When starting a new project — whether it’s a side hustle, a budding startup, or a fun experiment — one of the first decisions you’ll face is where to host your code. Git has become the industry standard for version control, and fortunately, there are many Git-compatible hosting services that make it easy to collaborate, back up, and manage your development projects. But here’s the kicker: what if you’re working on something private and you don’t want to pay just yet? Thankfully, several platforms offer private repositories without requiring you to upgrade to a paid tier.
TL;DR
Looking for free Git repo-hosting services that support private repositories? Several feature-rich platforms extend this courtesy at no cost, making them perfect for indie developers, students, and startups on a budget. Options like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are well-known, but there are also lesser-known players that offer unique perks. Read on to find the 9 best Git-compatible hosting services that allow private repos for free.
1. GitHub — The Industry Giant With Broad Community Support
GitHub has become almost synonymous with Git hosting. While it started by only offering private repos in paid plans, GitHub now allows unlimited private repositories for free accounts (up to 3 collaborators per repo). They’re backed by Microsoft, have seamless Git support, and integrate natively with popular CI/CD systems like GitHub Actions.
- Free Tier Benefits: Unlimited public/private repositories
- Limitations: Limited number of collaborators and CI minutes on free tier
- Best For: Developers seeking integration with GitHub Actions and large open-source community
2. GitLab — Full DevOps Lifecycle With Built-in CI/CD
GitLab shines with its comprehensive set of integrated tools, offering more than just code hosting. Even in its free community edition (GitLab.com), you get unlimited private repositories, advanced CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, and a full DevOps lifecycle management environment.
- Free Tier Benefits: Unlimited repos, unlimited collaborators, 400 CI/CD minutes per month
- Limitations: Mirror repository support is limited in free tiers
- Best For: Teams who want an all-in-one development and deployment platform
3. Bitbucket — Friendly for Small Teams and Jira Integration
Bitbucket, made by Atlassian (the same company behind Jira and Trello), is a Git and Mercurial code hosting solution designed with team collaboration in mind. Its free plan supports private repos and up to 5 users per workspace, making it ideal for small dev teams.
- Free Tier Benefits: Unlimited private repositories, up to 5 users, 50 build minutes per month
- Limitations: Build time, storage cap of 1 GB per repo
- Best For: Teams already using Jira or other Atlassian tools
4. SourceHut — Lightweight, Script-Friendly Git Hosting
SourceHut is a lean, minimalist Git hosting service that emphasizes speed, Unix-like scripting tools, and plaintext interfaces. Built primarily by developer Drew DeVault, it supports private repositories on the free tier but with daily usage limits to dissuade abuse.
- Free Tier Benefits: Private/public repositories, CI, mailing lists, issue tracking
- Limitations: Mostly keyboard-based interface; less graphical polish
- Best For: Power users who prefer scripts and Unix philosophy
5. Codeberg — A Non-Profit Git Host Backed by Gitea
Codeberg.org is an open-source citizen initiative powered by the Gitea software. Their mission is to offer a privacy-respecting, non-commercial alternative to corporate services. Codeberg provides private repositories for free, along with a clean and fast web interface.
- Free Tier Benefits: Unlimited public and private repositories, open-source and community-driven
- Limitations: Funding comes from donations, may lack some enterprise features
- Best For: Developers and activists who prefer ethical, non-profit platforms
6. Gitea.com — Lightweight, Fast, and Developer-Centric
Aside from being the engine behind Codeberg, Gitea also provides its own official hosting at Gitea.com. It offers all the capabilities of GitHub or GitLab in a self-hostable, open-source flavor, and allows free use of private repositories on its cloud-hosted version.
- Free Tier Benefits: Private/public repo support, built-in issue and project management
- Limitations: Slightly behind in UI features compared to GitHub or GitLab
- Best For: Lightweight Git hosting with community-focused management
7. Forgejo — A Fork of Gitea With Community Governance
Forgejo is a new arrival, forked from the Gitea project after governance disagreements. It maintains the same features and interface but pushes more toward transparency and open community control. Some Forgejo instances offer public hosting and accept private users.
- Free Tier Benefits: Depends on hosting instance, but many allow private repos and multiple collaborators
- Limitations: Not all Forgejo instances are publicly accessible; performance varies
- Best For: Developers supporting decentralized and ethical tech projects
8. NotABug.org — Built for Free Software, Still Private-Friendly
If you support free/libre software values, NotABug.org may be the platform for you. It’s based on a fork of Gogs, and while it encourages open-source development, it does allow private repositories as well — although its main mission is to host free software projects.
- Free Tier Benefits: Fully free, private repo capable, no premium plans or restrictions
- Limitations: Fewer integrations, a basic UI, and slower performance
- Best For: GNU lovers and those prioritizing software freedom
9. Savannah by GNU — For the Die-Hard Free Software Advocates
Managed by the GNU Project, Savannah is a specialized code hosting platform that aligns rigidly with the Free Software Foundation’s values. It supports Git along with other VCS like CVS and SVN. While private repos are technically supported, they must meet specific licensing and usage criteria.
- Free Tier Benefits: Free to use, offering Git and other version control systems
- Limitations: Strict requirements for project licensing, limited features, no UI glitter
- Best For: Developers releasing software under FSF-approved licenses
Bonus: Want to Host It Yourself?
If you’re technically inclined, you can skip third-party services altogether and host your own Git server. Tools like Gitea, GitLab CE, and SourceHut (via sourcehut-dev) can be self-installed on a VPS or even a Raspberry Pi, giving you full control over your repositories.
Final Thoughts
Private Git repositories don’t have to cost you a dime — especially if you’re running a tiny startup or experimenting on your own. While big names like GitHub and GitLab dominate the space, there’s a thriving ecosystem of open-source, decentralized, and community-driven platforms waiting to be explored. The best part? You can test a few, see which one matches your workflow, and switch easily since they’re all Git-compatible.
Whether your priority is privacy, integration, ethics, or UI, these 9 platforms offer you a no-cost entry into the world of private version control. Happy coding!