GitHub vs GitLab: The Privacy & Security Evaluation
Discover how GitHub from the US and GitLab from the Netherlands prioritize data privacy. Find out which tool aligns better with your security needs today.
Should You Switch to GitLab?
Full GDPR compliance and no Cloud Act exposure.
Potential loss of advanced features like GitHub Actions and Copilot.
Switch if privacy is your priority; stay if you need advanced features.
At a Glance
US data laws
GDPR protected
GitHub
freemium
GitLab
freemium
Privacy & Compliance Comparison
Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance
| Criteria | GitHub | GitLab |
|---|---|---|
Server Location | US (Azure), EU (optional) | EU (primarily), US (optional) |
GDPR Compliance | Partial (SCCs) | Full |
Open Source | ||
E2E Encryption | Optional | Optional |
Data Portability | Full export | Full export |
CLOUD Act Notice
GitHub is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. GitLab is not subject to US jurisdiction.
GitHub
🇺🇸Microsoft
GitLab
🇳🇱GitLab B.V.
US Data Storage
Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities
EU Data Protection
Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency
Certifications & Compliance
No certifications listed
Reasons to Switch
- ✓GitLab offers built-in CI/CD pipelines, reducing toolchain complexity.
- ✓GitLab provides full GDPR compliance, crucial for EU data protection.
- ✓Self-hosting options allow control over data location and security.
- ✓GitLab's open-source nature enables customization and community support.
Things to Consider
- !Migrating repositories from GitHub to GitLab can be complex.
- !GitHub Actions offers more advanced automation compared to GitLab CI.
- !Learning curve for GitLab's interface may slow down new users.
Migration Overview
Quick Steps
Create GitLab account and configure settings
Export and prepare data from GitHub
Import data, test integrations, and migrate users
Ready to make the switch?
Start using GitLab today and take control of your data privacy.