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GitHub is a cloud-based platform that helps you store, manage, and collaborate on code using Git, a version control system. Whether you're working alone or with a team, GitHub makes it easy to track changes, contribute to projects, and keep your code organized.
However, choosing the right GitHub pricing plan can become difficult. Different plans come with different features and advantages. So, without the right plan, all your time and investment will go in vain.
This GitHub pricing guide will help you know all GitHub plans along with their pricing, features, and drawbacks. You will know some excellent money-saving tips and learn which plan is beneficial for which companies.
TL;DR
- GitHub offers Free, Teams ($4/user/month), and Enterprise ($21/user/month) plans. Free accounts provide basic repositories, while paid plans include advanced collaboration, security, and automation tools.
- Premium plans offer stronger security (Dependabot, secret scanning), better collaboration tools, more CI/CD resources, and priority support, making them ideal for growing teams and enterprises.
- Platforms like CloudEagle.ai help benchmark pricing, negotiate discounts, and optimize SaaS expenses to avoid overpaying for GitHub plans.
- Individual developers can use the Free plan, teams benefit from the Teams plan, and enterprises should consider the Enterprise plan for compliance, security, and scalability.
- If GitHub isn’t the right fit, competitors like GitLab, Bitbucket, AWS CodeCommit, and Gitea offer similar or better features depending on your needs.
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1. What is GitHub?
GitHub is a platform where you can store, manage, and collaborate on code. It’s built on Git, a version control system that tracks changes, making it easy to work on projects with others. Whether you're developing software solo or with a team, GitHub helps you organize your code, review updates, and streamline your workflow. Here are the key features of GitHub:
- Version Control: Keep track of changes in your code and roll back to earlier versions when necessary.
- Collaboration: Work with others using pull requests and code reviews to improve your code.
- Repositories: A premium GuitHub pricing plan stores your code and related files in an organized way for easy access and sharing.
- Branches: Create separate versions of your project to test new features before merging them.
- Issues & Project Management: Track bugs, feature requests, and workflows efficiently.
- GitHub Actions: Automate tasks like testing and deployment to streamline your workflow.
Remember that the features you get will depend on the pricing plan you choose. So, making a mistake here will result in missed cost-saving opportunities. With the right GitHub buying guide, you will never have to worry about choosing an incorrect plan.
2. Should You Pay For GitHub?
GitHub pricing structure is quite transparent and simple. Unlike many other platforms where the pricing structure is way too complicated, you shouldn’t worry about the same thing in GitHub. While there are a few add-ons, they are completely optional. Here are some reasons why a premium plan can be worth it:
- More Features for Private Repositories: While the free plan includes private repositories, premium plans offer more storage, advanced collaboration tools, and increased automation minutes for CI/CD workflows.
- Stronger Security: Paid plans come with Dependabot, secret scanning, and code scanning, helping you catch vulnerabilities before they become major problems.
- Better Collaboration Tools: With protected branches and advanced merge controls, you can maintain high-quality code and streamline teamwork.
- More CI/CD Resources: If you use GitHub Actions for automation, premium plans give you more execution minutes and larger hosted runners.
- Priority Support & Uptime Guarantees: Business and enterprise plans offer faster support response times and better uptime guarantees.
If you’re working on personal projects, the free plan might be enough. But if you need stronger security and better automation, you can go for the paid plans. With the right GitHub pricing guide, you can know which plan to choose.
3. How Much Does GitHub Cost?
GitHub is super transparent and affordable. You don’t need to worry about paying for any hidden plans. While there are add-ons, they are completely optional. Here is how much you need to pay for GitHub pricing plans:
A. Free
- Cost: $0
- Best For: Individual developers and small teams
- Features: Unlimited public and private repositories, 2,000 CI/CD minutes per month, 500MB of Package storage
- Drawbacks: Limited collaboration tools and storage
B. Teams
- Cost: $4/user/month
- Best For: Growing teams needing advanced collaboration and management features
- Features: 3,000 CI/CD minutes per month, 2GB of Package storage, web-based support
- Drawbacks: Additional cost per user
3. Enterprise
- Cost: $21/user/month
- Best For: Enterprises that need advanced security, compliance, and support
- Features: User provisioning through SCIM, 99.9% uptime SLA, advanced auditing capabilities
- Drawbacks: Higher cost
The right GitHub pricing structure will depend on your unique needs and overall budget. The last thing you want is to choose a pricing plan that affects the overall spending capability of your company. That said, when you pay close attention to a reliable GutHub buying guide, you will know which plan to go for and how much money to save.
4. GitHub Pricing Guide: How Can You Use CloudEagle.ai to Streamline the Purchasing Process?
A. Price Benchmarking Data
CloudEagle.ai connects you with a vast network of seasoned SaaS buyers and real-time benchmarking data from over a billion transactions. These insights let you compare your GitHub pricing against what other companies pay across various plans.
If you're planning to purchase GitHub, this data will be invaluable for making an informed decision. You'll gain a stronger negotiating position and maximize your savings on your GitHub investment.
B Negotiation Tips to Get the Most Relevant GitHub Plan
Securing the best GitHub deal isn’t just about getting a discount. To negotiate effectively, you need to consider other key factors that can make your deal more advantageous. Here are some essential GitHub pricing negotiation tips to keep in mind:
- Start Early: Initiate negotiations well in advance to establish a cooperative tone and increase flexibility. Keep your budget private to prevent vendors from tailoring offers to it.
