Brandwave

GitLab vs Octopus Deploy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitLab and Octopus Deploy were level in searches among release automation tools worldwide, with an estimated 6.6K branded searches each, at 2.9% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, GitLab appeared in all five answers and Octopus Deploy in three. GitLab was mentioned before Octopus Deploy in four out of five answers.

Among release automation tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitLab and Octopus Deploy are searched for about as often as each other.

GitLab 6.6K searchesOctopus Deploy 6.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitLab, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitLab in 5 of 5Octopus Deploy in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitLab, named ahead of Octopus Deploy in 4 of 5 answers

GitLab first in 4Octopus Deploy 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, GitLab appeared in all five answers. Octopus Deploy was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. GitLab was listed before Octopus Deploy in four out of 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. 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 GitLab or Octopus Deploy more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitLab and Octopus Deploy 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.

GitLab and Octopus Deploy among release automation tools worldwide, by month

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

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Octopus Deploy took it in August 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Octopus Deploy’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. In September 2026, Octopus Deploy fell from 4th to 5th among release automation tools worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitLab’s and Octopus Deploy’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.

GitLab

1 branded search term

  • gitlab ci cd

Octopus Deploy

1 branded search term

  • octopus deploy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among release automation tools

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