Last updated: April 12, 2026
GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI — Which CI/CD Platform in 2026?
Quick Answer
GitHub Actions uses YAML workflows with a marketplace of 20K+ reusable actions. GitLab CI has built-in pipelines with Auto DevOps and is part of GitLab's integrated platform. Actions is better for GitHub repos; GitLab CI is better for self-hosted GitLab.
GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI — Side by Side
| Feature | GitHub Actions | GitLab CI |
|---|---|---|
| Config | .github/workflows/*.yml | .gitlab-ci.yml |
| Marketplace | 20K+ reusable actions | CI templates (fewer) |
| Free Minutes | 2000 min/month (public repos unlimited) | 400 min/month (SaaS) |
| Self-Hosted Runners | Yes — any OS | Yes — GitLab Runner |
| Container Registry | GitHub Container Registry (ghcr.io) | Built-in container registry |
| Pipeline Visualization | Basic workflow graph | Advanced pipeline DAG visualization |
| Security Scanning | Dependabot, CodeQL | Built-in SAST, DAST, dependency scanning |
Verdict
Choose GitHub Actions if your code is on GitHub — tighter integration, larger marketplace, and more free minutes for open source. Choose GitLab CI for self-hosted GitLab deployments and when you want an integrated DevSecOps platform.
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