Migration GuideWeb Hosting

How to Migrate from GitHub to GitLab

A complete step-by-step guide to switching from GitHub to GitLab, including what breaks, what improves, and a hands-on migration checklist.

Difficulty

Moderate

Estimated Time

1-3 weeks

Data Portability

Moderate

What Breaks When Migrating from GitHub

GitHub Actions workflow YAML configurations
GitHub-specific integrations and marketplace apps
GitHub Pages static site hosting
GitHub Copilot AI coding assistant access
GitHub Projects and Issues board configurations

What Improves with GitLab

Built-in CI/CD with GitLab Pipelines (no separate tool needed)
Self-hosted option for complete data sovereignty
Built-in container registry and package management
Integrated security scanning (SAST, DAST, dependency scanning)
Complete DevOps platform: planning → monitoring in one tool

GitHub to GitLab Migration Checklist

Use GitLab's built-in GitHub importer for automated repo migration

Import repositories with issues, pull requests, and wiki

Verify imported data: branches, tags, commit history, issues

Convert GitHub Actions workflows to GitLab CI/CD YAML

Set up GitLab Runners for CI/CD pipelines

Configure container registry and artifact management

Set up GitLab security scanning (SAST, dependency scanning)

Migrate GitHub Pages to GitLab Pages

Update external integrations to point to GitLab

Train developers on GitLab merge request workflow

Update documentation and README links

Archive GitHub repositories after confirming full migration

Should You Switch from GitHub to GitLab?

Switch to GitLab If...

Teams wanting a complete DevOps platform in one tool, organizations needing self-hosted Git with full CI/CD, and security-focused teams wanting built-in SAST/DAST scanning.

Stay with GitHub If...

Open-source projects benefiting from GitHub's community, teams using GitHub Copilot extensively, and organizations deeply invested in GitHub Actions and marketplace.

GitHub to GitLab Related Resources

GitHub Review

Full review & pricing

GitLab Review

Full review & pricing

GitHub vs GitLab

Side-by-side comparison

GitHub to GitLab Migration FAQ

How long does it take to migrate from GitHub to GitLab?

The typical migration from GitHub to GitLab takes 1-3 weeks, depending on data volume, customizations, and team size. We recommend running both tools in parallel during the transition.

What data can I transfer from GitHub to GitLab?

Data portability is rated "Moderate" for this migration. Most core data (contacts, records, content) can be exported and imported, but custom configurations, automations, and integrations typically need to be rebuilt manually.

What breaks when switching from GitHub to GitLab?

Key things that may break: GitHub Actions workflow YAML configurations; GitHub-specific integrations and marketplace apps; GitHub Pages static site hosting. Plan for these disruptions by mapping alternatives before starting the migration.

Is it worth switching from GitHub to GitLab?

It depends on your needs. GitLab improves: Built-in CI/CD with GitLab Pipelines (no separate tool needed); Self-hosted option for complete data sovereignty. However, you should stay with GitHub if: Open-source projects benefiting from GitHub's community.

Need Help Deciding?

Compare features, pricing, and ratings side by side before making your switch.

Compare GitHub vs GitLab