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Technology · head to head

GitLab vs Jira

GitLab logo

GitLab

Technology

The One DevOps Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jira logo

Jira

Technology

The #1 software development tool used by agile teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GitLab baseline requires 8 vCPU and 16 GB RAM for single-node installations; resource-intensive; Jira free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams
  • They diverge on capability: GitLab covers Git repository management, Jira covers Scrum boards.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitLab and Jira actually diverge.

Attributes where GitLab and Jira differ
AttributeGitLabJira
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsLinux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Cloud, Web
Founded20112002

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).

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
  • Code review
  • Wiki
  • Container registry
  • Security scanning
  • Monitoring
  • Jira

Only in Jira

  • Scrum boards
  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • Agile reporting
  • Custom workflows
  • Sprint planning
  • DevOps integration
  • Bitbucket

Both cover

  • Issue tracking
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Jenkins

What people use each for

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

GitLab

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

Jira

  • Software development teams leveraging AI-powered Rovo for trend analysis and bottleneck identificationnot GitLab
  • Organisations requiring integrated issue tracking, project planning, and team alignment toolsnot GitLab
  • Enterprises with 1,000+ users needing advanced analytics, security controls, and custom deployment optionsnot 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

Jira

  • Free tier strictly limited to 10 users with only 2 GB storage; unsuitable for growing teams
  • Per-seat pricing ($7.91–$14.54/user/month) accumulates significantly for large teams; 50-person team costs £3,955–7,270 monthly
  • Enterprise tier requires annual billing and sales contact; no transparent per-user pricing available
  • Premium features (cross-team planning, advanced automation) available only at $14.54/user/month tier or above

Pricing, plan by plan

GitLab

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitLab review.

Jira

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 users
    • 2 GB storage
    • 100 automation rule runs per month
  • Standard$7.91/user/month
    • Up to 100,000 users per site
    • 250 GB storage
    • 1,700 automation rule runs per month
  • Premium$14.54/user/month
    • Unlimited storage
    • 1,000 rule runs per month per paid user
    • 70 credits per user monthly for Rovo
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • 150 credits per user monthly for Rovo
    • Multiple sites (up to 150)
    • Unlimited automation rule runs

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 Jira if

  • You need scrum boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Web.
  • You also want kanban boards.
Jira review

Questions people ask

Is GitLab or Jira better?
Neither clearly leads. GitLab starts at Free and Jira at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Jira?
GitLab starts at Free and Jira at Free.
Does GitLab or Jira run on more platforms?
GitLab runs on Linux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). Jira runs on Cloud, Web.
Can I use GitLab for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Jira is typically brought in for.
What can GitLab do that Jira cannot?
GitLab covers Git repository management, CI/CD pipelines, Code review, Wiki. Jira covers Scrum boards, Kanban boards, Roadmaps, Agile reporting. Both handle Issue tracking, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jenkins.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jira: What is Jira's free tier?

Jira's Free plan supports up to 10 users, includes 2 GB storage, allows 100 automation rule runs per month, and provides community support only. Ideal for small teams or evaluation.

Source
Jira: How much does Jira Standard cost?

Jira Standard costs $7.91 per user per month and includes 250 GB storage, 1,700 automation rule runs per month, Rovo Search/Chat/Agents, and 9/5 regional support with 2-hour response time for critical issues.

Source
Jira: What is included in Jira Premium?

Jira Premium costs $14.54 per user per month and includes unlimited storage, 1,000 rule runs per user per month, 70 monthly Rovo credits, 24/7 support with 1-hour critical response, and 99.9% uptime SLA.

Source
Jira: Does Jira offer an Enterprise plan?

Yes, Jira Enterprise is available with custom pricing (contact sales). It includes up to 150 sites, 150 monthly Rovo credits per user, unlimited automation runs, 24/7 support with 30-minute critical response, and 99.95% uptime SLA.

Source
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