GitOps vs. DevOps: What It Means for Delivery, Ops, and Engineering Teams

You’re likely managing tools, teams, and deadlines, trying to move faster without losing control. But you might be wondering if there’s a better way to handle deployments, streamline processes, or reduce the risk of errors.

GitOps and DevOps both promise smoother delivery, but they take you down different paths. Each approach brings its own strengths, quirks, and fit for your setup.

In this article, you’ll know exactly which one makes more sense for your development workflows, infrastructure provisioning, and software deployment needs. But before we do all of that, here’s a quick breakdown to help you compare them side by side:

Now, let's start with DevOps and build from there.

What Is DevOps?

DevOps is a way of working that brings your development and operations teams together to build and ship software faster. It encourages tighter collaboration and shared responsibility so you can move quickly without too many errors. Instead of siloed workflows, you follow connected processes from writing application code to managing production.

That’s why 83% of IT leaders say they use DevOps practices to deliver stronger business value, according to Spacelift. And 99% of those companies report a clear improvement in how they build and run software after making the switch.

Key Features of DevOps

You use DevOps because speed and teamwork matter. If you want to get better software into customers’ hands without long delays or messy handoffs, this approach gives you a clear path. These are the core features that make DevOps work:

• Customer focus: You put the end user first, which means listening to feedback and acting fast.
• Fast change delivery: Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) help you push updates quickly and confidently.
• Automation: You rely on automation tools to handle testing, deployment, and infrastructure. That way, you reduce the chance of human error and improve your cycle time.
• Monitoring and feedback: You keep an eye on performance and listen to data. That’s why 61% of companies say their product quality improved after switching to DevOps.
• Shared responsibility: DevOps teams break down silos. You work together, not in separate corners. In 2023, 40% of companies said better collaboration was the top win from DevOps.

How DevOps Works

You’re no longer stuck in the old routine of building code, tossing it to ops, and hoping it runs. In a DevOps setup, you take full ownership, from writing code to watching it run in production.

That shift changes your whole development pipeline. Now, instead of writing application code and walking away, you monitor, fix, and improve it too. Your team owns the full loop, which means fewer delays and more control across the entire software development lifecycle.

With that foundation, it’s time to see how GitOps changes the game.

What Is GitOps?

GitOps is a method for managing infrastructure and application configurations using Git as your single source of truth. It builds on DevOps practices by replacing scripts and dashboards with Git-based workflows and declarative infrastructure. With GitOps, you use version control systems to define the desired state of your systems and let automation handle the rest.

According to a CNCF survey, 60% of teams have been using GitOps tools for over a year. But not all use it deeply. In fact, only 9.9% apply GitOps to all production systems, while over 40% use it for under a third.

Key Features of GitOps

Organizations turn to GitOps because they want fewer surprises and more control over their deployment process. These are the key features that make it work.

• Git as the source of truth: Everything, from configuration files, infra rules, and application configurations, lives in Git. That convenience can be the reason why 54% of teams apply GitOps to 26% or more of their cloud-native systems, according to CNCF.
• Pull-based deployments: Agents (like Argo CD or Flux) pull changes from Git and sync them with your infra automatically. Why does this matter? Well, faster delivery is the main reason 71% of teams choose GitOps. Consistency and config management follow at 66% as per CNCF.
• Automatic reconciliation: GitOps tools check that what’s running matches what’s in Git. Faster reconciliation means your system corrects drift sooner, reducing downtime and compliance risk. That’s why, in one notable case, the GitOps Engine cut continuous reconciliation times by half from 2.49 to 1.24 seconds.
• Auditability and rollback capabilities: You can trace every change and revert fast, with no manual rollback steps, which gives you a critical edge when things go wrong. Again, according to CNCF, 60% of teams say fast rollback is key to staying secure. And 69% cite replacing manual intervention with automation (like GitOps offers) as their top security win, making their rollback process both faster and safer.
• Provisioned environments and elastic scaling: Because GitOps lets you define your infrastructure configurations in code, your system can automatically scale on demand. Every change is tracked and continuously reconciled from Git.

How GitOps Works

You write your declarative configuration in Git. That’s your desired state, meaning how you want your apps and infrastructure to look. Then a controller, like Argo CD or Flux, syncs that state with your system. Every update happens through code reviews, not ad hoc scripts or clicks.

