TL;DR
GitHub offers excellent security features through GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) but many require paid plans. GitLab includes more security features in its free tier and offers self-hosting options. GitHub has a larger ecosystem; GitLab provides better all-in-one DevSecOps. Choose GitHub for open source and ecosystem; GitLab for self-hosting or budget-conscious security.
GitHub and GitLab are the leading platforms for code hosting and DevOps. Both have invested heavily in security features, but they approach pricing and feature availability differently. Understanding their security offerings helps you secure your vibe-coded applications throughout the development lifecycle.
Security Feature Comparison
| Security Feature | GitHub | GitLab |
|---|---|---|
| Secret Scanning | Free (public), GHAS (private) | Free tier included |
| Dependency Scanning | Dependabot (free) | Free tier included |
| SAST | CodeQL (GHAS required) | Free tier included |
| DAST | Third-party needed | Built-in |
| Container Scanning | Third-party needed | Built-in |
| Self-Hosting | Enterprise only | Free (CE) |
| Security Dashboard | GHAS required | Ultimate tier |
| SOC 2 Compliance | Type II | Type II |
Secret Scanning
GitHub Secret Scanning
GitHub scans for secrets from partner providers (AWS, Stripe, etc.) in public repos for free. For private repos, secret scanning requires GitHub Advanced Security. Push protection blocks commits containing secrets before they enter the repository.
GitLab Secret Detection
GitLab includes secret detection in its free tier for all repositories. It runs as part of CI/CD pipelines, scanning for common secret patterns. The Ultimate tier adds more detection rules and the security dashboard for tracking findings.
Code Scanning
GitHub CodeQL
CodeQL is GitHub's semantic code analysis engine. It finds vulnerabilities by treating code as data and running queries against it. CodeQL is free for public repos but requires GHAS for private repos. It supports major languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Go.
GitLab SAST
GitLab's SAST runs automatically in CI/CD pipelines. The free tier includes basic scanning; Ultimate adds more analyzers and vulnerability management. GitLab also includes DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) for finding runtime vulnerabilities.
Choose GitHub When: You're building open source software or want the largest ecosystem of integrations. GitHub Actions and the marketplace provide extensive tooling. Best for teams already using GitHub, open source projects, or when CodeQL's deep analysis is valuable.
Choose GitLab When: You need comprehensive security features on a budget or want self-hosting options. GitLab's free tier includes more security features than GitHub's. Best for teams wanting all-in-one DevSecOps, self-hosted requirements, or European data residency.
CI/CD Security
GitHub Actions Security
- OIDC for cloud provider authentication
- Environment protection rules
- Required reviewers for deployments
- Secrets management with environment scoping
GitLab CI Security
- Protected branches and environments
- Built-in container registry with scanning
- OIDC token support
- Compliance pipelines for enforced security scans
Best Practices
- Enable secret scanning and push protection
- Require code review for all changes
- Use branch protection rules
- Run security scans in CI/CD pipelines
- Use OIDC instead of long-lived credentials
- Review and fix security findings promptly
Is GitHub Advanced Security worth the cost?
For organizations with security requirements and private repositories, GHAS provides valuable features. CodeQL is excellent. For smaller teams or budget-conscious organizations, GitLab's free tier may offer better value.
Can I self-host GitHub?
GitHub Enterprise Server offers self-hosting, but it's expensive and only available to enterprise customers. GitLab Community Edition is free to self-host with no user limits, making it the better choice for self-hosting needs.
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