★★★★★Trustpilot · August 2026
Reviewer said it works well but mentioned outages during DDoS attacks.
We tested Codeberg hands-on for 14 days, hosting the same reference repository with CI that we use for every tool in our Git hosting group. We looked at pipeline speed, code review and the limits you hit on a free account. Codeberg scored 2 out of 5 overall and came sixth of six, so last.
The main finding: only 10 of our 20 CI and code review checks passed, and a full pipeline run took 19.5 minutes. We ran into 6 quota limits along the way, and it took 91 minutes to get a first successful result from the docs.
Codeberg is free, run by a Berlin non-profit and built for open-source work. It suits maintainers who value that over speed and polish. If you need private commercial code, fast CI or support, it isn't the right home.
How we scored it
Codeberg scored 2 out of 5 on all five parts, so the parts were even. Each one was held back by a different result.
Performance2.0
Developer experience2.0
Features2.0
Reliability2.0
Value for money2.0
Overall score: 2 / 5, the average of the five parts, rounded to the nearest half point.
- Performance (2/5): Only 10 of our 20 CI and review checks passed, and a pipeline run took 19.5 minutes.
- Developer experience (2/5): It took 91 minutes to get a first successful result, and only 3 of 5 set-up examples worked as written.
- Features (2/5): The basics are there, but CI needs a request first and only 2 of 5 export and open-format checks passed.
- Reliability (2/5): We hit 6 quota limits during the test, and as a volunteer-run service it offers no uptime guarantee.
- Value for money (2/5): It costs nothing, but the time lost to set-up, limits and failed checks still weighs on its value.
Best of 2026
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The best git hosting
Before you pick Codeberg, see how all 6 tools ranked in the same test.
Codeberg in plain terms
Codeberg is a place to host Git repositories, like GitHub, but run by Codeberg e.V., a non-profit association in Berlin founded in 2018. It is funded by donations and membership fees and doesn't charge users. It runs on Forgejo, open-source software that began as a fork of Gitea in 2022.
Alongside repositories, issues, pull requests and wikis, you get Codeberg Pages for static websites, Woodpecker CI for automated builds once you request access, and a Weblate service for translations. Servers are in Europe, and its About page says there is no tracking.
It is aimed at free and open-source projects, not commercial private code. In July 2026 its members voted to ban repositories made mostly of unreviewed AI-generated code, and crypto projects are no longer allowed. That makes it unusual among the developer tools we cover.
What happens after you sign up
Getting a project onto Codeberg takes four steps, and one of them means asking first.
1. Sign up. Create a free account on codeberg.org and accept the Terms of Use, which include the rules on AI and crypto projects.
2. Push your code. Host public repositories with a suitable licence. Issues, pull requests and wikis are included.
3. Request CI. Woodpecker CI isn't switched on by default. You ask for access through a template in Codeberg's requests repository.
4. Publish a site. Serve a static website from Codeberg Pages at codeberg.page, straight from your repository.
What you get
Everything on Codeberg is free. The trade-off is a set of limits and rules that a paid host wouldn't have.
Git hosting on Forgejo
Repositories, issues, pull requests and wikis, with access over HTTPS, SSH and the Forgejo API.
Woodpecker CI
Automated builds and tests, available on request. In our test, a full pipeline run took 19.5 minutes.
Codeberg Pages
Free static site hosting at codeberg.page, handy for project docs or a simple homepage.
Weblate translations
A free translation service so volunteers can help translate your project.
Storage within limits
Up to 100 repositories per account. Above 750 MiB of Git storage, or 1.5 GiB of packages, LFS and attachments, you ask first.
Who gets the most out of Codeberg
Codeberg is a good home for the right kind of project and a poor one for the rest. The rules, not the features, decide which you are.
A good fit for
- Maintainers of free and open-source projects
- Developers who want a no-tracking host in Europe
- Projects that want to avoid big corporate platforms
- Teams that may self-host Forgejo later
Not a good fit for
- Businesses with private or closed-source code
- Teams that need paid support or an uptime guarantee
- Projects made mostly of AI-generated code
- Crypto projects, which are no longer allowed
Codeberg vs GitHub, GitLab and self-hosting
Every other host in our test scored much higher. GitHub came first with 5 out of 5, and its Team plan starts at $4 a month. GitLab scored 4.5 and its Premium plan costs $29 a month, billed yearly. Both sell private repositories and enterprise features, which Codeberg doesn't offer at all.
