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GitLab

GitLab for Startups

Free GitLab Ultimate (20 seats) for a year for pre-seed/seed startups, then 50% off; Series A/B get 50% off year one and 25% year two.

VerifiedLast verified Nov 3, 2026Official source

Worth

Free Ultimate (20 seats) for 12 months then 50% off, or 50% / 25% off for Series A-B

Seed Stage (pre-seed/seed, up to $5M raised): free Ultimate year one, 50% off year two. Early Stage (Series A/B, up to $20M): 50% off year one, 25% off year two. All up to 20 users. No USD value is stated.

Quick facts

Value
Free Ultimate (20 seats) for 12 months then 50% off, or 50% / 25% off for Series A-B
Type
Credits + discount
Duration
1 year
Stages
Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+
Regions
Global
Max funding raised
$20,000,000
Max company age
Not stated
Last verified
Nov 3, 2026 · Verified

Ways to get it

  1. Apply directly

    Apply directly

    Free Ultimate, 20 seats, 50k compute minutes/month for 12 months, then 50% off

    • Pre-Seed or Seed stage
    • Up to $5M in external funding
    • Proof of funding (Crunchbase, PitchBook or VC/accelerator page)

    Externally funded companies only.

    Open program page

  2. Apply directly

    Apply directly

    50% off year 1, 25% off year 2, up to 20 users (Early Stage tier)

    • Series A or Series B
    • Up to $20M in funding

    Discount tier rather than free license.

    Open program page

Eligibility

Requirements

  • Externally funded (VC, accelerator) with verifiable proof
  • Up to $5M raised for the free tier; up to $20M for the discount tier

Not eligible

  • Bootstrapped companies (program is for externally funded companies only)
  • Paying GitLab customers within the past calendar year

How to apply

  1. 1

    Gather proof of funding: a Crunchbase, PitchBook or Y Combinator profile link, or your VC/accelerator portfolio page.

  2. 2

    Submit the application at about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups with funding stage and amount.

  3. 3

    Respond to any follow-up verification requests from GitLab.

  4. 4

    On approval, GitLab provisions the Ultimate license (20 seats) or applies the Early Stage discount to your subscription.

Gotchas

  • Externally funded only; self-funded teams are ineligible for now.
  • Free Ultimate is capped at 20 seats and one year; year two is 50% off, and Series A/B companies get a discount from the start.
  • Recent paying GitLab customers (within a calendar year) are excluded.
  • Self-hosted instances must enable usage and analytics features.
  • Program is at GitLab's sole discretion and subject to change.

About the GitLab program

GitLab for Startups has two tiers for externally funded companies. Seed Stage (Pre-Seed or Seed with up to $5M in external funding) gets a free Ultimate license for a year, SaaS or self-managed, for up to 20 seats, then a 50% discount on any tier (up to 20 users) in year two. GitLab's docs describe the year-one benefit as GitLab Ultimate plus 50,000 compute minutes per month for 12 months. Early Stage (Series A or Series B with up to $20M in external funding) gets 50% off any tier in year one and 25% off in year two, up to 20 users.

The program is currently available for externally funded companies only; GitLab's FAQ says self-funded startups may be considered in later iterations. Application data is validated by GitLab, and applicants must provide a Crunchbase or PitchBook profile or a relevant VC or accelerator webpage; GitLab may ask for additional information to verify eligibility. Per GitLab's internal handbook, startups that have been paying GitLab customers within one calendar year are not eligible.

Accepted members are subject to the GitLab Subscription Agreement; self-hosted instances must enable usage and analytics features. GitLab reaches out before year one ends to walk through renewal options, extra seats can be quoted as an add-on via startups@gitlab.com, and the program is offered at GitLab's sole discretion and subject to change. An old YC-specific blog offer (under $3M raised) is outdated.

Frequently asked questions

Who gets GitLab Ultimate for free?

Pre-Seed or Seed stage companies with up to $5M in external funding: a free Ultimate license (SaaS or self-managed) for up to 20 seats for a year, with 50,000 compute minutes per month per GitLab's docs, followed by 50% off any tier in year two.

What do Series A or B startups get?

The Early Stage tier: 50% off in year one and 25% off in year two for up to 20 users, for companies with up to $20M in funding.

What proof of funding is accepted?

A Crunchbase or PitchBook profile, or a relevant VC or accelerator webpage; GitLab's handbook says a Crunchbase, PitchBook or Y Combinator link is the easiest route.

Compare

Verification. Checked by our automated checker on Nov 3, 2026 against https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/startups/. Status: verified.

Fetched directly on 2026-11-03. Program page states Seed Stage (Pre-Seed/Seed, up to $5M: free Ultimate up to 20 seats year one, 50% off year two) and Early Stage (Series A/B, up to $20M: 50% off year one, 25% off year two, up to 20 users), externally funded only, Crunchbase/PitchBook/VC/accelerator proof, Subscription Agreement and self-hosted analytics requirement. docs.gitlab.com community programs page (fetched) states Ultimate plus 50,000 compute minutes per month for 12 months. The one-calendar-year prior-customer rule is from handbook.gitlab.com search excerpts.