Brandwave

Forgejo vs GitLab:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitLab had more branded searches than Forgejo among code hosting platforms worldwide. GitLab had about 823,000 branded searches, while Forgejo had 49,500. GitLab made up 4.6% of all code hosting platform searches we track, and Forgejo accounted for 0.28%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about code hosting platforms, both Forgejo and GitLab appeared in all five answers. GitLab was mentioned before Forgejo in every answer.

Among code hosting platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitLab, about 17 searches for every 1 for Forgejo

GitLab 823K searchesForgejo 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Forgejo in 5 of 5GitLab in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitLab, named ahead of Forgejo in every answer

GitLab first in 5Forgejo never first

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Top code hosting platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Forgejo and GitLab showed up in all five answers. GitLab was listed before Forgejo in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. GitHub1st
  2. GitLab2nd
  3. Bitbucket3rd
  4. Codeberg4th
  5. Forgejo5th
  6. Gitea6th
  7. Azure DevOps7th

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

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Forgejo or GitLab more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Forgejo 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.

Forgejo and GitLab among code hosting platforms worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitHubGitLabBitbucketAzure DevOpsGiteaForgejoCodeberg
Oct 202589.1%6.6%2%1.6%0.49%0.15%0.12%
Nov 202591.9%4.5%1.7%1.1%0.41%0.12%0.22%
Dec 202590%5.5%2%1.1%0.6%0.27%0.6%
Jan 202690.1%5.5%2%1.3%0.6%0.22%0.27%
Feb 202691.7%4.5%1.7%1.1%0.5%0.18%0.33%
Mar 202692%4.6%1.4%1.1%0.5%0.22%0.22%
Apr 202692.1%4.6%1.4%0.92%0.5%0.22%0.27%
May 202691.9%4.6%1.4%0.91%0.5%0.41%0.41%
Jun 202690.9%5.5%1.3%1.1%0.49%0.33%0.33%
Jul 202691.7%4.5%1.4%1.1%0.5%0.33%0.5%
Aug 202693.1%3.8%1.1%0.93%0.51%0.28%0.28%
Sep 202692.4%4.6%1.1%0.92%0.5%0.28%0.18%

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

3 findings
  • GitLab was ahead of Forgejo in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Forgejo’s share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide moved from 0.15% to 0.28%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 49.5K.
  • 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
  1. In September 2026, GitLab gained share of searches among code hosting platforms worldwide, from 3.8% to 4.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Forgejo rose from 7th to 6th among code hosting platforms worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Forgejo

1 branded search term

  • forgejo

GitLab

1 branded search term

  • gitlab

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among code hosting platforms

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