Gogs vs GitBucket vs OneDev: Lightweight Self-Hosted Git Platforms 2026

When you need a self-hosted Git platform but do not want the resource overhead of GitLab, the lightweight options become very attractive. Gogs (47,400+ stars on GitHub), GitBucket (9,300+ stars), and OneDev (14,800+ stars) each take a different approach to solving the same problem: giving teams a private, fully controlled Git repository server with a web interface.

This guide compares all three platforms side by side, shows you how to deploy each one with Docker, and helps you decide which fits your team. For a broader look at the self-hosted Git forge landscape, our Gitea vs Forgejo vs GitLab CE comparison covers the heavier-weight alternatives.

Why Self-Host Your Git Platform?

Running your own Git server gives you control that no hosted provider can match:

• Complete data sovereignty — your source code, issues, pull requests, and CI pipelines never leave your infrastructure
• No per-user licensing costs — invite your entire team without counting seats or paying premium tiers
• Unlimited private repositories — create as many repos as you need without storage caps
• Deep network integration — connect to internal LDAP/Active Directory, run CI builds on local runners, and trigger webhooks to internal services
• Compliance requirements — many regulated industries mandate that source code never leaves the premises
• Custom workflows — build approval rules, branch protections, and deployment pipelines that match your exact process

Whether you are a solo developer, a small startup, or an enterprise team that needs full control, a lightweight self-hosted Git platform gives you the essentials without the bloat.

Gogs — The Minimalist Git Service

Gogs (Go Git Service) is a painless self-hosted Git service written in Go. It is designed to be the lightest possible Git server with a web UI, using minimal CPU and memory.

Key Features

• Single binary deployment — Gogs compiles to a single executable, making installation trivial
• Cross-platform — runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, ARM, and even Raspberry Pi
• Built-in SSH server — manages Git SSH access without requiring a separate SSH daemon
• Multiple database backends — SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or TiDB
• Low resource footprint — runs comfortably on 256MB RAM
• Active development — 47,400+ GitHub stars, last updated April 2026

Docker Deployment

Gogs provides an official Docker image (gogs/gogs) with straightforward setup:

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# Create persistent data directory
mkdir -p /opt/gogs

# Run Gogs with Docker
docker run -d --name=gogs \
  -p 10022:22 \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -v /opt/gogs:/data \
  gogs/gogs

Access the web installer at http://your-server:3000. The first-run wizard lets you configure the database (SQLite is fastest for small teams), set the SSH domain and port, and create the admin account.

For a production setup with PostgreSQL, use a docker-compose.yml:

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services:
  gogs:
    image: gogs/gogs
    ports:
      - "10022:22"
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - /opt/gogs:/data
    depends_on:
      - postgres
    restart: always

  postgres:
    image: postgres:15
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: gogs
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: gogs-secret
      POSTGRES_DB: gogs
    volumes:
      - /opt/gogs-postgres:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always

Gogs also offers a next-generation Docker image (gogs/gogs:next) with improved security practices and s6-overlay for process supervision.

Best Use Cases

• Single developer or small teams (under 20 users)
• Raspberry Pi or low-resource VPS deployments
• Quick proof-of-concept Git server setup
• Homelab environments where resource efficiency matters

GitBucket — The GitHub-Compatible Scala Platform

GitBucket is a Git platform powered by Scala with easy installation, high extensibility, and GitHub API compatibility. It aims to be a drop-in replacement for GitHub’s core features.

