GitHub Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
GitHub pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $21 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
GitHub's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Unlimited public/private repositories
- Dependabot security and version updates
- 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 500MB Packages storage
- Issues & Projects
- Community support
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- GitHub Codespaces
- Repository rules
- Multiple reviewers
- Code owners
- 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
- 2GB Packages storage
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| ciCdMinutes | 2000 | Unlimited/Higher |
| packagesStorage | 500 | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like GitHub Codespaces or Repository rules
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- GitHub branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Team Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Team $4/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 6 included | 6+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | GitHub branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Individuals and organizations basics | Advanced collaboration |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is GitHub free?
Yes, GitHub offers a forever free plan with 6 core features included. However, there are limits on cicdminutes, packagesstorage that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in GitHub's free plan?
GitHub's free plan includes: Unlimited public/private repositories, Dependabot security and version updates, 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month, 500MB Packages storage, Issues & Projects, and 1 more features. Key limits include ciCdMinutes: 2000, packagesStorage: 500.
03 What's NOT included in GitHub's free plan?
The free plan excludes: GitHub Codespaces, Repository rules, Multiple reviewers, Code owners, 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month. You'll also have GitHub branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from GitHub's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like GitHub Codespaces or Repository rules, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $4/user/month.
05 Is GitHub's free plan really free forever?
Yes, GitHub's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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