Migrating from Wrike to GitLab
GitLab and Wrike both handle source code management and ci cd pipelines, but they differ on pricing — Wrike comes in $19.2/user/mo/user/mo lower. This guide covers how to move your team across without losing data, context, or momentum.
At a Glance
- Extremely versatile work management platform — supports Gantt, Kanban, table, calendar, and workload views in a single workspace
- Powerful resource management and workload balancing with real-time capacity insights (Business plan and above)
- Built-in proofing and approval workflows for creative assets — images, videos, PDFs — making it ideal for marketing and creative teams
- 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
You leave behind
- −Gantt charts
- −mobile app
Migration Steps
Audit and export your current workspace
Before touching GitLab, document what lives in Wrike: 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 $19.2/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 Wrike feature your team relies on. projects and tasks in Wrike maps to epics, stories, and sprints in GitLab. GitLab supports custom fields — recreate your Wrike 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 Wrike. 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 Wrike in parallel for two weeks
Keep Wrike 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 Wrike, archive the workspace and make GitLab the official home.
Ready to switch?
Read the full GitLab review for pricing, integrations, and team fit details.