- Leverage Market Research & Benchmarks: Conduct thorough research to understand industry pricing trends. By using price benchmarks, you can compare GitHub costs with what other companies are paying.
- Have a Strong Backup Plan: Always prepare a solid alternative (BATNA) in case negotiations don’t go as expected. Never accept the first offer from the vendor.
- Negotiate Every SLA Detail: Your SaaS service level agreement (SLA) outlines uptime, response times, penalties, billing, and security. Ensure every detail is negotiated to protect your interests.

C. Breaking Down the Data
Wondering how much other companies pay for GitHub plans? Get exclusive insights with our comprehensive GitHub buying guide!
Download now for in-depth GitHub pricing data, industry benchmarks, and expert negotiation tips to help you secure the best deal.
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D. Why Do You Need GitHub Pricing Guide
Using GitHub benchmarking data can help you manage costs and negotiate with vendors. Here’s how it makes a difference:
- Real-World Pricing Insights: Know more than the listed rates with actual GitHub pricing data. CloudEagle.ai’s benchmarks provide visibility into real costs and usage trends.
- Stronger Negotiation Power: Use industry benchmarks to secure better deals and avoid overpaying.
- Smarter Budgeting: Get accurate cost estimates to optimize your SaaS expenses and make the most of your budget.
E. Premium Negotiation Insights
Why spend more when CloudEagle.ai can help you negotiate smarter? With the right insights, you can cut costs, unlock exclusive benefits, and get the most value from your GitHub pricing.
Don’t overpay! Download our GitHub buying guide now to discover expert negotiation strategies that have saved businesses thousands.
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5. Which GitHub Plan Should You Use?
The right GitHub plan will benefit your company and cater to all your needs. When you know which plan is perfect for which companies, you will face no problems choosing the right one.
- Free: This plan is best if you're an individual developer or working on small projects. It provides unlimited private and public repositories but with limited collaboration tools.
- Teams: Ideal for growing teams, this plan includes enhanced collaboration features like protected branches, required pull request reviews, and draft pull requests.
- Enterprise: This GitHub pricing is made for enterprises and offers advanced security and compliance features, including SAML single sign-on, audit logs, and centralized user management.
6. Who is the Competitor of GitHub?
While GitHub is one of the most popular version control and collaboration platforms, several alternatives offer similar or even better features depending on your needs. In fact, you will some of their pricing more than GitHub pricing plans. Here are five competitors you might consider:
GitLab
If you want an all-in-one DevOps platform, GitLab is a strong alternative. It provides version control, CI/CD pipelines, security features, and project management tools in one platform. Unlike GitHub, GitLab offers self-hosting options, giving you more control over your data and security.
Bitbucket
If you work primarily with Atlassian tools like Jira and Trello, Bitbucket is a great choice. It’s designed for teams using Git and offers built-in integration with Atlassian’s suite. Bitbucket also supports Mercurial repositories, which GitHub does not.
SourceForge
If you're working on open-source projects, SourceForge might be a better fit. It provides hosting for software projects and offers additional tools like download tracking, bug tracking, and project analytics. While it’s not as widely used as GitHub, it remains a reliable alternative.
AWS CodeCommit
If you prefer a fully managed Git repository service that integrates with AWS, CodeCommit is worth considering. It provides scalability, security, and deep integration with other AWS services, making it a great choice for businesses already using Amazon Web Services.
Gitea
If you’re looking for a lightweight, self-hosted Git solution, Gitea is a great alternative. It’s open-source, easy to install, and requires fewer system resources compared to GitLab. If you need a simple and private version control system without relying on a cloud provider, Gitea is a strong option.
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7. Conclusion
Choosing the right GitHub plan depends on your needs, whether you're an individual developer, a growing team, or a large enterprise. You can also consider various alternatives that might better suit specific workflows or security requirements.
With CloudEagle.ai, you get access to expert negotiation strategies, real-world pricing insights, and cost-saving recommendations to ensure you’re getting the most value from your GitHub pricing. Instead of overpaying, you can optimize your plan and unlock exclusive benefits tailored to your enterprise.
Download our GitHub pricing guide today to explore proven strategies that have helped businesses save thousands!
8. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is GitHub free now?
Yes, GitHub offers a free plan with unlimited public and private repositories, but it has limitations on advanced features. For more collaboration tools, security, and storage, paid plans are available.
2. Is GitHub Copilot better than ChatGPT?
GitHub Copilot is better for code completion and in-editor suggestions, while ChatGPT is more versatile for coding explanations, debugging, and broader problem-solving. The best choice depends on your use case.
3. Is GitHub CI CD free?
GitHub Actions (CI/CD) offers free usage with limited minutes per month for public and private repositories. Additional usage requires a paid plan based on consumption.
4. Is GitHub API free?
Yes, GitHub API is free with rate limits, but higher usage, enterprise features, and advanced access require a paid plan.
5. Is GitHub storage unlimited?
No, GitHub provides limited storage. Free accounts get 500MB for GitHub Packages and 1GB for GitHub Actions, with extra storage available on paid plans.