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Technology · head to head

GitLab vs TeamCity

GitLab logo

GitLab

Technology

The One DevOps Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TeamCity logo

TeamCity

Software Development

JetBrains continuous integration and delivery server

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; TeamCity detailed pricing requires visiting a calculator and isn't transparent on the main pricing page.
  • They diverge on capability: GitLab covers Git repository management, TeamCity covers Build Chains.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitLab and TeamCity actually diverge.

Attributes where GitLab and TeamCity differ
AttributeGitLabTeamCity
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsLinux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)web, windows, mac, linux, api
CategoryTechnologySoftware Development
Founded2011Unknown

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

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 TeamCity

  • Build Chains
  • Parallel Test Execution
  • VCS Integration
  • Build History & Analytics
  • Docker & Kubernetes Support
  • Access Control

What people use each for

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

GitLab

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

TeamCity

  • Running build and test pipelines for enterprise software teamsnot GitLab
  • Self-hosting CI/CD infrastructure behind a firewallnot GitLab
  • Coordinating multi-stage build chains with dependenciesnot GitLab
  • Scaling build capacity with additional agentsnot 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

TeamCity

  • Detailed pricing requires visiting a calculator and isn't transparent on the main pricing page.
  • Self-hosted setup and agent management require more operational overhead than fully managed CI/CD services.
  • Additional build agents and users are priced incrementally, which can add up for larger teams.
  • The UI and configuration model have a steeper learning curve compared to YAML-first CI tools.

Pricing, plan by plan

GitLab

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitLab review.

TeamCity

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Includes 3 build agents
    • 100 build configurations
    • On-premises or Cloud
  • TeamCity Cloud / On-Premises$undefined/month
    • Priced per additional build agent
    • Additional users on Cloud plans
    • Enterprise support options

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 TeamCity if

  • You need build chains.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want parallel test execution.
TeamCity review

Questions people ask

Is GitLab or TeamCity better?
Neither clearly leads. GitLab starts at Free and TeamCity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitLab or TeamCity?
GitLab starts at Free and TeamCity at Free.
Does GitLab or TeamCity run on more platforms?
GitLab runs on Linux, Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure). TeamCity runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
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 TeamCity is typically brought in for.
What can GitLab do that TeamCity cannot?
GitLab covers Git repository management, CI/CD pipelines, Issue tracking, Code review. TeamCity covers Build Chains, Parallel Test Execution, VCS Integration, Build History & Analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

TeamCity: How much does TeamCity cost?

TeamCity offers a free download option but specific pricing for commercial use is not detailed on the website. Customers must contact JetBrains for licensing and pricing information.

Source
TeamCity: Is TeamCity free to use?

TeamCity has a free option available for download, but full pricing and licensing details require contacting JetBrains directly.

Source
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