements

• GitLab Duo Pro: €19 per user/month (annual billing). Adds AI for code generation and refactoring, chat, and test generation.
• GitLab Duo Enterprise: Price upon request. Includes advanced AI analytics, vulnerability explanations, and root cause analysis.
• Enterprise Agile Planning: €15 per user/month (Ultimate customers only). Replaces tools like Jira, allows executive dashboards and advanced value stream analytics.

GitLab CE vs EE: What are the differences?

Before choosing a plan, you should consider which edition you will use as the technical base (the software you will install). Below, we explain the main features of the two GitLab editions:

GitLab Community Edition (CE)

• It is the open source and free version of GitLab, designed for those who want to host and manage GitLab on their own servers (that is, self-hosted mode).
• Includes basic functionalities: code management, simple CI/CD, and some collaboration tools.
• You cannot add Premium or Ultimate plans to this edition; their advanced features are only available in the Enterprise edition.
• Ideal for personal projects, small businesses, or those who want full control over the software.

GitLab Enterprise Edition (EE)

• It is the edition aimed at businesses, the base for Premium and Ultimate plans (and also for the self-hosted Free plan, with some extra features).
• It can be installed on your own servers or used as a managed service, but it allows unlocking all advanced features through licenses (Premium or Ultimate).
• The Free, Premium, and Ultimate plans apply to the Enterprise Edition, whether cloud-based (managed) or self-hosted.
• If you want advanced security, compliance, portfolio management, etc., it will always be through the Enterprise Edition with the corresponding license.

Discounts and Other Considerations

GitLab offers a free plan (Free) designed for small teams or individuals looking to try the platform without commitment. Additionally, there is a 60-day free trial for the Premium and Ultimate plans, giving us enough time to experience the advanced features and see if they truly fit into our workflow.

Regarding discounts, GitLab often provides occasional promotions, such as reduced pricing on the Premium plan for new customers when subscribed annually. It is also common for educational institutions and non-profit organizations to access special conditions or more affordable prices, although these cases require direct contact with the sales team to confirm eligibility and applicable rates.

Implementation, Training, and Documentation

Implementing GitLab in a company can be as simple as opening a cloud account and starting to upload projects, or as complex as migrating dozens of repositories and pipelines from other tools. If we start from scratch and only want the basics, the learning curve is reasonable, although, if we want to get the most out of it, it is advisable to have some technical knowledge.

For those coming from other platforms, GitLab offers quite detailed resources and guides on code migration, issues, wikis, and CI/CD configurations. Although it can be intimidating at first, migration can be managed progressively and, if the team prefers, there are professional support services to assist in the process and resolve technical or integration questions.

Regarding training, the official GitLab documentation is one of the most comprehensive we've seen (available at docs.gitlab.com). Additionally, there are courses, tutorials, and certifications on the official website, designed for different experience levels. This is very helpful both for the technical team and for those who want to deepen and certify their knowledge of the platform.

Personnel and management

In large companies, it is common to have a specific team in charge of managing GitLab. There are usually DevOps profiles, security managers, release managers, and even database administrators who share the work. This ensures that every aspect of the platform is well managed and nothing is left unattended.

In small companies or small teams, it is most common for one or two people to take on several of these roles at once. Although it is not necessary to set up an entire department, it is important that someone clearly knows who is responsible for maintaining the platform and resolving possible issues. Good management and assignment of responsibilities usually makes the difference in daily use.

Decision-Making Process

The decision-making process to adopt GitLab usually takes several weeks or even months, depending on the size of the company and the urgency to solve certain issues. Typically, it starts by identifying what is not working well in the current workflow (for example, lack of integration between tools, security problems, or excessive manual work) and comparing different alternatives to see which fits best.

During this phase, technical profiles usually participate (such as development managers, DevOps, and security), who thoroughly evaluate the functions, integration with the tools already in use, and ease of use. In many cases, a proof of concept (POC) is conducted to practically verify if GitLab meets the promises. The final decision is usually in the hands of the technology management (CTO), area heads, or even the executive committee, who assess the test results and total cost before giving the green light to the change.

Usability and User Interface

The GitLab interface aims to be as intuitive as possible, especially considering the number of features it offers. For those already experienced in DevOps environments, having everything centralized helps a lot and allows switching tasks quickly without having to open multiple applications at the same time. That said, at first, the number of options and menus can be overwhelming.

For novice users, the first impression is often a bit dense and it can be difficult to find some specific functions. However, the platform includes documentation, tutorials, and a quite effective search that helps to get oriented gradually. Most users agree that, once the initial learning curve is overcome, the interface saves a lot of time and allows working more efficiently and organized.

Security Features

One of GitLab's strengths is its commitment to security and privacy. The platform complies with important international standards such as SOC2 Type 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA. This is essential for companies operating in regulated sectors, as it allows them to confidently protect sensitive information and pass audits without surprises.

