GitLab Runner vs Apache Allura
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted git hosting & forges options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
GitLab Runner
Run CI/CD jobs for GitLab on your own infrastructure
VS
Apache Allura
Open-source forge for managing source code and projects
| Feature | GitLab Runner | Apache Allura |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Git Hosting & Forges | Git Hosting & Forges |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, binary | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,500 | ★ 148 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | GitHub Actions runner | GitHub, SourceForge |
Why pick each one
Choose GitLab Runner if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 8.5k GitHub stars
Choose Apache Allura if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is GitLab Runner or Apache Allura better?
GitLab Runner is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Apache Allura if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are GitLab Runner and Apache Allura free and open-source?
Yes. GitLab Runner is licensed under MIT and Apache Allura under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GitLab Runner and Apache Allura with Docker?
GitLab Runner: yes. Apache Allura: yes.