Key Features

• GitHub API compatibility — many GitHub CLI tools and integrations work out of the box
• Plugin ecosystem — over 100 community plugins for notifications, markdown extensions, CI integration, and more
• WAR file deployment — runs as a single .war file on any Servlet container (Tomcat, Jetty, or standalone with embedded Jetty)
• Built-in issue tracking — milestones, labels, and pull request workflows
• MySQL/PostgreSQL/H2 — H2 embedded database for quick setup, or MySQL/PostgreSQL for production
• 9,300+ GitHub stars — active since 2012, last updated April 2026

Docker Deployment

GitBucket does not ship an official Docker image, but the community-maintained image works reliably:

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# Create persistent data directory
mkdir -p /opt/gitbucket

# Run GitBucket with Docker
docker run -d --name=gitbucket \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  -p 29418:29418 \
  -v /opt/gitbucket:/gitbucket \
  gitbucket/gitbucket

Or with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL:

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services:
  gitbucket:
    image: gitbucket/gitbucket
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "29418:29418"
    volumes:
      - /opt/gitbucket:/gitbucket
    environment:
      GITBUCKET_DB_URL: "jdbc:postgresql://postgres:5432/gitbucket"
      GITBUCKET_DB_USER: "gitbucket"
      GITBUCKET_DB_PASSWORD: "gitbucket-secret"
    depends_on:
      - postgres
    restart: always

  postgres:
    image: postgres:15
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: gitbucket
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: gitbucket-secret
      POSTGRES_DB: gitbucket
    volumes:
      - /opt/gitbucket-postgres:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always

GitBucket starts with a web-based setup wizard on first launch. Navigate to http://your-server:8080 and log in with the default credentials (root / root), then change the password immediately.

Best Use Cases

• Teams already using GitHub who want a self-hosted alternative with familiar UX
• Organizations that need GitHub API compatibility for existing tooling
• Teams that want a rich plugin ecosystem to extend functionality
• Java/Scala shops that prefer JVM-based infrastructure

OneDev — The Modern All-in-One Platform

OneDev is a modern Git server with integrated CI/CD, Kanban boards, package registries, and code intelligence. It positions itself as a complete DevOps platform in a single install.

Key Features

• Built-in CI/CD — YAML-based pipeline definitions, no external Jenkins or runners needed
• Smart code search — language-aware symbol search, cross-references, and code navigation
• Kanban boards — integrated issue tracking with drag-and-drop boards
• Package registries — Maven, npm, PyPI, and Docker registry built in
• Pull request workflows — code review with inline comments, approval rules, and merge strategies
• Kubernetes-ready — native Helm charts and Docker Compose support
• 14,800+ GitHub stars — actively developed, last updated April 2026

Docker Deployment

OneDev provides an official Docker Compose configuration that deploys both the server and a PostgreSQL database:

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services:
  onedev:
    image: 1dev/server
    volumes:
      - ./onedev:/opt/onedev
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "6610:6610"
      - "6611:6611"
    environment:
      hibernate_connection_password: "changeit"
      hibernate_dialect: io.onedev.server.persistence.PostgreSQLDialect
      hibernate_connection_driver_class: org.postgresql.Driver
      hibernate_connection_url: jdbc:postgresql://postgres:5432/onedev
      hibernate_connection_username: postgres
    tty: true
    depends_on:
      postgres:
        condition: service_healthy

  postgres:
    image: postgres:14
    restart: always
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U postgres"]
      interval: 5s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5
      start_period: 30s
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: "changeit"
      POSTGRES_USER: "postgres"
      POSTGRES_DB: "onedev"
    expose:
      - "5432"
    volumes:
      - ./onedev/site/postgres:/var/lib/postgresql/data

Save this as docker-compose.yml and run:

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mkdir -p onedev
docker compose up -d

OneDev will be available at http://your-server:6610. Port 6611 is used for the build agent. The Docker socket mount allows OneDev to spin up CI build containers dynamically.

Best Use Cases

• Teams that want an integrated platform (Git + CI/CD + project management) without assembling multiple tools
• Organizations that need code intelligence features (symbol search, cross-references)
• Teams running Kubernetes who want Helm-based deployment
• Developers who want GitHub-like code review and Kanban boards built in

Feature Comparison

Performance and Resource Usage

Resource requirements vary significantly across the three platforms:

Gogs is the lightest by far. A fresh Gogs instance with SQLite uses approximately 30-50MB of RAM and less than 1% CPU on idle. It can serve hundreds of concurrent Git operations on a $5 VPS. The trade-off is simplicity — you do not get advanced features like integrated CI or package registries.

