Which is cheaper, CircleCI or GitLab?

CircleCI is 1.9x cheaper than GitLab. CircleCI starts at $0/mo, GitLab starts at $0/mo.

Does CircleCI have a free tier?

Yes, CircleCI offers a free tier with activeUsers: 5, concurrencyDocker: 30, selfHostedRunners: 5, networkGB: 1, storageGB: 2.

CircleCI has moderate switching cost. GitLab has significant switching cost. CircleCI is easier to switch away from.

Ci Cd

CircleCI

← More affordable

Flexible usage-based CI/CD platform with Docker, Linux, macOS, Windows, and Arm support

Switching Cost: moderate

GitLab

DevSecOps platform with source control, CI/CD, security scanning, and project management

Switching Cost: significant

You're paying a premium for GitLab — expect around a 1.9x higher bill compared to CircleCI.

Pricing philosophy differs — CircleCI charges tiered, but GitLab takes a per-seat approach.

{winner} wins on flexibility — easier switching means less lock-in and more options for your long-term strategy.

{winner} wins on flexibility — easier switching means less lock-in and more options for your long-term strategy.

Price Difference

1.9x

CircleCI is cheaper by $14/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

CircleCI

Lower switching costs for easier migration