Self-hosted git used to mean GitLab. In 2026 the answer is split: Forgejo for almost everyone, Gitea for people who already run it, GitLab CE if you need full DevOps in one box. Here's why the recommendation moved.
The 2022 fork that changed the recommendation
Gitea was the default lightweight self-hosted git for years. In 2022, Gitea's commercial entity (Gitea Ltd.) raised governance concerns in the open-source community — trademark control, contributor agreements, ownership structure. A community-led fork called Forgejo launched in late 2022 with non-profit governance under Codeberg.
For the first year the two were nearly identical. Since 2024, Forgejo has shipped features faster, accepted more community contributions, and the trajectory has clearly favored the fork. By 2026, Forgejo is the default recommendation in most self-hosting communities (r/selfhosted, the Awesome-Selfhosted list, Codeberg itself).
If you're already on Gitea and it's working, there's no urgency to migrate. If you're choosing today, pick Forgejo.
Forgejo — The 2026 default
Forgejo is a Go binary that runs anywhere — Raspberry Pi, $5/mo VPS, your home server, a container on a NAS. It needs 1 GB RAM and a single core for personal use. Setup is unzip-and-run; backup is "copy this directory."
Feature-wise, it covers what most people use GitHub for: repositories, issues, pull/merge requests, code review, basic CI via Forgejo Actions (a GitHub Actions-compatible runner), webhooks, federated identity (LDAP, OAuth, OIDC), and a perfectly capable web UI. It's not GitHub Copilot or Codespaces; it's a solid self-hosted git server.
Federation is the more interesting longer-term feature. Forgejo is implementing ActivityPub-based federation (you can follow repos and accounts across self-hosted instances), which positions it as the "Mastodon of git hosting" if that future arrives. As of 2026 the feature is in early beta but the direction is clear.
GitLab CE — When CI/CD is the requirement
GitLab Community Edition is the heavyweight option. The trade-off is straightforward: you get every DevOps feature in one box (CI/CD, registry, package repository, Wiki, Pages, security scanning, monitoring), but you pay for it in resource use — 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB to be comfortable, real CPU and disk.
For a small team that needs CI/CD without bolting on Jenkins, ArgoCD, or external runners, GitLab CE is the only option that delivers everything self-hosted in one installer. The web UI is opinionated and dense; new contributors will feel the learning curve. Enterprise users will recognize the patterns immediately.
If your CI is external (Forgejo Actions, GitHub Actions runner, or no CI at all), GitLab CE is overkill. Forgejo will be faster, cheaper, and easier to operate.
Gitea — Fine if you're already there
Gitea is still actively maintained. It's still capable. The reasons not to recommend it for new installs are governance and trajectory, not capability — Gitea today does what Gitea did in 2024, and that was fine.
If you're running Gitea now and it works, keep running it. Migration to Forgejo is straightforward (data formats are still compatible) when you're ready, but there's no urgent technical reason to do it tomorrow.
What about Codeberg or sourcehut?
If you don't want to self-host but want to leave GitHub, two hosted alternatives are worth knowing:
- Codeberg — Free hosted Forgejo run by a non-profit. Ideologically aligned with Forgejo's governance. Reliable, no commercial pressure.
- sourcehut — Drew DeVault's minimal, email-driven git hosting. $5/mo paid (no free tier). Different philosophy — mailing-list workflow, no web-based PR review. Loved by a small loyal user base, alien to most GitHub-trained developers.
Both are legitimate "leave GitHub" options without running a server.
The verdict
Pick Forgejo for almost any self-hosted git scenario in 2026 — solo dev, small team, internal tools, archive of personal projects. Lightweight, well-governed, actively developed, the default community recommendation.
Pick GitLab CE only if you need built-in CI/CD, container registry, and the rest of the GitLab DevOps platform in one self-hosted install. Heavy, capable, opinionated.
Stay on Gitea if you're already running it — no urgency to switch. Migrate when convenient.
Use Codeberg if you want hosted Forgejo without running a server. Free, non-profit, dependable.
FAQ
Which self-hosted git is best in 2026?
Forgejo for most self-hosters. GitLab CE if you need built-in CI/CD. Gitea is fine if you're already on it.
What's the difference between Forgejo and Gitea?
Forgejo forked from Gitea in 2022 over governance concerns. Forgejo is non-profit, community-governed, and has shipped features faster since the fork.
How much resources does Forgejo need?
1 GB RAM and a single CPU core for personal use — fits on any $5/mo VPS or a Raspberry Pi 4. Small teams need 2-4 GB. Dramatically less than GitLab CE.
Should I self-host or stay on GitHub?
Stay on GitHub for public collaboration. Self-host for private projects, internal tools, or archives. Most self-hosters do both.
Does Forgejo have AI integration?
No built-in AI in 2026. Pair it with Cursor, Zed, or any AI-capable editor. PR review augmentation via webhook plus Anthropic/OpenAI API is roll-your-own.