GitHub vs HackerOne comparison

GitHub and HackerOne are both solutions in the Application Security Tools category. GitHub is ranked #4 with an average rating of 9.0, while HackerOne is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.4. GitHub holds a 1.1% mindshare in AS, compared to HackerOne’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of GitHub users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of HackerOne users who would recommend it.

GitHub

Read 97 GitHub reviews

3,549 Views
2,094 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HackerOne

Read 6 HackerOne reviews

3,613 Views
325 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

GitHub

HackerOne

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 19, 2025

HackerOne and GitHub serve unique roles in software development and cybersecurity. HackerOne leads in security by enabling coordination with ethical hackers, while GitHub provides a robust platform for code hosting and version control, favoring collaborative development.

Features: HackerOne features include its strong bug bounty programs, a wide variety of vulnerability disclosure options, and comprehensive reporting capabilities. GitHub provides powerful repository hosting, integrated issue tracking, and continuous integration tools, focusing more on collaborative coding processes.

Room for Improvement: HackerOne could enhance user experience by simplifying program setup and expanding third-party integrations. GitHub might benefit from improving its issue tracking granularity, integrating more native DevOps tools, and providing more insightful analytics for repository management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: GitHub is known for its ease of deployment with cloud hosting, integrating smoothly with existing workflows, supported by detailed documentation and a strong community. HackerOne requires more customization in launching bounty programs but offers strong security consultation and personalized customer service for tailored solutions.

Pricing and ROI: HackerOne's higher setup costs are justified by its focus on preventing security breaches, offering substantial ROI. GitHub provides cost-effective solutions with scalable plans for development teams of all sizes, ensuring long-term savings through enhanced productivity.

To learn more, read our detailed GitHub vs. HackerOne Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GitHub vs. HackerOne

December 2025

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Helped 879,853 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

GitHub

Ranking in Application Security Tools

4th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Version Control (3rd), Agile and DevOps Services (2nd)

HackerOne

Ranking in Application Security Tools

19th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Vulnerability Management (27th), Bug Bounty Platforms (2nd), Penetration Testing Services (2nd), Attack Surface Management (ASM) (11th), AI Observability (10th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Application Security Tools category, the mindshare of GitHub is 1.1%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HackerOne is 0.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Security Tools Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
GitHub	1.1%
HackerOne	0.5%
Other	98.4%

Application Security Tools

Featured Reviews

Murathan OK

Software Development Manager at a media company with 10,001+ employees

CI/CD workflows have become streamlined and AI support has improved collaborative development

We are using GitHub because it is open-source software, which is the most valuable solution for us. The open source and community support are very good. We are always up-to-date with the community, and integration difficulty is very low. If you integrate any CI/CD solutions on GitHub, it's very easy. We started using GitHub about three months ago with AI integration. For our deployments, some developers can be very shy about asking for descriptions on their commits. We are using AI support for comments and deployment management, which is beautiful. We are not using the GitHub API for automating workflows in our projects. I give GitHub a five-star rating for the review capabilities. I also give GitHub five stars for integration with third-party applications. There is a lot of integration available on GitHub. If you want to integrate something, even if it could be integrated before GitHub, you can make your code and integrate your own in-house applications. It's a very easy and powerful aspect of GitHub.

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Ruphus Muita

Senior ICT Security Consultant at Applied Principles Limited

Has improved my motivation to submit bugs consistently through fast response and clear filtering

I think HackerOne can be improved by allowing new users to gain access to certain programs that are only open to known, renowned users. Sometimes new users don't receive invites just because they are new, despite potentially being very skilled hackers, so I feel new users should get more chances and opportunities. I am currently satisfied with the rewards, response time, and other aspects of the platform, so I don't have anything else to add about the necessary improvements. I give HackerOne a nine out of ten because if new hackers are given more opportunities, it could be a perfect 10 for me. However, the reason I gave a nine is that I don't have much to complain about; I specifically love the program and don't have many concerns.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"All the features are valuable, but the most important feature is that GitHub has advanced security. The second important feature is the capability to create custom GitHub actions and the capability to deploy in different types of architectural infrastructures, such as hybrid, private, or public."