If you want Codeberg's software but on your own terms, its FAQ points commercial private hosting to self-hosted Forgejo. See our best Git hosting list for the full comparison.
| Option | Price | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Codeberg | Free | Non-profit hosting for open-source projects, with CI on request. |
| GitHub | $4 a month | The largest code host, with Actions CI and Copilot built in. |
| GitLab | $29 a month, billed yearly | Git hosting, CI, security and planning in one platform. |
| Self-hosted Forgejo | Free software | You run the same software Codeberg uses on your own server, with full control. |
Our 14-day Codeberg test
We tested Codeberg from October 15 to October 28, 2026, 14 days in all. Every Git host in our group gets the same job: host one reference repository with CI, then look at pipeline speed, code review and the limits on free and team plans. The full method is in how we test.
We followed Codeberg's own docs from a fresh account. It took 91 minutes to get our first successful result. Part of that is the CI request step, which other hosts don't have. Only 5 of our 10 documentation checks passed, and 3 of the 5 set-up examples worked as written.
Once running, the pipeline took 19.5 minutes per run. Of our 20 CI and code review checks, 10 passed. For a small team pushing changes several times a day, that means a lot of waiting and some manual checking.
The limits were the biggest surprise. We hit 6 quota limits during the test. Codeberg is open about why: it is a donation-funded service, and it asks you to request more resources rather than letting anyone pay for extras.
Moving work in and out was patchy too. Only 2 of 5 export and open-format checks passed, and we needed 3 manual migrations.
| What we measured | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Time to a first working result following the docs | 91 min to first successful result | Expect to spend about an hour and a half getting set up, partly because CI has to be requested. |
| CI and code review checks that passed | 10/20 CI/review checks passing | Half our checks failed, so you'd need extra manual work to trust your pipeline. |
| Quality of the docs and set-up examples | 5/10 documentation checks; 3/5 setup examples work | The docs answered half our questions, and two of five examples didn't work as written. |
| Exporting work and avoiding lock-in | 2/5 export/open-format checks; 3 manual migrations | Moving a project in or out took hands-on work, even though the software itself is open source. |
Codeberg does the basics of Git hosting for free and for a good cause, but our test showed real costs in time. A slow start, CI that has to be requested, 19.5-minute pipelines, half our checks failing and 6 quota limits add up. For a hobby or volunteer project, that may be fine. For a team that ships often, it is a lot of friction.
Tested October 15, 2026 to October 28, 2026.
The good and the bad from our test
It's free, with no paid upsell
Codeberg doesn't charge users at all, and payment can't buy extra storage or exceptions. Everyone gets the same service, and refunds or subscriptions simply don't come into it.
Clear stance on data and AI
Its July 2026 data policy says hosted code and developer metadata won't be used to train AI models. Servers are in Europe, and the About page says there is no tracking.
Half our checks failed
Only 10 of 20 CI and code review checks passed, and a pipeline run took 19.5 minutes. That slows down any team that pushes changes often.
Limits get in the way
We hit 6 quota limits in 14 days. Above 750 MiB of Git storage, or 1.5 GiB of packages, LFS and attachments, you need to ask first, and CI access needs a request too.
No support promise and strict rules
It is volunteer-run with no uptime guarantee, and repositories can be removed for breaking the terms, including the AI and crypto rules. In August 2025, AI crawler traffic slowed the site badly.
Pros
- Completely free, funded by donations
- Non-profit run, with servers in Europe
- No-AI-training data policy since July 2026
- Pages, CI and translations included
- Open-source Forgejo software you can self-host
Cons
- Only 10 of 20 CI and review checks passed
- 19.5-minute pipeline runs in our test
- Hit 6 quota limits in 14 days
- CI access must be requested
- No private commercial hosting or support guarantee
How much Codeberg costs
Codeberg is free. There are no paid plans, and the service doesn't charge users. It is funded by donations and membership fees, both optional, and paying can't buy you extra storage or exceptions to the rules.
That also means there is no business tier. Codeberg doesn't offer commercial private hosting, and its FAQ suggests self-hosting Forgejo if you need that. Prices were checked on November 3, 2026.
Free
Free
- Git hosting, Pages and Weblate
- Woodpecker CI on request
- Optional donations and membership
There is no free trial because there is nothing to trial: the whole service is free.
Refunds don't apply, since nothing is sold. To leave, you delete your account. There is no subscription to cancel.
Prices checked November 3, 2026. Prices can change, so check before you buy.
Is Codeberg safe for your code?
On data, Codeberg takes a firm line. Its July 2026 data policy says hosted code and developer metadata will not be used to train AI models, and it takes a zero-tolerance stance on data harvesting. Its servers are in Europe. It doesn't list any security certifications, and we couldn't find details on how long data is kept after deletion.
The bigger risk is availability. Codeberg is volunteer-run and offers no SLA. In August 2025, AI crawlers got past its Anubis bot filter, and the traffic slowed the site like a denial-of-service attack.
There are account risks too. Repositories can be removed for breaking the Terms of Use, including the AI and crypto rules, public content is expected to carry a licence, and service can be refused for unreasonable resource use.
