Bitbucket Server vs GitHub comparison

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Bitbucket Server

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 5, 2025

Bitbucket Server and GitHub are popular tools in software development and code repository management. GitHub appears to have the upper hand due to its strong community support and comprehensive security features.

Features: Bitbucket Server is known for seamless integration with Atlassian tools, a robust permission system, and the ability to integrate with third-party applications such as JIRA and Bamboo. GitHub is recognized for its advanced security features, robust version control, and a wide array of integrations supported by a strong open-source community.

Room for Improvement: Bitbucket Server needs better horizontal scalability, more robust access control features, and enhanced pipeline functionalities. GitHub could improve its AI-based code handling, streamline its UI for non-technical users, and address large file handling.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Bitbucket Server primarily offers on-premises deployment, with mixed customer support due to enterprise complexities. GitHub provides flexible deployment options across cloud environments and is often favored for its ease of use, though support could improve for larger teams.

Pricing and ROI: Bitbucket Server is costlier due to its user-based licensing model, making it suitable for enterprises with infrastructure investments. GitHub offers cost-effective solutions with flexible subscription plans, especially beneficial for small teams and startups. It is appreciated for its lower maintenance costs.

To learn more, read our detailed Bitbucket Server vs. GitHub Report (Updated: January 2025).

Bitbucket Server vs. GitHub

January 2025

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Helped 838,533 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Bitbucket Server

Ranking in Version Control

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

GitHub

Ranking in Version Control

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Security Tools (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Version Control category, the mindshare of Bitbucket Server is 28.2%, up from 22.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub is 5.3%, down from 7.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Version Control

Featured Reviews

Dileep DK

Head of Engineering - Consumer Finance at DBS Bank

Facilitates efficient branching and integration with flexible workflow management

Bitbucket Server excels as a versioning system, effectively managing branching and code integration. It provides flexibility, allowing teams to customize workflows according to their specific needs. We maintain a master branch for production and separate branches for different features, which makes it easier to manage code changes. Additionally, its integration with Jenkins pipelines for automating builds and performing various checks enhances its utility.

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Pervez Roy

Solutions Architect at Small Systems LTD

Very good for collaboration on software projects

We use GitHub for code repository alongside Bitbucket GitHub is very good for collaboration on software projects. We prefer Bitbucket for commercial use, while GitHub is used for open source. You can get the differences, history of changes, and version control for various pull requests. You can…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I believe it's user-friendly for our developers, and it's effective in terms of traceability for tracking our actions."

"The most valuable feature is that it has its own pipelines."

"Our code is secure."

"The product’s most valuable features are private repositories and the ability to work as a proxy for implementing CI/CD pipelines."

"Bitbucket Server supports code collaboration by providing commands developers can use to check in code. Through comments, developers can specify the purpose of the code check-in. Additionally, Bitbucket allows tagging of code for releases."

"Integration of Bitbucket with JIRA & Bamboo is well done by Atlassian."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is server management."

"The initial setup is straightforward. It takes half an hour to deploy."

More Bitbucket Server pros

"I have found GitHub stable."

"GitHub provides enough storage for uploading the source code."

"GitHub is the best tool for source repositories."

"I'm able to access any repository that I like, whether it's public or private."

"The learning curve is small."

"The product helps our team collaborate across different locations."

"The most valuable feature is the source code management. It's very helpful and it's a great product."

"I find GitHub very user friendly."

More GitHub pros

Cons

"There might be further integration ideas for continuous deployment."

"Currently, the interface could benefit from a more sophisticated code viewing option."

"Instead of providing only raw features and plugins, Atlassian should provide a ready-to-use integration of both choices to incorporate "trunk-based" development."

"Enhancing the real-time reflection of changes online is an area that could benefit from improvement."

"We opted for the on-premises solution, and while it's quite expensive, I believe there's room for improvement in terms of pricing."

"It would have been better to use Bitbucket Server if it had something similar to the concept called GitHub Actions since it allows GitHub to provide seamless integration of CI/CD pipelines."

"The product requires patching and version improvements. Some functions do not work properly when we move from one version to another. We need a technical improvement. Also, communicating with other Atlassian products becomes cumbersome when we move from one version to another. I want Bitbucket Server to include a dashboard similar to Jira's. Atlassian must also develop a tool to scan our complete base for vulnerabilities."

"The product's initial setup phase is complex."

More Bitbucket Server cons

"We face issues with synchronization while working with teams."

"The UI is a little outdated, so that could be improved."

"While using the solution when merging two code branches the code becomes a bit messy. This should be improved in the future."