In practice, GitLab includes a range of built-in security features, including static and dynamic code analysis (SAST and DAST), dependency and container scanning, fuzz testing, and secret detection, as well as dashboards and audit logs. All of these help detect vulnerabilities as early as possible and maintain detailed control over who accesses what and when.

For access, GitLab offers advanced authentication options such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and single sign-on (SSO), along with very detailed permission controls by role or group. We can also generate personal access tokens, which allow secure and controlled access to the API or task automation.

Reporting and Analytics Features

GitLab gives us access to very comprehensive analysis dashboards that help better understand how our team works and where we can improve. For example, Value Stream Analytics allows visualizing how much time each task spends from the moment the idea is born until the code reaches production. This way, it’s much easier to detect bottlenecks and optimize the workflow.

Another feature we really liked is CI/CD Analytics, where we can see data on pipeline success rates, deployment frequency, and delivery times. A very useful feature to analyze whether the automated processes are working as they should or if adjustments are needed. Additionally, code quality reports help us detect complexity, test coverage, and potential vulnerabilities.

For security and performance topics, GitLab offers specific dashboards and the ability to integrate Prometheus for advanced monitoring. It is also possible to customize the panels according to the metrics that interest us the most.

Customer Service

GitLab offers technical support through its support portal, where users can open tickets to resolve issues related to licenses, subscriptions, or technical incidents.

For Premium and Ultimate plans, response times from the support team vary depending on the severity of the issue: 30 minutes for critical emergencies, 4 hours for high-priority issues, 8 hours for medium impact, and 24 hours for low-priority inquiries, all within the 24/5 support hours (Sunday to Friday). It is important to note that only authorized contacts within an organization can open support tickets; if you are not pre-listed, your request will be rejected.

Free plan users do not have access to direct technical support, but they can seek help in the GitLab community forum, where both employees and other users share solutions and advice. Additionally, GitLab provides extensive documentation and training resources to help users solve problems on their own. Although some users have reported difficulties finding quick answers on the forum, most agree that once familiar with the platform, the support experience improves significantly.

Competition: What is the best alternative to GitLab?

The landscape of DevOps tools is very diverse. Below, we tell you which are the main alternatives to GitLab and in which cases they might be a better choice:

GitLab vs GitHub Enterprise

GitHub Enterprise shines especially in source code management and collaborative work, thanks to its huge community and the number of available integrations. It is ideal if you are looking for an agile collaboration experience and a platform known worldwide.

However, although GitHub is expanding its DevOps capabilities, it often requires external tools for continuous integration, deployment, or security, which can make the workflow more fragmented than in GitLab. Even so, if you already use many apps connected to the GitHub ecosystem, this option may be worthwhile.

GitLab vs Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps stands out for its flexibility and the ease of customizing every part of the process. It is a very powerful platform if you already work with other Microsoft services and require deep integrations with Azure.

Additionally, it allows detailed configuration of each step in the DevOps cycle, although that same flexibility can increase complexity if the team lacks sufficient technical experience. If your company is closely linked to the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure DevOps may fit better than GitLab.

GitLab vs Jenkins

Jenkins is the classic reference in continuous integration and deployment. Its great advantage is the customization capability through plugins and the very active community that supports it. If you are only looking for a powerful tool for CI/CD and prefer to build the rest of the chain tailor-made, Jenkins can be a good choice.

That said, it requires more maintenance and coordination with other external solutions, while GitLab centralizes everything by default.

GitLab vs Jira

Jira is the tool par excellence for agile project management, especially in teams that need detailed control of issues, epics, and customized workflows. Although it is not a complete DevOps solution, many companies combine it with other tools like GitHub or Jenkins.

If your focus is on advanced task management and collaboration with many non-technical profiles, Jira can add value, but for a comprehensive and centralized DevOps experience, GitLab usually offers more features in one place.

A very complete all-in-one solution for large teams

After everything we have seen, we believe GitLab is an outstanding option for companies that need an integrated, secure DevOps solution designed to meet strict regulations. Its all-in-one approach and the depth of its tools justify the investment if the team has the ability to fully leverage them, especially in environments where security and traceability are crucial.

We especially recommend GitLab to organizations working in regulated sectors (such as banking or healthcare) or companies managing large projects with multiple development teams; here, compliance, automation, and advanced management features make a difference and can save a lot of time (and concerns) in the long run. Additionally, the ease of centralizing the entire workflow is noticeable day to day.

That said, GitLab is not for everyone. Small teams, companies with very basic needs, or personal projects may feel overwhelmed by the complexity and price. In these cases, other options like GitHub or Bitbucket may be more accessible, both because of their learning curve and associated costs. As always, it is important to carefully analyze real needs before making a decision.

In short, if you are looking for a powerful, scalable platform that bets on innovation, GitLab is a tool to seriously consider. But if you are looking for simplicity and speed for more modest projects, other options may be more comfortable for you.