GitHub

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a platform for hosting Git repositories and collaborating on code. Developers propose changes through pull requests, discuss and review them line by line, and protect important branches with rules before merging. Issues and Discussions track work and conversations, and GitHub Actions automates builds, tests and deployments with hosted or self-hosted runners. GitHub also offers code search, Codespaces cloud development environments, package hosting, security features such as code and secret scanning, and the Copilot AI assistant. It is available on the web, desktop and mobile. Actions minutes, storage and some security features depend on plan and usage.

Best for: Developers and teams of any size who need version control, code review and automation in one place.

Useful for

• 01

  Code review

  Open pull requests, comment line by line and merge when approved.

• 02

  CI/CD

  Run tests and deployments automatically with GitHub Actions.

• 03

  Open source

  Publish projects, track issues and accept contributions.

Key capabilities

• Git repository hosting with protected branches.
• Pull requests with line-by-line code review.
• Issues and Discussions for planning and conversation.
• GitHub Actions for automated workflows and CI/CD.
• Code and secret scanning security features.
• Codespaces, Packages and Copilot as additional products.

Limitations and considerations

• Actions minutes, storage and some security features are limited or priced by plan and usage.
• Copilot and Codespaces are separate products with their own plans.

Pricing model

Free with paid options

Free plan available, with paid Team and Enterprise plans.

Common questions

Is GitHub free?

Yes, there is a free plan for individuals and organisations, with paid Team and Enterprise plans. Check the official pricing page.

What is GitHub Actions?

GitHub's automation system for running workflows such as tests and deployments when code changes.

Is GitHub the same as Git?

No. Git is the version control system; GitHub is a hosting and collaboration platform built around it.

Sources

• GitHub features (opens in new tab)
• GitHub pricing (opens in new tab)
• GitHub Actions docs (opens in new tab)

Curated from official product and pricing pages. Not hands-on tested by Pithmark.