Brandwave

GitLab vs semantic-release:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitLab had more branded searches than semantic-release among release automation tools worldwide. GitLab had about 6,600 branded searches, while semantic-release had 4,400. GitLab made up 2.9% of all release automation tool searches we track, and semantic-release accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, GitLab appeared in all five answers and semantic-release in two. GitLab was mentioned before semantic-release in three out of five answers.

Among release automation tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitLab, about 50% more searches than semantic-release

GitLab 6.6K searchessemantic-release 4.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitLab, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitLab in 5 of 5semantic-release in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitLab, named ahead of semantic-release in 3 of 5 answers

GitLab first in 3semantic-release first in 2

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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. semantic-release was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GitLab was listed before semantic-release in three 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 semantic-release more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitLab and semantic-release 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 semantic-release among release automation tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitLab, semantic-release. 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 semantic-release 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, GitLab rose from 5th to 4th among release automation tools worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for semantic-release worldwide fell 45.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 4.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitLab’s and semantic-release’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

semantic-release

1 branded search term

  • semantic release

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among release automation tools

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