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Software · head to head

GitLab vs Greenhouse

GitLab logo

GitLab

Software

The One DevOps Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Greenhouse logo

Greenhouse

Software

Hiring software for growing companies

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GitLab has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GitLab baseline requires 8 vCPU and 16 GB RAM for single-node installations; resource-intensive; Greenhouse core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • They diverge on capability: GitLab covers Git repository management, Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitLab and Greenhouse actually diverge.

Attributes where GitLab and Greenhouse differ
AttributeGitLabGreenhouse
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Web, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20112012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GitLab

  • Git repository management
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Issue tracking
  • Code review
  • Wiki
  • Container registry
  • Security scanning
  • Monitoring

Only in Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking
  • Interview scheduling
  • Scorecard system
  • Job board posting
  • Candidate CRM
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Offer management
  • EEO compliance

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GitLab

  • Git repository management and version controlnot Greenhouse
  • CI/CD pipeline automationnot Greenhouse
  • DevOps and release managementnot Greenhouse
  • Security and compliance workflowsnot Greenhouse

Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking system for structured hiringnot GitLab
  • AI-powered interview notetaking and sourcingnot GitLab

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GitLab

  • Baseline requires 8 vCPU and 16 GB RAM for single-node installations; resource-intensive
  • PostgreSQL is mandatory; no support for alternative databases
  • Redis or Valkey cache required; adds infrastructure complexity
  • High-availability deployments require inter-node latency below 5 ms; difficult to achieve across geographically distributed sites
  • Requires self-hosting and maintenance; GitLab.com SaaS only available to GitLab team members for administration

Greenhouse

  • Core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • Core plan lacks email automation and applicant texting
  • Plus plan lacks resume anonymisation and application limits
  • Plus plan lacks audit logging and developer tools
  • Pricing customised by hiring volume and company size, not published
  • Only Pro tier offers audit logs and developer sandbox

Pricing, plan by plan

GitLab

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitLab review.

Greenhouse

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Greenhouse review.

Which should you pick?

Choose GitLab if

  • You need git repository management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want ci/cd pipelines.
GitLab review

Choose Greenhouse if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want interview scheduling.
Greenhouse review

Questions people ask

Is GitLab or Greenhouse better?
Neither clearly leads. GitLab starts at Free and Greenhouse at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Greenhouse?
GitLab has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GitLab and On request for Greenhouse.
Does GitLab or Greenhouse run on more platforms?
GitLab runs on Linux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). Greenhouse runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use GitLab for free?
Yes. GitLab has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Greenhouse starts at On request.
What is GitLab best used for?
GitLab is most often used for git repository management and version control, ci/cd pipeline automation, devops and release management, security and compliance workflows. Of those, git repository management and version control and ci/cd pipeline automation are not what Greenhouse is typically brought in for.
What can GitLab do that Greenhouse cannot?
GitLab covers Git repository management, CI/CD pipelines, Issue tracking, Code review. Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Interview scheduling, Scorecard system, Job board posting. Both handle Slack.
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Related pages

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