GitLab vs New Relic: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Sarah Mitchell, Cloud & Developer Tools Editorยท10 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing GitLab and New Relic in 2026, GitLab is the stronger choice for enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire devsecops lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment due to all-in-one devsecops platform replacing multiple tools. New Relic excels for ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack with generous free tier. GitLab offers Unlimited repositories with 5GB storage (free), Built-in CI/CD with 400 minutes/mo free, SAST, DAST, and container scanning (Ultimate) starting at $29/user/mo with a free plan. New Relic provides APM, Infrastructure monitoring, Browser monitoring from $0.35/GB ingest with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, GitLab delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 86/100. GitLab and New Relic compete in the developer tools segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading developer tools tools include GitHub, Vercel, Postman. GitLab serves 30M+ users globally (founded 2011) while New Relic reports 16K+ orgs active users (founded 2008).

GitLab vs New Relic at a Glance

GitLab
New Relic
Starting Price
$29/user/mo
$0.35/GB ingest
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
User Rating
4.5/5
4.3/5
Best For
Enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a...
Ops teams wanting unified observability across ful...
Users
30M+
16K+ orgs
Founded
2011
2008
hiltonsoftware Score
86/100
71/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸฆŠ
GitLab
Developer Tools
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ“ก
New Relic
Developer Tools
71
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between GitLab and New Relic?

GitLab and New Relic differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. GitLab leads in 7 of 7 categories.

GitLabNew Relic
86Ease of Use83
81Features77
71Value for Money70
71Customer Support66
73Integrations57
72Scalability61
75Learning Curve72

What are the pros and cons of GitLab vs New Relic?

GitLab
+All-in-one DevSecOps platform replacing multiple tools
+Self-hosted option with full feature parity
+Built-in security scanning at every stage of development
-Web interface can be slow with large projects
-Premium tier ($29/user/mo) much more expensive than GitHub Team ($4/user/mo)
New Relic
+Generous free tier
+All-in-one observability
-Complex pricing model
-UI can be overwhelming

Which is better, GitLab or New Relic?

After evaluating GitLab and New Relic across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, GitLab earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 86/100 versus New Relic at 71/100. GitLab stands out for "all-in-one devsecops platform replacing multiple tools" and "self-hosted option with full feature parity". New Relic delivers competitive advantages in "generous free tier", making New Relic a viable alternative.

Both GitLab and New Relic offer free plans. GitLab paid plans start at $29/user/mo while New Relic begins at $0.35/GB ingest. ROI depends on which features justify upgrading.

Bottom line: Choose GitLab for enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire devsecops lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment. Choose New Relic for ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack. Both GitLab and New Relic are established developer tools platforms.

CHOOSE GITLAB IF:

Enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire DevSecOps lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment.

CHOOSE NEW RELIC IF:

Ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack.

GitLab vs New Relic: Frequently Asked Questions

Is GitLab better than New Relic in 2026?
GitLab outperforms New Relic in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 86/100 compared to 71/100. GitLab excels in Unlimited repositories with 5GB storage (free), Built-in CI/CD with 400 minutes/mo free, SAST, DAST, and container scanning (Ultimate), making GitLab the better choice for Enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire DevSecOps lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment. New Relic is the stronger option for Ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack due to generous free tier. For teams needing unlimited repositories with 5gb storage (free), hiltonsoftware.co recommends GitLab.
How does GitLab pricing compare to New Relic in 2026?
GitLab starts at $29/user/mo and includes a free plan. New Relic starts at $0.35/GB ingest and offers a free plan. GitLab includes features like Unlimited repositories with 5GB storage (free), Built-in CI/CD with 400 minutes/mo free, SAST, DAST, and container scanning (Ultimate). New Relic provides APM, Infrastructure monitoring, Browser monitoring. GitLab serves 30M+ users while New Relic serves 16K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between GitLab and New Relic?
GitLab specializes in Unlimited repositories with 5GB storage (free), Built-in CI/CD with 400 minutes/mo free, SAST, DAST, and container scanning (Ultimate), earning a 86/100 hiltonsoftware Score. New Relic focuses on APM, Infrastructure monitoring, Browser monitoring, scoring 71/100. GitLab is best for Enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire DevSecOps lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment. New Relic is best for Ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack. Both GitLab and New Relic serve the Developer Tools market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from GitLab to New Relic?
Migrating from GitLab to New Relic is possible since both operate in the Developer Tools space. Export data from GitLab and verify New Relic import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Unlimited repositories with 5GB storage (free), Built-in CI/CD with 400 minutes/mo free, SAST, DAST, and container scanning (Ultimate) (GitLab) versus APM, Infrastructure monitoring, Browser monitoring (New Relic). Running both GitLab and New Relic in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is GitLab or New Relic better for small business?
Both GitLab and New Relic offer free plans. GitLab (86/100) is ideal for Enterprises and security-conscious teams wanting a single platform for the entire DevSecOps lifecycle, especially those needing self-hosted deployment. New Relic (71/100) fits Ops teams wanting unified observability across full application stack. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Sarah Mitchell, Cloud & Developer Tools Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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