Brandwave

GitHub Actions vs GitLab:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Actions had more branded searches than GitLab among release automation tools worldwide. GitHub Actions had about 90,500 branded searches, while GitLab had 6,600. GitHub Actions made up 39.8% of all release automation tool searches we track, and GitLab accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, both GitHub Actions and GitLab appeared in all five answers. GitHub Actions was mentioned before GitLab in four out of five answers.

Among release automation tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Actions, about 14 searches for every 1 for GitLab

GitHub Actions 90.5K searchesGitLab 6.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

GitHub Actions in 5 of 5GitLab in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Actions, named ahead of GitLab in 4 of 5 answers

GitHub Actions first in 4GitLab first in 1

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Top release automation tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both GitHub Actions and GitLab showed up in all five answers. GitHub Actions was listed before GitLab in four of them.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. GitHub Actions1st
  2. GitLab2nd
  3. Release Please3rd
  4. semantic-release4th
  5. Argo CD5th
  6. Harness6th
  7. Changesets7th
  8. Octopus Deploy8th
  9. Spinnaker9th
  10. LaunchDarkly–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • GitHub Actions5 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
  • Argo CD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Octopus Deploy3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Harness3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Release Please2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • semantic-release2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Changesets2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Spinnaker1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • LaunchDarkly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about release automation tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is GitHub Actions or GitLab more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Actions and GitLab by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 release automation tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

GitHub Actions and GitLab among release automation tools worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitHub ActionsArgo CDLaunchDarklyGitLabOctopus DeployRelease Pleasesemantic-releaseChangesetsCodefreshHarnessSpinnaker
Oct 202534.4%31.4%18.8%4.6%4.6%1.4%3.1%0.91%0.72%0.03%0.02%
Nov 202537.3%34.1%13.6%5%4.1%1.5%2.7%0.99%0.66%0.04%0.02%
Dec 202540.9%30.5%15%4.5%3%1.3%3%1.1%0.72%0.03%0.02%
Jan 202636.5%33.3%16.3%4.9%3.3%1.5%2.7%0.97%0.64%0.04%0.02%
Feb 202636.3%33.2%16.3%4.9%3.3%1.8%2.7%0.96%0.64%0.04%0.02%
Mar 202645.1%27.7%13.5%4.9%3.3%1.8%2.2%0.8%0.54%0.03%0.02%
Apr 202641.3%31.1%15.2%3.7%3%1.7%2.5%0.9%0.6%0.03%0.02%
May 202642.8%32.2%12.9%3.9%3.2%1.7%2.1%0.74%0.51%0.04%0.02%
Jun 202637%33.8%16.5%4%3.3%1.8%2.2%0.78%0.53%0.04%0.02%
Jul 202639.4%31.2%17.6%3.5%2.9%1.9%1.9%0.83%0.57%0.05%0.02%
Aug 202645.6%29.7%13.7%2.7%3.4%1.8%1.8%0.79%0.41%0.05%0.02%
Sep 202639.8%31.5%17.8%2.9%2.9%1.9%1.9%0.7%0.44%0.04%0.03%

How has the GitHub Actions and GitLab comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for release automation tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, GitHub Actions lost share of searches among release automation tools worldwide, from 45.6% to 39.8%.

  2. In September 2026, GitLab rose from 5th to 4th among release automation tools worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub Actions’ 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.

GitHub Actions

1 branded search term

  • github actions

GitLab

1 branded search term

  • gitlab ci cd

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among release automation tools

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