Brandwave

Codefresh vs GitLab:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitLab had more branded searches than Codefresh among release automation tools worldwide. GitLab had about 6,600 branded searches, while Codefresh had 1,000. GitLab made up 2.9% of all release automation tool searches we track, and Codefresh accounted for 0.44%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, GitLab appeared in all five answers and Codefresh in none.

Among release automation tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitLab, about 7 searches for every 1 for Codefresh

GitLab 6.6K searchesCodefresh 1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitLab, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitLab in 5 of 5Codefresh in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitLab, the only one of the two named

GitLab first in 5Codefresh never named

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Top release automation tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitLab appeared in all five answers. Codefresh did not appear in any of the five answers.

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. +1 more
  11. Codefresh–

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
  • Codefresh0 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 Codefresh or GitLab more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Codefresh 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.

Codefresh and GitLab among release automation tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitLab, Codefresh. 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 Codefresh and GitLab comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • GitLab was ahead of Codefresh in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Codefresh’s share of searches among release automation tools worldwide moved from 0.72% to 0.44%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab’s share of searches among release automation tools worldwide moved from 4.6% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 6.6K.

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

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Codefresh worldwide fell 47.4% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Codefresh

1 branded search term

  • codefresh

GitLab

1 branded search term

  • gitlab ci cd

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among release automation tools

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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