GitHub Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

If a developer, freelancer or agency builds things for you, there's a good chance your code lives on GitHub. For most people that's perfectly fine. But it isn't the only home for code, and plenty of business owners and founders want to know what else is out there, whether for ownership, independence, simplicity or a different set of tools.

Here are ten code hosting options to consider alongside GitHub, in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. I've mixed a few well-known platforms with smaller and community-run ones, and every description comes from each tool's own website and directory listings. You don't need to be technical to follow it. If you're also weighing how your developers work day to day, my notes on what to look for in productivity tools for developers are a useful companion.

Code hosting options at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site says it's free to use, either through a free plan or because the software is free and open source (so you run it on your own server). No means no free option is stated; one hosted service on this list asks its users to support it. Free plans usually come with limits, so read the current terms before you rely on one.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Azure Repos	Hosted Git (Microsoft)	Teams already working inside Microsoft tools	Yes
Bitbucket	Hosted Git (Atlassian)	Teams that also use Jira for tasks	Yes
Codeberg	Non-profit hosted Git	Open-source projects and community values	Yes
Forgejo	Self-hosted Git forge	A light, fully free forge you run yourself	Yes
Gitea	Self-hosted Git platform	Running your own code hosting with extras	Yes
GitLab	Hosted or self-managed platform	Code, automation and security in one place	Yes
Gogs	Self-hosted Git service	A simple, small self-hosted setup	Yes
OneDev	Self-hosted dev platform	Code, issues and builds in one tool	Yes
Radicle	Peer-to-peer code collaboration	Sharing code without a central host	Yes
SourceHut	Minimalist hosted forge	Email-based workflows and plain, fast pages	No

Ten places to host your code besides GitHub

Azure Repos

Best for: Businesses that already use Microsoft tools and want private code repositories sitting alongside the rest of their setup.

Bitbucket

Best for: Small teams that already plan work in Atlassian products and want their code hosted in the same family of tools.

Codeberg

Best for: Open-source projects that prefer a community-run, non-profit home for their code instead of a big company's platform.

Forgejo

Best for: Technical teams who want a lightweight code forge they run themselves, built entirely on free software.

Gitea

Best for: Teams who want to run their own code hosting with project tracking and automation tools in one self-managed package.

GitLab

Best for: Teams wanting code hosting, automated builds and security checks in a single platform, hosted or self-managed.

Gogs

Best for: Anyone who wants a small, simple Git service on their own server without a big feature list to manage.

OneDev

Best for: Teams who like a single self-hosted tool covering code, issues, pull requests and automated builds.

Radicle

Best for: Developers curious about sharing code directly between machines rather than depending on one company's servers.

SourceHut

Best for: Developers who like simple, fast, no-frills tools and email-style code review over flashy dashboards.

Why your business should know where its code is hosted

Code hosting sounds like a developer-only topic, but it affects you directly. Your website, app or automations are made of code, and whoever controls the account that holds it controls a valuable business asset.

• Ownership. Ask who set up the account. Ideally it sits under your own business login, with your developer added as a team member.
• Access. If a freelancer leaves, you need to be able to remove their access and keep working.
• Backups. A hosted code account isn't automatically a backup plan. Ask how copies are kept somewhere else.
• Continuity. Services change terms or features over time, so it helps to know how easily you could move your code if you had to.

How to choose a code hosting platform

There's no single right answer, because the best code hosting setup depends on who works on the code and how comfortable they are with servers.

• Hosted or self-hosted. Hosted services are run for you. Self-hosted tools give you more control, but somebody has to install, update and secure them.
• The people involved. A solo developer, a small agency and an in-house team have very different needs.
• Automation. Many teams want tests and website updates to run automatically whenever code changes. Check what the platform offers for this.
• Fit with your other tools. If your task tracking, chat and documents already live in one family of products, a matching code host can save friction.
• Open-source or community values. Some people choose a host because it's run by a non-profit or built entirely on free software.
• Free limits. Free plans differ in the number of users and private projects allowed, so check the limits against your real team.

Questions to ask your developer before moving code

• Which account currently holds our code, and who owns that account?
• Do our automated website updates depend on the current host, and what would need rebuilding?
• Can the full history of changes move across, not just the latest files?
• Who'll look after updates and security if we run the tool on our own server?
• What's the plan if the new host has an outage or changes how it works?

It's also worth reading up on how databases and apps fit together, because the code is only one piece. My guide on why your business should care about its database covers the other half.

Switching code hosting without losing history

• Ask your developer to take a complete copy of every project before anything changes.
• Move one low-risk project first and check that the change history, branches and team permissions came across.
• Update the places that point to the old host, such as website deployment settings and any automation.
• Keep the old account read-only for a while, so nothing is lost if something was missed.
• Write down where everything lives, so the next person who joins doesn't need a guided tour.

Code hosting mistakes to avoid

• Letting a freelancer keep your code only in their personal account.
• Choosing a self-hosted tool without anyone to maintain it.
• Moving everything at once instead of testing with one project.
• Forgetting the connected services, like website updates and notifications, that rely on the old host.
• Assuming a free plan has no limits on team size or private projects.

Why a smaller code host can be worth a look

Smaller and community-run code hosts often keep things simple and put a clear value first, whether that's independence, privacy or free software. They can also be easier to run if your needs are modest.

Before you commit, check that the project is still being updated, who looks after it, how your code could be exported, and whether your developer is comfortable working there. If you're also picking tools for the developer who helps you, my comparison of AI coding editors might help.

Do you make a code hosting or developer tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on where your code will live

Start with who needs access and what they do all day. Shortlist two options, ask your developer which they'd be happy to work in, and test with one small project before you move everything. Keep the account in your business's name and keep a copy somewhere else.

Frequently asked questions

Why would a business want an alternative to GitHub?

Common reasons are wanting a different set of tools, more control over where the code is kept, community or open-source values, or fitting in with other software the team already uses.

Do I need to be technical to choose a code host?

No. You need to know who owns the account, who has access and how to get a copy of the code. Your developer can handle the technical side once you've agreed the goals.

What's the difference between hosted and self-hosted?

A hosted service is run by a company on its own servers. A self-hosted tool runs on a server you control, which gives more control but means someone has to look after it.

Can I move my code without losing its history?

Usually yes. Git, the system most of these tools use, keeps a full record of changes, and most platforms can import a complete copy. Ask your developer to test with one project first.

Is a free plan enough for a small business?

Often, but limits vary on users and private projects. Check the current terms on each tool's own website against the size of your team.