# GitLab Ultimate Free Trial: What You Get, What You Don't (2026)

> Source: <https://dev.to/jamilxt/gitlab-ultimate-free-trial-what-you-get-what-you-dont-2026-5f41>
> Published: 2026-06-18 16:46:21+00:00

GitLab just updated their free trial — and it includes access to their new **GitLab Duo Agent Platform**. No credit card required. 30 days.

But here is the thing: most people sign up without reading the fine print. I went through the trial page and FAQ so you don't have to. Here's what matters.

##
What You Get (Free Trial)

The trial gives you **nearly all Ultimate-tier features** for 30 days. That includes:

-
**GitLab Duo Agent Platform** — their agentic AI for the entire software lifecycle
-
**24 AI credits per user** — for code suggestions, chat, and AI-assisted features
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**CI/CD pipelines** — with 400 compute minutes per month (on GitLab.com)
-
**Application Security Testing** — SAST, DAST, secret detection, dependency scanning
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**Software Supply Chain Security** — container scanning, SBOM, vulnerability management
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**Compliance pipelines** — audit events, merge request approvals
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**Value Stream Management** — analytics and insights

Two options to start:

-
**GitLab.com** — we host, instant setup, no installation
-
**Self-Managed** — you host, download and install on your own infrastructure (requires Linux experience, GitLab 18.0+)

##
What You Don't Get

This is the part people miss:

-
**No group tokens** — only a single project token is available during the trial
-
**No external API connections** — features requiring external APIs won't work
-
**No support** — free trials exclude support at any level. If you need to evaluate their support SLA, you'll need to contact sales
-
**400 compute minutes limit** — if you use GitLab.com shared runners
-
**Credit card required** if you want shared runners — GitLab added this to prevent crypto mining abuse

After the trial ends, you lose access to Duo Agent Platform and any remaining AI credits. You can continue on the **Free tier** or upgrade to a paid plan.

##
GitLab Duo Agent Platform — The Real Draw

This is what makes the 2026 trial different from previous years.

GitLab Duo is their AI layer across the entire DevSecOps lifecycle:

-
**Code Suggestions** — AI-powered code completion
-
**Duo Chat** — ask questions about your codebase
-
**Agentic AI** — autonomous agents for code review, vulnerability remediation, and test generation

During the trial, you get **24 credits per user** to test these features. After the trial, you'll need a paid plan to keep using them.

##
Pricing After Trial

GitLab has three tiers:

| Plan |
Who It's For |
Key Features |
**Free** |
Individuals, small projects |
Core CI/CD, 400 compute minutes, 5GB storage |
**Premium** |
Growing teams |
10,000 compute minutes, code review, compliance |
**Ultimate** |
Enterprise |
Full security suite, Duo AI, priority support |

Special programs available:

-
**GitLab for Open Source** — free Ultimate license for qualifying projects
-
**GitLab for Startups** — free Ultimate for early-stage companies
-
**GitLab for Education** — free for students and educators

##
Should You Try It?

If you're evaluating DevSecOps platforms, the 30-day trial is worth it for these reasons:

-
**Full security scanning** — test SAST, DAST, dependency scanning without paying
-
**AI features** — experience Duo Agent Platform before committing
-
**No lock-in** — no credit card required (unless you use shared runners)
-
**Self-hosted option** — test it on your own infrastructure

The trial is limited, but 30 days is enough to run a real project through it and see if it fits your workflow.

**Try it:** [about.gitlab.com/free-trial](https://about.gitlab.com/free-trial/)

*Note: This article is based on GitLab's official free trial page and FAQ as of June 2026. Features and limits may change.*