GitLab has become central to DevOps workflows, providing comprehensive tools for source code management, CI/CD, planning, and collaboration. Yet, growing teams often face escalating costs with GitLab’s Premium and Ultimate SaaS offerings. Fortunately, self-hosting GitLab Community Edition (CE) on LetsCloud presents a strategic alternative that combines cost efficiency, control, and customization.
Why Self-Host GitLab CE on LetsCloud?
1. Dramatic Cost Savings
By switching from per-user subscription fees (Premium: $29/user/month) to predictable infrastructure expenses with LetsCloud, teams significantly reduce costs, particularly as they scale.
2. Complete Control and Customization
Self-hosting provides administrative access to fine-tune configurations, manage resources, install custom integrations, and control software update cadences to precisely fit your needs.
3. Data Sovereignty and Enhanced Security
LetsCloud’s global data centers enable compliance with data residency regulations. Self-hosting empowers your team to implement custom network and application security practices aligned with your organization’s policies.
4. Optimized Performance
Selecting optimal LetsCloud infrastructure sizes with high-performance SSD storage delivers tailored performance surpassing multi-tenant SaaS environments, ideal for intensive workloads.
GitLab’s Pricing: SaaS vs. Self-Hosted CE
- GitLab Premium: $29/user/month ($348/user/year)
- GitLab Ultimate: ~$99/user/month (Contact sales)
GitLab CE offers core SCM, unlimited CI/CD with self-hosted runners, basic security, and no imposed user limits.
LetsCloud Instance Recommendations
| LetsCloud Plan | vCPU | RAM | SSD Storage | Bandwidth | Monthly Cost | Recommended Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 | 4GB | 30GB | 2TB | $15 | <100 |
| Recommended | 4 | 8GB | 40GB | 3TB | $35 | Up to 500 |
| Large | 6 | 16GB | 50GB | 4TB | $60 | Up to 1000 |
Cost Comparison Example
| Team Size | Annual GitLab Premium Cost | LetsCloud Annual Cost | Annual Savings |
| 10 users | $3,480 | ~$463 | ~$3,017 (87%) |
| 25 users | $8,700 | ~$463 | ~$8,237 (95%) |
| 50 users | $17,400 | ~$463 | ~$16,937 (97%) |
| 100 users | $34,800 | ~$463 | ~$34,337 (99%) |
Deploying GitLab CE on LetsCloud: A Quick Start Guide
1. Infrastructure Setup
- Choose your LetsCloud plan (recommended: $35/month).
- Select a Linux distribution (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS).
- Deploy in a convenient data center location.
- Configure SSH access and network firewall.
2. GitLab Installation
- Use GitLab Omnibus package for quick setup.
- Follow official installation guides for your Linux distribution.
3. Configuration Essentials
- Set external URL and SSL certificates.
- Configure email notifications and optional performance tuning.
- Execute
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure.
4. Migration (if applicable)
- Migrate repositories using git push –mirror or GitLab’s project export/import.
- Reconfigure users and CI/CD settings manually.
Maintenance, Backups, and Security
Regular Maintenance:
- Schedule routine updates and security patches.
Backup Strategy:
- Regularly back up using GitLab’s built-in tools.
- Store backups on LetsCloud attachable storage or S3-compatible buckets.
- Test restoration quarterly.
Security Best Practices:
- Enable LetsCloud firewall.
- Harden OS and enforce GitLab application security policies.
- Mandate two-factor authentication and restrict visibility settings.
Conclusion
Self-hosting GitLab CE on LetsCloud provides substantial financial savings, unmatched control, improved security, and customizable performance. Empower your DevOps workflows with a robust, scalable, and budget-friendly solution.
Ready to start? Sign up for LetsCloud, select your optimal infrastructure, and transform your DevOps cost structure today.
