Yes, GitLab has a free tier. GitLab Free includes source code management, CI/CD and static application security testing, with 5 users per top-level group, 400 compute minutes each month and 10 GiB of storage on GitLab.com. GitLab says no credit card is required. The user limit applies to private top-level groups, so public groups and open source projects aren't capped the same way.
GitLab is a code hosting and DevOps platform, and it's one of the names teams compare with GitHub when they want source code and CI/CD pipelines in one place. The free tier is aimed at individuals and open source work. Small teams can use it too, as long as they stay inside the limits.
Everything here comes from GitLab's own pricing page and FAQ, checked in October 2026. I've kept to what GitLab states, because plan details on developer platforms change often and third-party summaries go stale fast.
GitLab Free at a glance
| What's included | GitLab Free on GitLab.com |
|---|---|
| Users | 5 users per top-level group |
| CI/CD compute | 400 compute minutes each month |
| Storage | 10 GiB adjustable storage |
| Core features | Source code management and CI/CD |
| Security | Static Application Security Testing |
| Credit card | Not required |
GitLab describes the Free tier as being for individuals working on personal projects and open source contributions.
The five-user limit, explained
GitLab's pricing FAQ says the user limit applies to private top-level groups on GitLab.com. It doesn't apply to a public top-level group, paid tiers, the Free tier of the self-managed offering, or community programmes such as GitLab for Open Source, GitLab for Education and GitLab for Startups.
So a small agency keeping client code private can add five people to its top-level group for free. Once a sixth developer joins, it's time to look at Premium. Count contractors and freelancers you add to the group too, because the limit is on users in the group, not just your employees.
Storage and compute limits
GitLab says projects on GitLab.com Free start with a 10 GiB limit on Git repository and LFS storage, the combined usage per project. Large files and media can fill that quickly, so keep assets out of the repository where you can.
Compute minutes are what your CI/CD pipelines use when they run builds and tests on GitLab.com. Free gives you 400 compute minutes each month. GitLab sells extra compute minutes and storage as add-ons if you need a little more without changing plan.
Self-managed GitLab for free
There's a second free route. GitLab offers a Free tier of its self-managed product, which you install on your own server. GitLab's pricing page describes it as bring your own storage and runners, and the five-user limit for GitLab.com doesn't apply to it. The trade-off is that you run and maintain the server yourself.
AI features on the free tier
GitLab's AI features sit under its Duo Agent Platform. On the Free tier, GitLab says AI features can be accessed by buying the GitLab Credits add-on. Premium and Ultimate include a monthly allowance of GitLab Credits per user.
GitLab Free vs Premium vs Ultimate
| Free | Premium | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users | 5 per top-level group | Unlimited licensed users | Unlimited guest users |
| Compute minutes | 400 each month | 10,000 each month | 50,000 each month |
| AI features | Via GitLab Credits add-on | Included credits | Included credits |
| Focus | Personal projects and open source | Scaling teams | Security and compliance |
The compute minute jump is the clearest difference on GitLab's pricing page. A team running tests on every push will feel 400 minutes long before it feels the user limit.
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Tips to stay inside the free limits
- Run your heaviest pipelines on merge requests rather than on every push.
- Keep large media and build artefacts out of the repository so you don't hit the 10 GiB storage limit.
- Make the project public if it's open source, because the five-user limit applies to private top-level groups.
- Check whether you qualify for GitLab for Open Source, GitLab for Education or GitLab for Startups, which GitLab lists outside the user limit.
How to start with GitLab Free
- Sign up for a GitLab.com account. GitLab says no credit card is required.
- Create a top-level group for your business or project.
- Create a project inside the group and push your code.
- Add a CI/CD configuration file to run tests on each push.
- Keep an eye on compute minutes and storage in your usage settings.
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GitLab Premium and Ultimate
GitLab says Premium adds unlimited licensed users, more compute minutes, advanced CI/CD, team project management, SLA management and priority support. Ultimate adds application security testing, software supply chain security, vulnerability management, portfolio and value stream management, and compliance and governance features. Both offer a free trial.
Still choosing a platform? My comparison of GitLab and GitHub sets the two side by side, and my page on whether GitHub is free covers GitHub's free plan.
My verdict
GitLab is free for solo developers, open source projects and small private teams of up to five per top-level group. The 400 compute minutes and 10 GiB storage are the limits you'll feel first. Start on Free, add compute or storage only if you need them, and move to Premium when a sixth person needs access to private code. If you're open source, keep the group public and the user cap won't apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is GitLab free for private repositories?
Yes. GitLab Free on GitLab.com supports private projects, with 5 users per private top-level group.
How many users does GitLab Free allow?
GitLab says 5 users per top-level group. The limit doesn't apply to public groups, self-managed Free or community programmes.
How many CI/CD minutes does GitLab Free include?
GitLab Free includes 400 compute minutes each month on GitLab.com.
How much storage does GitLab Free include?
GitLab says projects on GitLab.com Free have an initial 10 GiB limit on Git repository and LFS storage.
Is GitLab free for open source projects?
Yes. GitLab says the user limit doesn't apply to public top-level groups or to programmes such as GitLab for Open Source.
Is self-managed GitLab free?
Yes. GitLab offers a Free tier of its self-managed product, where you bring your own storage and runners, and the GitLab.com user limit doesn't apply.
Does GitLab Premium have a free trial?
Yes. GitLab's pricing page offers a free trial for both Premium and Ultimate.
Does GitLab Free include AI features?
Not by default. GitLab says AI features on Free can be accessed by buying the GitLab Credits add-on.