"I recommend using GitHub because it is reliable and helpful for developers."

"The most valuable feature is the source code management. It's very helpful and it's a great product."

"Complication free with good ability for third-party integrations."

"The most valuable features of GitHub include its ability to integrate with Jira and multiple CI/CD platforms like Techton, allowing for seamless project management."

"GitHub is pure or open-source; you can access it anywhere. You can have a lot of collateral information. You can make the changes and do the reviews from one place."

"The flexibility of this solution has been most valuable. It operates on a pay per use basis where you can ramp up or decrease usage."

"There are no issues. It's simple, easy, and fully compatible from my perspective with Git."

More GitHub pros

"The most valuable feature of HackerOne is its variety of programs. These programs provide depth into various areas, such as mobile, API, and websites."

"The fast verification process impacts my motivation significantly because a quick response keeps me motivated, and if I'm going to try and hunt bugs today, I would appreciate a response within the day or at least within a few days."

"HackerOne is larger than WebCloud and has a better reputation than BugCloud, which results in a smoother process."

"Apart from getting all the bug bounty opportunities, we also get the chance to practice in a safe environment, like a demo setup. These features are great for beginners who want to explore bug bounties in the future."

"It helps me to get new sales, profits, and other benefits."

"HackerOne is larger than WebCloud and has a better reputation than BugCloud, which results in a smoother process."

Cons

"There can be conflict issues when two developers work on the same file or line of code, and it would be great to see that improved, possibly with an AI solution."

"The only thing I see missing in GitHub is that it isn't very user friendly for key personnel who don't have in-depth, technical knowledge. In Jira, there are many functions to upload our test cases, and in GitHub we can only do it manually. There are functions which can be used to upload different files, but that still requires some technical knowledge. A layman cannot do it."

"The UI is a little outdated, so that could be improved."

"Regarding improvements, I preferred the tool's earlier pricing model, which limited storage and the number of repositories instead of the number of users, which was more convenient from a customer perspective. I've also experienced issues with GitHub servers being unable to support moving repositories, which caused problems. For basic plans, no support was available to help resolve these issues. I think GitHub should provide more support for smaller businesses to help with these problems."

"I decided not to use GitHub but developed my tool because I found it more efficient. I'm familiar with my tools, making them easier to use. I like being able to customize them to fit my workflow and the way I think.. Software development is like a personal workshop, and I tailor my version control to match my approach."

"The descriptions within Github could be more user-friendly to show the trees of Gitflow."

"The query function in GitHub is a bit stiff."

"Github needs more storage."

More GitHub cons

"Sometimes new users don't receive invites just because they are new, despite potentially being very skilled hackers, so I feel new users should get more chances and opportunities."

"The ability to view the conversation between the triagers and the programs will be really good."

"Everything has become slower on HackerOne. I have noticed that older researchers receive all the private invites while newer ones receive fewer."

"Everything has become slower on HackerOne."

"One issue I've experienced is traffic. Many people try to participate when an opportunity with a bounty of around 1,000-15,000 dollars comes up. In this case, the first person to report the vulnerability gets the bounty. If a second person reports the same vulnerability, they are marked as duplicated instead of receiving some recognition. The second person also invested time finding the issue, so I think this can be improved."

"Response time can be improved. The HackerOne Trust team can be slow to respond sometimes. They're not using AI, which could help reduce the number of duplicate reports."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Regarding pricing, I'd rate it eight out of ten. It's decent and not too expensive, and small businesses can also afford it. With AWS taking CodeCommit out of the market, I don't see many competitors for small companies in terms of GitHub."

"I think, in terms of price, GitHub is okay compared to other tools."

"I haven't had to pay anything for GitHub, I use the free version."

"The licensing model for GitHub is user-based. Whenever the new developer joins we have to get a new license and register their ID. The overall price of the solution is reasonable."

"GitHub is an open-source application. It's free to use."

"It's cheaper than Bitbucket."

