Brandwave

How popular isGitLab?

In September 2026, people searched for GitLab by name about 832,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 68.9% of all global build automation platform searches, placing GitLab first out of seven platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about build automation platforms, GitLab appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

GitLab is the most searched of 7 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. GitLabShare of searches 68.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. JenkinsShare of searches 16.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. GitHub ActionsShare of searches 7.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. GradleShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  5. CircleCIShare of searches 1.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top build automation platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitLab appeared in all five answers. GitLab is the second most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. GitHub Actions1st
  2. GitLab2nd
  3. Jenkins3rd
  4. Buildkite4th
  5. CircleCI5th
  6. Gradle6th
  7. TeamCity7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • GitLab5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Jenkins5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitHub Actions5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CircleCI4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Buildkite3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Gradle2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • TeamCity1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about build automation platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which build automation platforms compete with GitLab?

GitLab against build automation platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitLab, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Gradle. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitLabJenkinsGitHub ActionsGradleCircleCITeamCityBuildkite
Oct 202565.9%19.7%7.2%4%1.5%1.2%0.53%
Nov 202561.3%22.4%8.2%4.5%1.7%1.3%0.6%
Dec 202561.4%22.4%8.3%4.5%1.7%1.1%0.6%
Jan 202661.4%22.4%8.3%4.5%1.7%1.1%0.6%
Feb 202661%22.3%8.2%4.5%1.6%1.1%1.3%
Mar 202663.5%19%10.4%3.8%1.4%1.1%0.76%
Apr 202664.9%19.4%8.7%3.9%1.4%0.95%0.78%
May 202665.2%19.5%8.7%3.2%1.4%0.96%0.96%
Jun 202669%16.8%7.6%3.4%1.5%1%0.68%
Jul 202664.6%19.3%8.7%3.9%1.4%1.2%0.95%
Aug 202663.1%18.9%10.3%3.8%1.4%1.4%1.1%
Sep 202668.9%16.8%7.6%3.4%1.5%1%0.83%

  1. 1.GitLab

    68.9%

    Held 1st. 823K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +5.7 points.

  2. 2.Jenkins

    16.8%

    Held 2nd. 201K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2 points.

  3. 3.GitHub Actions

    7.6%

    Held 3rd. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.

  4. 4.Gradle

    3.4%

    Held 4th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  5. 5.CircleCI

    1.5%

    Held 5th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +21.9% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  6. 6.TeamCity

    1%

    Held 6th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  7. 7.Buildkite

    0.83%

    Held 7th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

Compare popularity between GitLab and its closest rivals

Every comparison with GitLab

33 comparisons

How has branded search demand for GitLab changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for GitLab worldwide held steady, from 838K to 832K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab’s share of searches among build automation platforms worldwide increased from 65.9% to 68.9%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab’s share of searches among build automation platforms worldwide peaked at 69% in June 2026 and was lowest at 61% in February 2026.

How did search popularity change for build automation platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, GitLab gained share of searches among build automation platforms worldwide, from 63.1% to 68.9%.

  2. In September 2026, GitHub Actions lost share of searches among build automation platforms worldwide, from 10.3% to 7.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Jenkins lost share of searches among build automation platforms worldwide, from 18.9% to 16.8%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Buildkite worldwide rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 9.9K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for TeamCity worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 14.8K to 12.1K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Gradle worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 40.5K in September 2026.

How are GitLab’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitLab’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • ci cd gitlab
  • continuous integration gitlab
  • gitlab
  • gitlab app
  • gitlab ci cd
  • gitlab software

Do you work for GitLab? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does GitLab compete?

GitLab is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Bug tracking brands3rd of 64.2%Show ranking
Code review platforms2nd of 104.5%Show ranking
Code hosting platforms2nd of 74.6%Show ranking
Build automation platforms1st of 768.9%Shown above
Continuous integration platforms1st of 672.1%Show ranking
Release automation tools4th of 112.9%Show ranking
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Is GitLab your brand?

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