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Git tracks changes to your files and keeps project history; GitLab hosts Git repositories and adds tools for teams to plan, review, build, and deliver software. They work at different layers: Git is the version-control system, while GitLab is one platform built around it. You can use Git without GitLab, but using GitLab for repository work still means using Git.
Git and GitLab do different jobs
| Aspect | Git | GitLab |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A free, open-source distributed version-control system. | A Git-based repository manager and integrated software-development platform. |
| Main purpose | Record changes, manage branches and commits, and preserve project history. | Host repositories and coordinate collaboration and development work. |
| Typical work | Clone, edit, stage, commit, branch, push, and pull. | Manage issues and merge requests, run CI/CD pipelines, control access, and support security and deployment workflows. |
| How they relate | Can be used on its own, with a remote or hosting setup of your choice. | Uses Git for version control; it does not replace Git. |
GitLab’s documentation describes Git as a free, open-source distributed version-control system and GitLab as a platform built on top of and with Git. Git and GitLab definitions
What Git does on your computer
Git records a project’s changes in a repository. Its distributed design means a developer can work with repository history locally, rather than needing a connection to a central server for every version-control operation. A typical change involves editing files, choosing which changes to include, saving them in a commit, and optionally synchronizing with a remote repository.
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- Stage: select changes to include in the next commit.
- Commit: record a selected set of changes in the repository history.
- Push and pull: send commits to a remote repository or bring remote changes into your local work.
A remote can be on GitLab, another hosting service, or a server you manage. Git itself is not a hosting website, and using it locally does not require a GitLab account. GitLab’s Git workflow documentation explains how local Git work connects with remote repositories.
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What GitLab adds around a repository
GitLab gives a person or team a shared project space, with the repository alongside web-based tools for coordinating software work. A GitLab project is a broader container than the repository alone: it can include issues, merge requests, CI/CD pipelines, and other project capabilities. Projects can be public, internal, or private, subject to the platform’s access settings. See GitLab project documentation for project organization and visibility.
- Issues help track bugs, tasks, and other work.
- Merge requests let people propose, review, and merge changes.
- CI/CD automates steps such as building and testing software.
- Access controls and additional lifecycle features help teams manage who can contribute and how changes move toward deployment.
GitLab’s web interface can perform many Git operations. The command line remains useful when you want more flexibility and control over Git commands. GitLab’s Git overview
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How Git and GitLab work together
For example, a developer can make and commit a change locally with Git, then push a branch to a GitLab project. Teammates can review the proposed change in a merge request, discuss it, and merge it into the target branch. Issues can track the work, while project CI/CD can run configured checks alongside the repository. GitLab’s documented merge process preserves project history and identifies conflicts that need manual resolution. GitLab project documentation
- Clone the project repository to your computer.
- Create a branch for the change and edit the relevant files.
- Stage the intended changes and commit them locally using Git.
- Push the branch to the project’s remote repository.
- Open a merge request in GitLab for review, then merge after the team’s checks and review are complete.
Git handles the repository operations in this flow. GitLab supplies the shared project space and web-based collaboration around them.
Do you need Git if you use GitLab?
Yes, if you are working with a Git repository: GitLab is built around Git rather than serving as a substitute for it. You may use Git through a command-line tool or use GitLab’s web interface for many operations. The interface can reduce the need to run commands for common tasks, but Git remains the underlying version-control system.
Can you use Git without GitLab?
Yes. You can create and use a Git repository locally without connecting it to GitLab. If you need shared access, collaboration, or a remote backup, you can connect the repository to a remote host or hosting arrangement; GitLab is one option, not a requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which GitLab hosting setup should you choose?
GitLab describes three deployment models. The right one depends on whether you want GitLab to host the service, your organization to run the instance, or a single-tenant service managed by GitLab.
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- GitLab.com: hosted by GitLab.
- Self-Managed: an instance managed by the customer, which brings responsibility for operating it.
- Dedicated: single-tenant SaaS managed by GitLab.
For individuals and teams deciding whether GitLab’s project and collaboration tools meet their needs, compare the administration burden and required features as well as the hosting model. GitLab’s pricing page currently lists Free at $0 per user per month, Premium at $29 per user per month billed annually, and Ultimate at custom pricing. It also describes differences in allowances and features, including compute minutes and storage on Free and enhanced CI/CD and project-management capabilities on Premium. Pricing and entitlements can change; check the live page for current terms before choosing a plan.
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Which one should you learn or choose?
- Learn Git first if your goal is to understand version control, branches, commits, and repository history. Those skills are useful regardless of which hosting platform a team chooses.
- Use GitLab when you want a shared place for Git repositories plus tools for issues, code review, CI/CD, access management, or other development workflow needs.
- Use both when you want Git’s local version-control workflow and GitLab’s hosted collaboration features.
For a detailed Git reference, the official Git site lists Pro Git by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub; it is a learning resource, not a prerequisite for using Git. Read Pro Git online.
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