GitBucket sits in the middle. The JVM overhead means it needs at least 256MB heap, plus another 256MB for the OS, bringing the practical minimum to around 512MB RAM. With the embedded H2 database, startup takes 15-30 seconds. Switching to PostgreSQL adds a bit more memory but improves concurrent performance.

OneDev is the most resource-intensive but also the most feature-rich. The server alone needs about 512MB-1GB RAM, and the PostgreSQL database adds another 256MB. Build agents each consume additional memory depending on the pipeline complexity. Plan for at least 2GB RAM for a comfortable experience with active CI builds.

Which One Should You Choose?

The decision depends on what you value most:

• Choose Gogs if you want the absolute lightest, simplest Git server. It is ideal for homelabs, solo developers, or small teams who just need repositories, basic issue tracking, and SSH access. Pair it with external CI (like Woodpecker CI) for a complete stack.

• Choose GitBucket if you want GitHub-like features with API compatibility. The plugin ecosystem lets you add Kanban boards, CI integration, and notification systems incrementally. It is a good choice for teams migrating from GitHub who want a familiar interface.

• Choose OneDev if you want an all-in-one platform. It replaces the need for separate tools for Git hosting, CI/CD, project management, and package registries. The integrated code intelligence features (symbol search, cross-references) are best-in-class. If your team wants a single install instead of managing 3-4 separate services, OneDev is the clear winner.

For teams considering the full spectrum of self-hosted Git forges, our Gitea vs Forgejo vs GitLab CE guide provides a detailed comparison of the heavier alternatives that sit above these three in terms of resource usage and feature scope.

FAQ

Is Gogs the same as Gitea?

No. Gitea is a fork of Gogs created in 2016 due to governance concerns. While they share a common origin, Gitea has evolved separately with a larger contributor base, more features, and faster release cadence. Gogs continues to be developed independently by its original author with a focus on simplicity and minimalism. Both are written in Go and share similar deployment characteristics, but they are now distinct projects.

Can I migrate repositories from GitHub to Gogs or GitBucket?

Yes. Both platforms support importing repositories via the web interface or CLI. You can clone a repository from GitHub and push it to your self-hosted instance, or use the built-in migration tools. Gogs offers a “Mirror Repository” feature that keeps your local copy in sync with the upstream GitHub repository. GitBucket supports GitHub-style API imports and has plugins for bulk migration.

Does OneDev support Git submodules and Git LFS?

Yes. OneDev fully supports Git submodules, Git LFS (Large File Storage), and shallow clones. The integrated CI/CD pipeline can handle LFS-tracked files automatically, and the web interface displays LFS file metadata. This makes OneDev suitable for teams working with large binary assets like game development, machine learning datasets, or design files.

How do I set up a reverse proxy for these Git platforms?

All three platforms can run behind Nginx, Caddy, or Traefik. Here is a basic Nginx configuration for Gogs:

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server {
    listen 80;
    server_name git.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }

    # Git SSH does not go through HTTP proxy
    # Configure Gogs built-in SSH server on a separate port
}

For production use, always add TLS termination with Let’s Encrypt. Our complete DNS and reverse proxy guide covers TLS certificate setup for self-hosted services.

Which platform is best for teams under 10 people?

For teams under 10, Gogs is the most practical choice due to its minimal resource requirements and simple setup. It uses less than 50MB of RAM, starts in seconds, and provides everything a small team needs: repositories, SSH access, basic issue tracking, and pull requests. If you also need CI/CD, pair it with a lightweight CI tool rather than choosing a heavier all-in-one platform.

Can I run multiple Git platforms on the same server?

Yes, as long as they use different ports. Gogs defaults to port 3000 (HTTP) and 22 (SSH), GitBucket uses 8080 (HTTP) and 29418 (SSH), and OneDev uses 6610 (HTTP) and 6611 (build agent). You can run all three simultaneously on a single server by ensuring port assignments do not conflict. Use Docker Compose to manage multiple services with isolated networks.