GitHub vs GitLab:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, GitHub had more branded searches than GitLab among code hosting platforms worldwide. GitHub had about 16.6 million branded searches, while GitLab had 823,000. GitHub made up 92.4% of all code hosting platform searches we track, and GitLab accounted for 4.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about code hosting platforms, both GitHub and GitLab appeared in all five answers. GitHub was mentioned before GitLab in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
GitHub, about 20 searches for every 1 for GitLab
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
GitHub, named ahead of GitLab in every answer
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Top code hosting platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both GitHub and GitLab showed up in all five answers. GitHub was listed before GitLab in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- GitHub5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
GitLab5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Bitbucket5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Forgejo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Azure DevOps3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Gitea3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Codeberg3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about code hosting platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which code hosting platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best code hosting platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best code hosting platform for a development team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“code hosting platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“source code hosting”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is GitHub or GitLab more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub and GitLab by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven code hosting platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for GitHub, GitLab. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | GitHub | GitLab | Bitbucket | Azure DevOps | Gitea | Forgejo | Codeberg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 89.1% | 6.6% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.49% | 0.15% | 0.12% |
| Nov 2025 | 91.9% | 4.5% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.41% | 0.12% | 0.22% |
| Dec 2025 | 90% | 5.5% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.27% | 0.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 90.1% | 5.5% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.22% | 0.27% |
| Feb 2026 | 91.7% | 4.5% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.18% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 92% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| Apr 2026 | 92.1% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.22% | 0.27% |
| May 2026 | 91.9% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 0.91% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.41% |
| Jun 2026 | 90.9% | 5.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.49% | 0.33% | 0.33% |
| Jul 2026 | 91.7% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.33% | 0.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 93.1% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 0.93% | 0.51% | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| Sep 2026 | 92.4% | 4.6% | 1.1% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.28% | 0.18% |
How has the GitHub and GitLab comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GitHub was ahead of GitLab in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub’s share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide moved from 89.1% to 92.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.1M to 16.6M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab’s share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide moved from 6.6% to 4.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
How did search popularity change for code hosting platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, GitLab gained share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide, from 3.8% to 4.6%.
In September 2026, GitHub lost share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide, from 93.1% to 92.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub’s and GitLab’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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