GitLab for Startups

Free GitLab Ultimate seats for a year for externally funded early-stage startups.

GitLabUpdated monthly · checked 6 h ago

GitLab for Startups is a developer tools perk from GitLab, offering a free Ultimate license for a year (SaaS or self-managed) up to 20 seats, for VC- or accelerator-backed startups that have raised under $20M.

Value: up to 20 seats
Who qualifies: VC / accelerator-backed
Benefit type: Discount
Terms: Verified

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While you apply

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Applying to GitLab takes a few minutes.

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What you get

Inside GitLab for Startups

20 seats of GitLab Ultimate free for 12 months (seed stage);
Series A/B get 50% off any tier for up to 20 users.
Year 2: 50% off (seed) or 25% off (Series A/B).

Source: The provider's official program page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups) · as of Nov 12, 2026

Eligibility

Who it's for

Pre-seed Seed Series A Series B+VC / accelerator-backed

Funding / backing: VC / accelerator-backed
Startup stage: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+
Funding-raised cap: Under $20M raised
Geography: Global
Recurring / expiry: 12-month free term, then discounted Year 2.
Other requirements: Externally funded only (bootstrapped not eligible). Pre-seed/seed up to $5M raised; Series A/B up to $20M.

How to claim

How to apply for GitLab for Startups

What to have ready

Confirmation of your accelerator / investor backing (a referral or partner code)
Proof you have raised under $20M

Steps to apply

1Apply through the GitLab for Startups page.

Good to know: Benefit form varies by stage: seed = free Ultimate, Series A/B = 50% off.

Apply at GitLab

Source: The provider's official program page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups) · as of Nov 12, 2026

Confirmed on November 12, 2026: the page still states “Free Ultimate license for a year (SaaS or self-managed) up to 20 seats”

Value is the headline maximum GitLab advertises. What your company actually receives depends on your eligibility and how you use the program, and terms can change. A comparison, not endorsed by the programs listed. A program labeled Same owner comes from the company that runs StartupPerks. Confirm current terms on the provider's page.

Not funded yet?

Other ways to host code for free

GitLab for Startups needs external funding and a new customer account. These options have no funding gate.

GitLab Free planFreeNo funding needed
GitLab's own Free plan is $0 per user/month with 5 users per top-level group and 400 compute minutes per month, with no application.
Source: GitLab pricing page (about.gitlab.com/pricing)
GitHub Free planFree planNo funding needed
GitHub's Free plan is $0 USD and needs no partner or funding. It includes private repositories and 2,000 minutes/month of Actions.
Source: GitHub pricing page (github.com/pricing)
GitHub for Startups$10KReferral required
If you have outside funding and a partner VC or accelerator, GitHub for Startups gives $10,000 in GitHub credits for up to 12 months.
Source: GitHub for Startups page (github.com/enterprise/startups)

Each value is the one its own program page shows today. The reasons were read on the linked pages on October 29, 2026.

Questions

GitLab for Startups: what founders ask

Each answer restates what GitLab and the pages linked under it say, read on October 29, 2026; every quoted line was still on those pages on November 11, 2026.

What does the GitLab for Startups program include?

Pre-Seed and Seed startups get a free GitLab Ultimate license for a year (SaaS or self-managed), up to 20 seats. Series A and Series B startups get 50% off any tier for up to 20 users in year one.

Year two is discounted rather than free: 50% off any tier for up to 20 users for the Seed group, and 25% off any tier for up to 20 users for the Series A and B group.

The free Ultimate year does not include support. GitLab's page says “Support not included” for that group.

Source: GitLab for Startups page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups)

Who qualifies for GitLab for Startups? What are the requirements?

You need external funding and must be a new GitLab customer. Pre-Seed or Seed startups can have up to $5M in external funding, and Series A or Series B startups up to $20M.

GitLab says the program is offered at its sole discretion and is subject to change.

Requirements on the page

Seed group: Pre-Seed or Seed stage with up to $5M in external funding
Early stage group: Series A or Series B with up to $20M in external funding
New customers only
Externally funded companies only: self-funded startups are not covered at present
GitLab may ask for more information to verify eligibility after you apply
Self-hosted instances must enable usage and analytics features

Source: GitLab for Startups page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups)

How do I apply to GitLab for Startups? What proof of funding is needed?

Fill in the application form on GitLab's startups page. You must provide a Crunchbase or PitchBook profile, or a relevant VC or accelerator webpage, so GitLab can validate your external funding.

GitLab says applications without these documents will not be considered. If your accelerator or VC page does not show your current funding status, add a document or public link that does.

Applications are not processed during U.S. holidays, so expect slower replies then. Questions go to startups@gitlab.com.

Source: GitLab for Startups page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups)

What happens after the first year of GitLab for Startups?

GitLab says it will contact you well before the first year ends to walk through renewal options. Year two is a discount (50% or 25% off any tier for up to 20 users, depending on your funding group), and after year two you choose from its regular offerings.

For scale, GitLab's pricing page lists Premium at $29 per user/month, billed annually, and Ultimate as custom pricing. To add seats on an existing startup license, email startups@gitlab.com for an add-on quote.

Source: GitLab for Startups page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups), GitLab pricing page (about.gitlab.com/pricing)

GitHub vs GitLab for startups: which has the better startup program?

They differ in how you get in. GitLab applies directly and gives a free Ultimate year to Pre-Seed and Seed startups with up to $5M in external funding. GitHub gives $10,000 in credits for up to 12 months, but only through a GitHub for Startups partner.

GitHub's startups page also requires outside funding up to Series B or earlier, and no earlier GitHub credits or Enterprise licenses.

Without either program, both have a free plan. GitLab Free is $0 per user/month with 5 users per top-level group and 400 compute minutes per month. GitHub Free is $0 USD, with Team at $4 USD per user / month.

Source: GitLab for Startups page (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups), GitHub for Startups page (github.com/enterprise/startups), GitLab pricing page (about.gitlab.com/pricing), GitHub pricing page (github.com/pricing)

Terms history

GitLab for Startups's terms over time

We have read GitLab's page for it (about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups) twice since September 6, 2026, most recently on October 3, 2026. No read has found a different figure or a change in whether it takes applications.

Every startup program change we found this quarter

Free CI/CD, comparedBefore you apply: what GitLab and other CI/CD services give away freeWhat each CI/CD service gives you free today, its main limit and what extra minutes cost, read from each provider's own page.