"GitHub storage is one of the main requirements and it could improve."

"The sign in process is a bit difficult."

"There is a bit of a learning curve."

"Github needs more storage."

"There can be conflict issues when two developers work on the same file or line of code, and it would be great to see that improved, possibly with an AI solution."

More GitHub cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We opted for the on-premises solution, and while it's quite expensive, I believe there's room for improvement in terms of pricing. The licensing is based on the number of users, but I'm not entirely certain about the details."

"Bitbucket Server is quite expensive compared to other products."

"The solution comes as a part of the suite."

"One needs to pay towards the licensing charges associated with the product."

"We pay around $6 per user."

"There is a cost to use this solution but it is based on how many users are using it. If you have 50 users or 1,000 users the price will be very different."

"The tool's licensing costs are yearly. Prices can become expensive if you have a lot of users."

"As for licensing, Bitbucket is one of the more affordable options."

More Bitbucket Server pricing and cost advice

"The basic licensing model is free, and if you need to have technical support and such things, then it does cost something. You only need to pay extra if you need technical support."

"The price of this solution is reasonable."

"You don't have to pay for a license if you are using the free version."

"The product is reasonably priced."

"We are currently paying nothing for GitHub."

"It is open-source. There is no license for GitHub."

"I haven't had to pay anything for GitHub, I use the free version."

"It's cheaper than Bitbucket."

More GitHub pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Version Control solutions are best for your needs.

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Comparison Review

it_user185772

Senior Software Architect with 5,001-10,000 employees

Oct 27, 2015

GitHub vs. GitLab vs. BitBucket Server (Formerly Stash)

Originally posted at http://technologyconversations.com/2015/10/16/github-vs-gitlabs-vs-bitbucket-server-formerly-stash/ This article will try to compare GitHub, GitLab and BitBucket Server (previously called Stash) installed on your own servers. Similar comparison of cloud offerings is outside…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Bitbucket Server?

The product is easy to maintain.

What needs improvement with Bitbucket Server?

While Bitbucket Server performs well, the improvement lies not in the tool itself yet in the discipline of the team using it. The tool does not impose restrictions, allowing for flexibility in work...

What is your primary use case for Bitbucket Server?

Bitbucket Server is used for private code management and source code management. It facilitates versioning, allowing us to maintain a master branch which reflects the code in production, and manage...

What do you like most about GitHub?

The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub?

I'm not aware of the costs associated with GitHub. I simply appreciate its efficiency in managing code and collaborating with team members.

What needs improvement with GitHub?

I would like to see some AI functionality included in GitHub, similar to the features seen in GitLab, to enhance productivity. Additionally, offering limited free access to features like Copilot co...

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Product Reports

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Bitbucket Server

February 2025

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February 2025

Also Known As

Stash

No data available

Overview

Bitbucket Server is a preferred choice for managing source code and version control, facilitating development workflows like CI/CD, task tracking, and collaboration among teams.

Organizations use Bitbucket Server to handle multiple repositories, manage code pipelines, and support various development workflows including CI/CD deployment. Integration with Jenkins and Jira enhances the software development lifecycle, meeting specific project requirements. Key features include user-friendly management, ease of use, and private repositories, fostering efficient code promotion and collaboration. However, improvements are needed in command-line functionality, UI, log handling, and integration with third-party tools.

What are Bitbucket Server's key features?

User-friendly management: Simplifies source code and repository management.
Version control: Effective tool for tracking and managing code changes.
Code collaboration: Facilitates teamwork and peer reviews.
CI/CD pipeline support: Enables automated deployment processes.
Seamless integration: Works well with tools like Jenkins and Jira.
Private repositories: Secure storage for project code bases.

What benefits should users expect?

Performance: Reliable and stable performance for development tasks.
Task tracking: Efficient management of development workflows.
Code promotion: Smooth transition of code across environments.
Enhanced collaboration: Improved teamwork and communication.

In industries like software development and IT services, Bitbucket Server implementation varies. Companies may integrate it into DevOps workflows for continuous integration and deployment. It's also used in sectors requiring stringent version control and collaboration, ensuring efficient project management and delivery.

Atlassian

GitHub is a web-based Git repository hosting service. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management (SCM) functionality of Git as well as adding its own features. Unlike Git, which is strictly a command-line tool, GitHub provides a Web-based graphical interface and desktop as well as mobile integration. It also provides access control and several collaboration features such as bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis for every project.

Sample Customers

Netflix, Nasa, Rakuten, Best Buy, Philips, Nordstrom, Intuit, Zillow, Citi.

Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent