The Why Behind GitHub Migration<\/h2>\n
Maybe your team wants to avoid vendor lock-in. Maybe privacy is the biggest priority. Or maybe it\u2019s all about cost and customizability. Whatever the reason, self-hosted Git platforms like Gitea, GitLab CE, and Forgejo are gaining popularity.<\/p>\n
But moving is tricky. GitHub holds not just your code but also:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Commit history<\/li>\n
- Pull requests (PRs)<\/li>\n
- Issues and comments<\/li>\n
- Labels and milestones<\/li>\n
- Wiki and discussions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You probably don\u2019t want to lose any of that. Luckily, some smart tools can help!<\/p>\n
Here are the 6 best tools for seamless GitHub migration:<\/h2>\n
1. git clone & push \u2014 DIY for the Hardcore<\/em><\/h3>\n
This one\u2019s for the purists. If you’re just migrating repo files and commit history, you can simply use the built-in
git clone<\/code> andgit push<\/code> commands. That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n\ngit clone --mirror https:\/\/github.com\/your-org\/your-repo.git \ncd your-repo.git \ngit push --mirror ssh:\/\/git@example.com\/your-new-repo.git\n<\/code><\/pre>\nPros:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Simple and fast for code & commit history<\/li>\n
- No dependencies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Doesn\u2019t migrate issues, PRs, or metadata<\/li>\n
- You\u2019ll need more tools for a complete move<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Verdict? Great for small, simple projects or as a first step in larger migrations.<\/p>\n
2. GitHub API + Scripts \u2014 Build Your Own Tool<\/em><\/h3>\n
If you’re a fan of scripting, you can use GitHub’s REST or GraphQL API to fetch issues, labels, milestones, and even PRs \u2014 then recreate them on your destination platform using its API.<\/p>\n
Use if:<\/strong> You’re good with Python, Bash, or Node, and want full control.<\/p>\n
Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Perfect for customized migrations<\/li>\n
- Script once, use forever<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Time-consuming<\/li>\n
- Requires API knowledge and maintenance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/text-github-api-scripts-migration-automation-code.jpg\")
\nThis approach works nicely if your target is GitLab, Gitea, or Forgejo since most of them have compatible APIs.<\/p>\n
3. gitlab-mirror \u2014 Best for Moving to GitLab<\/em><\/h3>\n
If your new home is GitLab (especially self-hosted GitLab CE), this tool is awesome. It handles repo mirroring and can replicate issues, merge requests, and labels via import APIs.<\/p>\n
Bonus:<\/strong> GitLab even offers a GitHub import feature built into its UI.<\/p>\n
Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Automated and well-documented<\/li>\n
- Built-in to GitLab in many cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Only works if GitLab is the destination<\/li>\n
- Customization is somewhat limited<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It’s an excellent set-it-and-go method for teams shifting entire projects, especially if you\u2019re replicating an entire org.<\/p>\n
4. Gitea\/Gogs Migrate Feature \u2014 Easy One-Click Imports<\/em><\/h3>\n
If you’re moving to Gitea<\/strong> or Gogs<\/strong>, good news \u2014 they come with a built-in migration feature. Just throw in your GitHub token and the repo URL, and you’re halfway there.<\/p>\n
This migration grabs:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Repositories & commit history<\/li>\n
- Issues and pull requests<\/li>\n
- Labels and milestones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Super easy<\/li>\n
- No scripting required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Limited to what Gitea supports<\/li>\n
- May skip some metadata (like reactions or assignees)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Perfect for small teams or side projects with lots of history to keep.<\/p>\n
5. ghorg \u2014 Fast Mass Cloner for Git Repos<\/em><\/h3>\n
Want to grab a bunch of GitHub repos all at once? ghorg<\/strong> is here to help. It’s a Go-based tool that can clone every repo under your organization (or user) into your local disk.<\/p>\n
You can then push them to your self-hosted system of choice \u2014 Gitea, GitLab, etc.<\/p>\n
Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Batch migrates dozens of repos quickly<\/li>\n
- Supports GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Only handles repositories, not issues or PRs<\/li>\n
- Needs a follow-up tool for full migration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/a-group-of-birds-flying-in-the-sky-batch-migration-multiple-repos-git-clone.jpg\")
\nThis tool is lightning-fast and script-ready. Pair it with another tool like GitHub Issue Importer to complete the picture.<\/p>\n
6. ghe-migrator \u2014 For Enterprise Migrations<\/em><\/h3>\n
If you have GitHub Enterprise and want to move off of it completely, ghe-migrator<\/strong> (provided by GitHub) lets you export full repositories, issues, attachments, wikis, and more.<\/p>\n
It packages everything into a bundle that can later be imported into another system \u2014 given you find one that supports it, or can parse it.<\/p>\n
Great for:<\/strong><\/p>\n