GitLab vs Okta
GitLab and Okta are both security & identity tools. GitLab is aimed at developers and enterprise, while Okta is aimed at enterprise and small businesses. Okta costs less, from $6/mo versus $29/mo for GitLab. Only GitLab has a free plan.
DevSecOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, security scans and AI
Enterprise identity platform for SSO, MFA and user lifecycle
| Pricing | Freemium · $29 | Paid · $6 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $6/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Developers, Enterprise, Small businesses | Enterprise, Small businesses, Developers |
| Platforms | web, linux | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2014 | US · 2009 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose GitLab if
Engineering teams that want source control, CI/CD and security scanning in one platform, with a self-hosting option.
- One platform replaces separate Git, CI and security tools
- Self-hosting suits regulated and air-gapped environments
- Flexible built-in CI/CD with your own runners
Look elsewhere if: Small teams that only need simple Git hosting or a dedicated planning tool (GitHub, Linear, Jira).
Choose Okta if
Mid-sized and large companies with many SaaS apps that need central SSO, MFA and automated joiner, mover and leaver processes.
- Largest catalog of prebuilt SSO and provisioning integrations
- Vendor-neutral, works well across Microsoft, Google and AWS
- Mature lifecycle automation that speeds onboarding and offboarding
Look elsewhere if: Very small teams or those fully on Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Entra ID, Keycloak, 1Password).
GitLab vs Okta pricing
GitLab
- Free$05 users per private group, 400 compute minutes, 10 GiB
- Premium$29/user/moBilled annually; 10,000 compute minutes, approvals, code owners
- UltimateCustomContact sales; security scans, compliance, 50,000 minutes
- GitLab Credits$1/creditUsage-based AI agent credits; volume discounts on commit
Okta
- Starter$6/user/moBilled annually; SSO, MFA, Universal Directory, 5 Workflows
- Core Essentials$14/user/moBilled annually; mid-tier bundle between Starter and Essentials
- Essentials$17/user/moBilled annually; Adaptive MFA, lifecycle, governance, 50 Workflows
- Professional / EnterpriseCustomDevice Access, ITDR, ISPM, API Access Management
- Customer Identity$3,000/moEnterprise base platform, billed annually
GitLab · Key features
- Git repositories with merge requests, code owners and approval rules
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines with shared or self-hosted runners
- SAST, dependency, secret and container scanning in merge requests
- Container, package and Terraform module registries
- Issue boards, epics and roadmaps for planning
- Duo Agent Platform with agents for planning, security and code review
Cons
- Premium at $29 per user is costly for small teams
- Best security and compliance features need Ultimate
- Dense interface with a real learning curve
Okta · Key features
- Single sign-on to thousands of apps via the Okta Integration Network
- Adaptive MFA with Okta Verify push, biometrics and FastPass
- Universal Directory that syncs users from AD, LDAP and HR systems
- Lifecycle management for automatic provisioning and deprovisioning
- No-code Okta Workflows for identity automation
- Identity governance, access reviews and privileged access
Cons
- $1,500 annual minimum rules out very small teams
- Many capabilities are add-ons, so real costs exceed list prices
- Professional and Enterprise tiers are quote-only
GitLab vs Okta: FAQ
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Okta?
Okta starts at $6/mo and GitLab at $29/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do GitLab and Okta have a free plan?
GitLab has a free plan. Okta has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.