head to head · open source
Reflex vs GitLab
Reflex has 28,987 GitHub stars, 1,827 forks, 346 open issues and last shipped yesterday. GitLab has 24,549 stars, 5,943 forks, 36 open issues and last shipped 11 days ago. Reflex leads on adoption by 18% (28,987 vs 24,549 stars). Reflex is written in Python under Apache-2.0; GitLab is written in Ruby under a custom or non-standard licence. Reflex has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, GitLab 24%. Reflex was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Reflex | GitLab | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 29K | ★ 25K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Custom / other |
| Written in | Python | Ruby |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.8K | ⑂ 5.9K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Reflex if
- You weight community size — 29K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick GitLab if
- You want the GitLab feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches Ruby
- You evaluated both and GitLab fits your workflow better
About Reflex
✨ Performant, customizable web apps in pure Python. Deploy in seconds. ✨ [!NOTE] Build faster with Reflex: AI Builder Generate full stack Reflex apps in seconds. Agent Toolkit Connect MCP and Skills to your coding assistant. App Management Deploy and manage your Reflex apps. Introduction Reflex is a library to build full stack web apps in pure Python. Key features: Pure Python Write your app's frontend and backend all in Python, no need to learn Javascript. Full Flexibility Reflex is easy to get started with, but can also scale to complex apps. See our architecture page to learn how Reflex works under the hood…
read the full Reflex overview →
About GitLab
GitLab Canonical source The canonical source of GitLab where all development takes place is hosted on GitLab.com. If you wish to clone a copy of GitLab without proprietary code, you can use the read only mirror of GitLab located at However, please do not submit any issues and/or merge requests to that project. Free trial You can request a free trial of GitLab Ultimate on our website. Open source software to collaborate on code To see how GitLab looks please see the features page on our website. Manage Git repositories with fine grained access controls that keep your code secure Perform code reviews and enhance…
read the full GitLab overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Reflex or GitLab more popular?
Reflex has 28,987 GitHub stars and GitLab has 24,549. Reflex has the larger community by that measure.
Are Reflex and GitLab free?
Both are open source. Reflex is licensed under Apache-2.0, and GitLab has no licence declared in this registry. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between Reflex and GitLab?
Reflex is written in Python and GitLab in Ruby. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Reflex or GitLab?
Choose Reflex if you want the larger community (28,987 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose GitLab if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.