GitLab Releases
Track GitLab releases, CE vs EE feature comparison, major version upgrade paths, Runner compatibility, and breaking changes per release.
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Total Versions
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Supported
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Latest
Version Timeline
All tracked releases with lifecycle status and EOL dates.
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Lifecycle Timeline
Visual overview of active support and maintenance windows.
Upgrade Paths
Migration guidance between major versions — breaking changes, effort estimates, and tips.
Breaking Changes
- Required stop versions: must hit 16.3, 16.7, 16.11 first
- All background migrations from 16.x must complete
- Deprecated API endpoints removed
- CI/CD component syntax changes
- Elasticsearch 8 / OpenSearch 2 required (was ES 7)
- Removed legacy project integrations
- Database schema changes (irreversible)
Migration Notes
Major version upgrades are the riskiest GitLab operation. Follow the documented upgrade path exactly. Check background migrations at /admin/background_migrations before each stop. Plan for 2-4 hours of downtime for large instances (100K+ projects). Take a database backup before starting. Test on a staging instance first.
Breaking Changes
- Minor feature deprecations
- Possible CI/CD keyword additions
- Runner compatibility within 1 minor version
Migration Notes
Monthly minor upgrades are designed to be safe. Update, run database migrations, restart. Check /admin/background_migrations and let them complete before the next upgrade. Upgrade Runners after the instance.
Version Risk Assessment
Evaluate risk factors before choosing a version for production.
| Version | EOL Risk | CVE Risk | Ecosystem | Cloud Support | Overall | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitLab 15.x and older | Critical | Critical | Dead | None | Critical | Severely outdated — multiple required stop upgrades needed |
| GitLab 16.x | Critical | High | Unsupported | None | Critical | Past EOL — upgrade through 17.0 |
| GitLab 17.0-17.6 | High | High | Unsupported | Degrading | High | Past support window — upgrade to latest |
| GitLab 17.9-17.10 | Medium | Low | Supported | Full | Medium | Within support — upgrade when possible |
| GitLab 17.11 / 18.0 | None | Low | Active | Full | Low | Current — recommended |
GitLab supports only the latest 3 minor versions with patches. Older versions get no security fixes. Monthly release cadence means you can fall behind quickly. Assessed March 2026.
GitLab Version Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature differences across major versions.
| Feature | 16.0 | 16.11 | 17.0 | 17.6 | 17.11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CI/CD Components | Beta | Stable | Stable | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| GitLab Duo (AI) | No | Beta | Beta | GA | Enhanced |
| VS Code Web IDE | Beta | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Container scanning | Trivy | Trivy | Trivy | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| Dependency scanning | Gemnasium | Gemnasium | Enhanced | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| Required stop for upgrade | N/A | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (for 18.0) |
| Runner min version | 15.x | 16.9+ | 16.11+ | 17.4+ | 17.9+ |
| PostgreSQL minimum | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| Elasticsearch/OpenSearch | ES 7/OS 1 | ES 7/OS 2 | ES 8/OS 2 | ES 8/OS 2 | ES 8/OS 2 |
Embed Badges
Add live GitLab status badges to your README, docs, or dashboard.
Health Status
Overall support health
EOL Countdown
Next end-of-life date
Latest Version
Current stable release
CVE Status
Known vulnerabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GitLab releases and lifecycle.