That means no guessing, no drift, and no messy rollbacks. You get continuous deployment without babysitting every step. And since the entire process runs through Git, your deployment pipeline stays clean, traceable, and fast from commit to live deployment.

So, how do these two fit together? That’s what we’ll look at next.

GitOps vs. DevOps: What’s the Relationship?

You can think of GitOps as an extension of DevOps. It builds on the same DevOps principles but adds a stricter structure through version control tools and a declarative approach. You still aim for faster, safer application deployments, but GitOps relies on Git to define and manage every piece of your system.

That shift gives you stronger tracking, easier rollbacks, and fewer surprises. GitOps doesn’t replace DevOps, but it refines it. All GitOps is DevOps, but not all DevOps is GitOps.

Understanding their relationship leads naturally to the benefits each one offers.

GitOps vs. DevOps: Advantages

If you're looking to improve how your team builds and delivers software, both GitOps and DevOps offer strong benefits. Each one has a clear purpose and serves a different stage in the software development lifecycle. These are the main advantages of each approach.

DevOps Advantages

You use DevOps to break down silos and make work move faster between your development teams and operations. These are the benefits you’ll see when you adopt this method:

• Greater collaboration across teams: DevOps helps reduce the gaps and miscommunication that slow you down.
• Faster release cycles via automation: You save time and increase delivery speed. In fact, 60% of developers are shipping code twice as fast thanks to DevOps.
• Flexible tooling options: DevOps supports a wide range of tools, so you can build a setup that fits your team’s strengths. For example, Spacelift notes that 54% of teams use DevOps to deploy containerized applications.
• Works across most environments: You’re not locked into any one platform, which makes this a good fit for mixed systems.
• Encourages process maturity and ownership: With DevOps, you start owning the full pipeline, from planning to deployment.

GitOps Advantages

GitOps brings structure and control to how you manage infrastructure and applications. These are the core advantages:

• Built-in version control and audit trails: You track every change in your source code repository, so nothing slips through the cracks.
• Ideal for cloud-native and containerized systems: With cloud-native adoption at 89%, GitOps meets you where modern systems live.
• Easier rollback to known good states: You can always return to a previous version when something breaks.
• Reduced manual errors via declarative infrastructure: You define your setup in code, then automate it to ensure less room for human error.
• Strong alignment with Kubernetes best practices: CNCF states that 93% of companies are already using or exploring Kubernetes, and GitOps fits perfectly into that ecosystem.

With those benefits in mind, let's see when you’d actually use each one.

GitOps vs. DevOps: Use Cases

Normally, you don’t pick a methodology just because it sounds good, but you might choose it based on what you’re building and how your team works. Both GitOps and DevOps help you improve delivery, but they serve different needs across the software development life cycle. These are the most common ways you’d use each one.

DevOps Use Cases

If you’re working across teams with older systems, hybrid setups, or high compliance needs, DevOps gives you the flexibility and speed to adapt. These are the use cases where it really shines:

• Legacy systems modernization: You can bridge older tech with modern practices by introducing automation and better coordination between teams.
• Hybrid cloud management: DevOps works well across different environments, which lets you support both on-prem and cloud systems without rebuilding everything.
• Continuous delivery pipelines: You can build an efficient software delivery pipeline that supports steady releases and reduces bottlenecks.
• Compliance-driven industries: For industries like finance or healthcare, DevOps helps you control the software development process while still staying agile.

GitOps Use Cases

With GitOps, you’ll benefit most when you're already working in cloud-native environments or dealing with complex infrastructure. These are the best fits:

• Kubernetes-native app delivery: If your apps run on Kubernetes, GitOps simplifies management with declarative tools and Git-based workflows.
• Microservices at scale: GitOps helps keep your services consistent, even when you’re running dozens or hundreds across multiple teams.
• Infrastructure versioning and reproducibility: You define your infrastructure in Git and apply it the same way every time. That’s key for rollback and audit trails.
• Environments requiring strict auditability: When every change needs to be tracked and verified, GitOps gives you full transparency in your git repositories.

Each approach works best under different conditions. DevOps gives you versatility across a range of tools, while GitOps sharpens control over fast-changing cloud infrastructure. Knowing your use case helps you make the right call.

But it’s not all upside since there are challenges you should know too.

GitOps vs. DevOps: Disadvantages

You’ve seen what each model can offer, but it’s just as important to understand where they can trip you up. No tool or framework is perfect. Knowing the limits helps you avoid wasted effort and better match your tech choices to real-world needs. These are the trade-offs that come with both DevOps and GitOps.

DevOps Disadvantages

Here are the drawbacks you might face with DevOps, especially if you're managing newer or container-heavy systems:

• GitOps can feed DevOps, but not the other way around: You can adopt GitOps practices within DevOps, but DevOps alone doesn’t give you the same Git-level precision or visibility.
• Doesn’t support containers or Kubernetes: If your team runs fully in Kubernetes or uses containers for everything, DevOps might not fit the way you need it to.
• Inconsistent environments if IaC isn’t enforced: Without infrastructure automation, teams may set up environments differently. That can lead to bugs that are hard to trace.
• Manual overhead without full automation: Without strong tooling, you end up spending more time managing deployments and less time building.
• Limited visibility into deployment state: You don’t always get clear insight into what's live, what's pending, or what's gone wrong.
• Not inherently declarative: DevOps doesn’t follow a declarative approach by default, so managing changes across environments takes more coordination.

GitOps Disadvantages

GitOps is powerful but comes with its own set of limits. These are the areas where it can fall short:

• Not as versatile as DevOps: If you're working across many environments or with legacy systems, GitOps may feel restrictive.
• Also doesn’t support containers & Kubernetes: It’s best with Kubernetes, but even then, it doesn’t handle containers directly.
• Steep learning curve for non-Kubernetes teams: If your team isn’t used to Git-based operations or Kubernetes, you’ll need to build up those skills.
• Tooling lock-in (Flux, Argo CD): You depend on specific tools, which can limit flexibility in your DevOps pipeline.
• Not as versatile for non-cloud-native applications: If you're not building cloud infrastructure, GitOps might not deliver much value.
• Complex debugging when state drifts: It’s hard to track down issues when the live environment doesn’t match the Git state.

So what separates these two on a practical level? Let’s break that down.

DevOps vs. GitOps Differences

The main difference between DevOps and GitOps is that DevOps focuses on collaboration and automation across the SDLC, while GitOps enforces a Git-centric, declarative approach to managing infrastructure and applications.

If you're trying to decide which model works best for your team, you need to understand how they approach software delivery at a core level. These are the main differences between DevOps and GitOps that shape how you build, deploy, and manage your software applications.

Approach: Push vs. Pull, Manual vs. Declarative

With DevOps, you push changes using pipelines and DevOps tools like Jenkins or Spinnaker. It's flexible but usually includes manual steps unless you've wired in full automation.

GitOps flips that. You define the desired state in Git, and agents pull updates into production automatically. This declarative description reduces drift and keeps your system aligned with what’s written in code.

Goal: Continuous Delivery vs. Version-Controlled Ops

Normally, you adopt DevOps to support continuous delivery processes, which means moving code from dev to prod quickly and smoothly. GitOps goes deeper by turning Git into your source of truth.

Every operation, from deployment configurations to rollbacks, runs through version control. This structure gives you stronger change tracking and instant rollback if needed.

Best Suited For: Legacy/Hybrid vs. Container-Native

DevOps works well across different types of setups. If you're managing both on-prem systems and cloud services, it gives you the flexibility to run across both.

GitOps thrives in container-native environments, especially when you're deep into Kubernetes. It’s made for modern workloads, not old-school servers.

Focus: Collaboration vs. Automation + Reproducibility

DevOps encourages better communication between development and ops teams. It helps you remove silos between development by building shared ownership. GitOps shifts the focus to automation and reproducibility. If your goal is zero drift and clean rollbacks, GitOps will feel like a better fit.

Tools Used: Jenkins, Terraform vs. Argo CD, Flux

You’ll find a different set of tools with each method. DevOps typically includes Jenkins, Terraform, and others. GitOps depends heavily on Argo CD or Flux. It’s tighter in scope but offers more structure if you’re deep into declarative workflows.

Now that you know the differences, let’s talk about how to choose the right one.

DevOps vs. GitOps: When to Choose Each

Knowing when to use DevOps or GitOps depends on what kind of problems you're solving and how your systems are already set up. Both aim to make your work smoother and faster, but they take different routes to get there. Here's how to decide what fits you best.

Choose DevOps When…

You should go with DevOps if you're modernizing older systems or dealing with varied platforms. DevOps gives you the flexibility to work with different setups without forcing a full rebuild.

It also helps when your team isn't working well together. Following a DevOps approach allows you to create stronger alignment and cut down on misunderstandings.

If you're working in a company where everyone uses different tools, DevOps fits better. You're free to pick whatever tooling works best, and that can help you adapt to changing needs without slowing down your software delivery process.

Choose GitOps When…

GitOps makes more sense when you're already building in cloud-native or Kubernetes environments. If you want precise tracking, version control capabilities, and a way to undo mistakes fast, GitOps gives you that. It’s especially useful when your goal is to lock in infrastructure that doesn’t change behind your back.

If you’re looking to move fast while staying in control, GitOps helps by keeping everything aligned through continuous reconciliation. That reduces the guesswork and keeps your setup in sync with your Git source.

Hybrid Approach

In some cases, you can actually blend both approaches. Start with DevOps for broad team adoption and flexibility, then layer GitOps where it adds value. This lets you maintain wide coverage while tightening control in areas like application development or cloud delivery.

Over time, this combined method builds a more reliable operational framework without forcing you to abandon the systems and tools you already use.

How Axify Supports DevOps and GitOps Engineering Leaders

Axify offers you a clear view of how your delivery pipelines are actually performing, not just how you think they are. Our Value Stream Mapping tool monitors workflows in real time, so you can spot bottlenecks, delays, or patterns that slow your team down. Whether you follow a DevOps model or are leaning into GitOps, Axify shows you how work moves across your pipeline so you can respond faster.

You can also plug Axify into your CI/CD platforms and get insights from multiple tools all in one place. That means you don’t have to bounce between systems to figure out what's working or where something went off track.

Besides, you can see code commits, lead time for changes, deployment frequency, and pull request reviews, all linked to real outcomes. That’s what makes it easier to improve delivery, no matter what model you’re using.

Bonus: If you already use DevOps but are thinking about moving to GitOps, Axify helps you figure out where that change makes sense. The Value Stream Mapping tool shows you which parts of your process would benefit from stricter controls and automated sync.

And if GitOps feels too rigid in some areas, Axify highlights where a more traditional DevOps setup might serve you better. With Axify, you’re never guessing. You’re working with real data that helps you lead smarter.

Wrapping Up: Choosing the Right Path for Your Team

Both GitOps and DevOps give you strong ways to build, ship, and manage software. The difference lies in how you want to control change, scale operations, and meet your project requirements.

If you're working with cloud-native systems and need strict versioning, GitOps fits best. For broader flexibility and team collaboration, DevOps may be a better fit. In some cases, combining both gives you the most value.

Either way, what matters is how clearly you can see your flow. If you're ready to lead smarter, book a demo with Axify and see how we can help.

FAQ

1. Is GitOps a branch of DevOps?

Yes. GitOps builds on DevOps by using Git as the single source of truth. It adds a stronger version control and automation to deployment and infrastructure management. You’re still applying DevOps principles, but with tighter control through Git workflows.

2. What is the difference between DevSecOps and GitOps?

DevSecOps focuses on embedding security into the DevOps pipeline. GitOps focuses on managing deployments using Git and declarative configs. You can actually combine both to enforce security and consistency across your pipeline.

3. When should you use GitOps?

Use GitOps when you're running Kubernetes or cloud-native systems. It works best when you need full traceability and frequent, safe changes. You also benefit most if your team already uses Git and understands declarative configs.

4. Is GitOps better than DevOps?

Not really. GitOps is more specific and strict. DevOps is broader and more flexible, especially for varied environments. Your best choice depends on your team’s needs, skills, and setup.

5. How does Axify help DevOps teams?

Axify gives you real-time views into your DevOps processes to help you track progress, blockers, and team habits across the entire software delivery lifecycle. That visibility helps you improve your pipeline without guessing.

6. Can Axify improve a GitOps workflow?

Yes. Axify helps you spot slowdowns or misalignments where GitOps automation may need fine-tuning. You’ll know exactly where to focus for smoother Git-based operations.

7. Is Axify useful if I use both GitOps and DevOps?

Absolutely. Axify connects the dots across both approaches, so you can monitor delivery health, team activity, and process bottlenecks in one place. It helps you lead with insight, no matter which method you're using.