GitLab vs Vault by HashiCorp: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of GitLab and Vault by HashiCorp. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Vault by HashiCorp starts at $1.58/mo, making it $27/mo cheaper than GitLab ($29/mo). GitLab offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
GitLab vs Vault by HashiCorp: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | GitLab | Vault by HashiCorp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $1.58/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 3 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | open-source |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Vault by HashiCorp is the more affordable option, starting at $1.58/mo compared to GitLab's $29/mo. Both are Dev Tools with 6 combined pricing plans and 9 features compared.
GitLab stands out with a free plan for getting started. GitLab uses per-seat pricing while Vault by HashiCorp uses open-source pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Dev Tools needs.
| Pricing Plans |  GitLab Try it free |  Vault by HashiCorp Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest | Development $446/month $446 / year Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Premium $29/month | Essentials $2/monthCheapest $2 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Ultimate Custom pricing | Standard $2/monthCheapest $2 / year Includes
|
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Vault by HashiCorp
Secrets management, encryption, and identity-based access
View all Vault by HashiCorp plansWhich Should You Choose?
Choose GitLab if:
- •You need a free plan with core features—GitLab offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—GitLab offers negotiated terms for large deployments
- •You want GitLab's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 3 pricing tiers
Choose Vault by HashiCorp if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Vault by HashiCorp starts at $1.58/mo, saving $27.42/mo compared to GitLab at $29/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Vault by HashiCorp offers 9 additional features across its plans
- •You prefer Vault by HashiCorp's open-source model with its 3-tier structure
GitLab offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Vault by HashiCorp requires paid subscription from the start. This gives GitLab a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow GitLab's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $29/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Vault by HashiCorp's tiering starting at $1.58/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. GitLab's 3 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Vault by HashiCorp's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, GitLab is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: GitLab vs Vault by HashiCorp
Which is cheaper, GitLab or Vault by HashiCorp?
How many pricing plans does GitLab have vs Vault by HashiCorp?
Does GitLab or Vault by HashiCorp offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for GitLab or Vault by HashiCorp?
Does GitLab or Vault by HashiCorp offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do GitLab and Vault by HashiCorp use?
How do GitLab and Vault by HashiCorp compare for Dev Tools?
Sources
- GitLab Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Vault by HashiCorp Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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