GitLab
Spacelift
| Feature | GitLab | Spacelift |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $29/mo | Free / from $35/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | enterprise, devops-teams, security-focused-teams, regulated-industries | platform-teams, devops-engineers, infrastructure-teams, enterprises |
| Founded | 2011 | 2020 |
| Source Control | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ci Cd | ✓ | ✗ |
| Security Scanning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Package Registry | ✓ | ✗ |
| Issue Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wiki | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Iac Orchestration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Policy Engine | ✗ | ✓ |
| Drift Detection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Modules Registry | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vcs Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Approval Workflows | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ GitLab Pros
- All-in-one DevOps — no tool sprawl
- Built-in CI/CD without separate setup
- Self-hosted option for full control
- Security scanning integrated into pipeline
✗ GitLab Cons
- Interface can feel complex and slow
- Resource-heavy for self-hosted instances
- Community features lag behind GitHub
✓ Spacelift Pros
- Multi-IaC support
- Excellent policy engine
- Good drift detection
- Strong collaboration tools
✗ Spacelift Cons
- Premium pricing
- Newer platform less proven
- Learning curve for policies
The Verdict
GitLab is built for enterprise and devops teams, with a focus on source-control and ci-cd. Spacelift targets platform teams and devops engineers and leads with iac-orchestration and policy-engine.
On pricing, GitLab is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $29/mo compared to $35/mo for Spacelift. That $6/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, GitLab offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Spacelift takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.