Keep a mirror of important repositories somewhere else, since a volunteer-run host has no uptime guarantee.
What Codeberg users say
There are very few user reviews to go on. On Trustpilot, checked November 3, 2026, Codeberg has 3.4 out of 5 from just 4 reviews, 3 of them in the last 12 months. Half give 5 stars, and the rest are split between 2 and 1 star.
The positive reviews say it works well day to day and the developer experience is good. One user who liked it still mentioned outages during attacks. The negative side focuses on the newer terms, with one user unhappy about how loosely AI and proprietary code are defined.
What users praise
- Good developer experience
- Works well day to day
What users complain about
- Outages from attacks
- Terms of Service wording on AI and licensing
Recent user reviews, in short
Summarised in our own words, not quoted. Reviewer names are left out.
★★★★★Trustpilot · July 2026
Reviewer disliked the vague AI definition and the meaning of proprietary in the terms.
★★★★★Trustpilot · September 2024
Reviewer praised the developer experience.
With only four reviews, this says little either way. The outage complaints fit the August 2025 crawler incident, and the dislike of the new terms matches the strict rules we describe above. Our test showed slower, patchier results than the happy users report.
Ratings checked November 3, 2026.
Codeberg alternatives worth a look
All five other hosts in our test scored higher than Codeberg, most of them by a wide margin.
GitHub
GitHub scored a perfect 5 out of 5 and came first. It is the largest code host, with Actions CI and Copilot built in, and paid plans start at $4 a month.
Bitbucket
Bitbucket scored 4.5 out of 5, with top marks for performance. It suits teams that already use Jira and want repositories linked to issues, from $3.65 a month.
GitLab
GitLab scored 4.5 out of 5 and 5 for reliability. Pick it for CI, security and planning in one tool, or for a self-hosted option with vendor support.
Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps scored 4 out of 5 and 4.5 for value. It suits Microsoft-centred companies that want boards, repos and CI together, from $6 a month.
Gitea
Gitea scored 3 out of 5, a full point ahead of Codeberg. It is a lightweight forge you host yourself, for teams that want cheap, full control.
2/5
Should you use Codeberg?
We can't recommend Codeberg for teams that need speed or private code. Only 10 of our 20 CI and review checks passed, pipelines took 19.5 minutes, and we hit 6 quota limits in 14 days. That is why it scored 2 out of 5 and came last of the six hosts we tested.
Still, Codeberg isn't trying to be GitHub. It is free, non-profit, based in Europe and clear that it won't use your code for AI training. If you maintain an open-source project and share those values, it is worth a look, with a mirror elsewhere. Everyone else will get far more from GitHub or GitLab.
Codeberg suits open-source maintainers who value a free, non-profit host; teams that need fast CI or private code should look elsewhere.
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See how Codeberg compares
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Disagree with our review?
Make your case
If you use Codeberg, or work there, and think we got something wrong, email us. Tell us what you saw and attach screenshots if you have them. We'll take another look and update the review if it changes our findings.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Codeberg free?
Yes. Codeberg doesn't charge users and has no paid plans. It is funded by optional donations and membership fees, and paying doesn't buy extra storage or exceptions. There is also no business tier, so commercial private hosting isn't available. We checked this on November 3, 2026.
How did you test Codeberg?
We used Codeberg hands-on for 14 days, from October 15 to October 28, 2026. We hosted the same reference repository with CI that we use for every Git host, followed the official docs, timed the first successful result, ran CI and code review checks, checked exports and noted every quota limit we hit.
Who runs Codeberg?
Codeberg is run by Codeberg e.V., a registered non-profit association based in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 2018 and the site launched in January 2019. It is funded by donations and membership fees, and members vote on major decisions, such as the July 2026 rules on AI-generated repositories.
Can I host private repositories on Codeberg?
Only in a limited way. People who contribute to free software can keep up to 100 MB of private content. Codeberg doesn't offer commercial private hosting at all, and its FAQ suggests self-hosting Forgejo, the software Codeberg runs on, if that is what you need.
Does Codeberg have CI?
Yes, through Woodpecker CI, but it isn't switched on by default. You request access using a template in Codeberg's requests repository, and heavy CI use needs a further request. In our test, a full pipeline run took 19.5 minutes and 10 of our 20 CI and review checks passed.
Does Codeberg allow AI-generated code?
Since July 2026, repositories made mostly of unreviewed AI-generated code are banned, after a members' vote. Codeberg says the rule is enforced case by case and isn't aimed at individual AI-assisted commits. The same data policy says code hosted on Codeberg won't be used to train AI models.
Written by
Jason Kim
I've never been impressed by software simply because it looks modern. I'm far more interested in what happens when you actually start using the platform.