Migrating from Trello to GitLab
Trello supports 200+ integrations — 100 more than GitLab. If integration breadth is a factor in your switch from Trello to GitLab, this guide covers how to reconnect your stack after migrating.
At a Glance
- Extremely intuitive drag-and-drop Kanban interface — virtually zero learning curve, new users productive within minutes
- Generous free tier with unlimited cards, unlimited Power-Ups, and up to 10 boards per Workspace
- Butler automation engine is powerful and accessible, allowing no-code workflow automation with rule-based, calendar, and due date triggers
- Single platform covering the entire DevSecOps lifecycle — source code, CI/CD, security scanning, monitoring, and project management in one tool, eliminating toolchain complexity
- Best-in-class CI/CD with Auto DevOps, merge trains, multi-project pipelines, and native Kubernetes integration for seamless deployment workflows
- Strong self-managed option with full feature parity — ideal for enterprises with strict data sovereignty, air-gapped environments, or compliance requirements
You gain with GitLab
- +roadmapping
- +sprint planning
- +backlog management
- +time tracking
You leave behind
- −mobile app
Migration Steps
Audit and export your current workspace
Before touching GitLab, document what lives in Trello: projects and tasks, custom fields, automations, integrations, and team permissions. Export a full CSV backup — most tools support this from Settings → Export. Pay particular attention to any custom fields and workflow automations that your team relies on daily.
Set up your GitLab workspace
Create your GitLab workspace and replicate your project structure using epics, stories, and sprints. GitLab starts at $29/user/mo/user/mo with a free tier available — budget $23/user/mo more per user. Run with a single pilot team before migrating everyone.
Map your workflow equivalents
Find the closest GitLab equivalent for each Trello feature your team relies on. projects and tasks in Trello maps to epics, stories, and sprints in GitLab. GitLab supports custom fields — recreate your Trello field schema here first. Prioritise the critical path: task creation, status tracking, and assignment.
Import your data
GitLab supports CSV import for tasks and projects and has 20+ native integrations. After importing, rebuild your key automations — GitLab's automation engine can replicate most rules you had in Trello. Start with your most active project rather than importing everything at once.
Onboard your team
Run a 30-minute walkthrough covering the daily workflow: how to create epics, stories, and sprints, update status, and find your board. GitLab has a steeper learning curve. Budget 2–3 weeks for full adoption and schedule follow-up sessions after week one.
Run Trello in parallel for two weeks
Keep Trello read-only while your team works primarily in GitLab. This reduces risk and lets people reference historical context — old decisions, archived tickets, past sprint data — without slowing the migration. After two weeks with no new work going into Trello, archive the workspace and make GitLab the official home.
Ready to switch?
Read the full GitLab review for pricing, integrations, and team fit details.