"The tool offers a free program. As you go, you can upgrade from the community version to the professional one. I believe it costs about ten dollars per person, per month."

"It’s an open-source solution."

More GitHub pricing and cost advice

"The solution is free."

"The tool is open-source and free for bug bounty hunters."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	42
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	49

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about GitHub?

The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub?

I was paying approximately one hundred dollars annually about a year ago. I am uncertain of the current cost, but GitHub without Copilot is free as far as I know. I am not paying anything for my Gi...

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What needs improvement with GitHub?

Security could make GitHub better. OWASP Top Ten security advisors could be integrated on GitHub, and it could provide checks and advice. That would be much better. Additionally, LLM integration on...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HackerOne?

I have not experienced any costs since I use HackerOne independently, just logging into the site, hunting bugs, and submitting them without any expenses.

See all answers

What needs improvement with HackerOne?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HackerOne?

My main use case for HackerOne is mostly for submitting bugs. I get into the programs listed there, find one that is suitable for me, do my penetration testing on the systems, try to bypass some co...

See all answers

Comparisons

Bitbucket vs GitHub

Compared 9% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub

Compared 7% of the time

OpenText Core Application Security vs GitHub

Compared 6% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs GitHub

Compared 6% of the time

Atlassian SourceTree vs GitHub

Compared 5% of the time

More GitHub Competitors

Bugcrowd vs HackerOne

Compared 42% of the time

Synack vs HackerOne

Compared 15% of the time

Intigriti vs HackerOne

Compared 11% of the time

YesWeHack vs HackerOne

Compared 7% of the time

Cobalt vs HackerOne

Compared 4% of the time

More HackerOne Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GitHub

December 2025

Download GitHub product report

Buyer's Guide

HackerOne

December 2025

Download HackerOne product report

Also Known As

No data available

HackerOne Assets, HackerOne Pentesting Services, HackerOne Security Assessments, HackerOne Vulnerability Management

Overview

GitHub is a web-based Git repository hosting service. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management (SCM) functionality of Git as well as adding its own features. Unlike Git, which is strictly a command-line tool, GitHub provides a Web-based graphical interface and desktop as well as mobile integration. It also provides access control and several collaboration features such as bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis for every project.

GitHub

HackerOne leads in offensive security with a platform that expertly identifies and remedies security vulnerabilities using AI and a vast researcher community. Trusted by industry giants, it integrates bug bounties, vulnerability disclosure, and code security in software development.

The HackerOne Platform offers a comprehensive suite of services, combining advanced AI technology with the skills of a global security researcher community to address complex security challenges. It facilitates an understanding of vulnerabilities, promoting better remediation practices across software lifecycles. Notable clients include Anthropic, Crypto.com, General Motors, GitHub, Goldman Sachs, Uber, and U.S. Department of Defense. Recognized for innovation and workplace excellence, HackerOne continues to set standards in security solutions.

What key features does HackerOne offer?

Skilled Hacker Community: Access a large pool of expert security researchers.
Third-Party Integrations: Seamless compatibility with various tools like payment systems and project management applications.
Bug Bounty Programs: Incentivized vulnerability discovery across industries.
Direct Communication: Facilitates dialogue for better understanding of vulnerabilities.
Safe Practice Environments: Supports learning for both beginners and seasoned professionals.

Why is HackerOne beneficial for your needs?

Speed of Delivery: Quickly identifies and resolves security issues.
Responsive Support: Reliable assistance enhances user experience.
Transparency in Communication: Clear reporting processes aid in issue resolution.
Income Opportunities: Bug bounties offer financial incentives.

HackerOne finds significant applications in various sectors with its focus on vulnerability assessment, testing, and responsible disclosure. Organizations utilize it for ethical hacking and efficient vulnerability coordination, making it essential in cybersecurity strategies. The platform's reliability is evident in its ability to identify and document security threats effectively.

HackerOne

Sample Customers

Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent

Anthropic, Crypto.com, General Motors, GitHub, Goldman Sachs, Uber, and the U.S. Department of Defense

Buyer's Guide

GitHub vs. HackerOne

December 2025

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