GitHub vs Merge: Pricing Comparison (2026)
GitHub starts at $4/mo. Merge starts at $650/mo. GitHub is $646/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Merge.
The dominant developer platform (source control + code review + CI/CD + package registry), owned by Microsoft ($7.5B acquisition, 2018). Positioned as the alternative to GitLab and Bitbucket for the vast majority of open-source and enterprise software teams. Distinctive for its Copilot AI product ($10-$39/user/mo) that became Microsoft's fastest-growing AI SKU. Priced free (unlimited public + private repos) up to $21/user/mo Enterprise. Real cost bloat: GitHub Actions minutes and Copilot seats scale with team activity.
Unified API platform for B2B SaaS. Positioned as the alternative to building N integrations per category (HRIS, ATS, CRM, accounting). Distinctive: one API call reaches 200+ tools — you code once, your customers connect to whatever they use. Free for first 3 production Linked Accounts. Paid starts at $650/mo for up to 10 accounts, then $65 per additional — mandatory annual contracts. Popular with vertical SaaS whose customers span many operational tools.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | GitHub monthly | GitHub annual | Merge monthly | Merge annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Team / Growth | 4 | 4 | 650 | 650 |
| 3 | Enterprise | 21 | 21 | custom | custom |
What each is best for
The dominant developer platform (source control + code review + CI/CD + package registry), owned by Microsoft ($7.5B acquisition, 2018). Positioned as the alternative to GitLab and Bitbucket for the vast majority of open-source and enterprise software teams. Distinctive for its Copilot AI product ($10-$39/user/mo) that became Microsoft's fastest-growing AI SKU. Priced free (unlimited public + private repos) up to $21/user/mo Enterprise. Real cost bloat: GitHub Actions minutes and Copilot seats scale with team activity.
Unified API platform for B2B SaaS. Positioned as the alternative to building N integrations per category (HRIS, ATS, CRM, accounting). Distinctive: one API call reaches 200+ tools — you code once, your customers connect to whatever they use. Free for first 3 production Linked Accounts. Paid starts at $650/mo for up to 10 accounts, then $65 per additional — mandatory annual contracts. Popular with vertical SaaS whose customers span many operational tools.
At a glance
| GitHub | Merge | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $4/mo | $650/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | — |
| Last verified | July 23, 2026 | July 25, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 25, 2026. Tracked daily.