Open source project management software gives teams something proprietary tools never can: full access to the source code, the freedom to self-host on your own infrastructure, and a community of developers constantly improving the platform. In practice, “open source” in the PM context means the code is publicly available under an approved license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL), the tool can be deployed on your own servers, and there’s no vendor lock-in controlling your data.
Who should use open source PM tools? Privacy-conscious teams that can’t send project data to third-party clouds, developer teams who want deep integrations with their existing toolchain, and budget-constrained organizations that need full-featured PM without per-seat SaaS fees. In 2026, the landscape has matured significantly — Plane.so has emerged as the modern open source alternative to Jira, OpenProject has doubled down on EU data compliance, and self-hosting has never been easier thanks to Docker-based deployments. Here are the 10 best open source project management software options available today.
Quick Comparison: Best Open Source Project Management Software
| Tool | License | Self-Hostable | Cloud Hosted | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | Apache 2.0 | Yes | Yes (free tier) | Modern Jira alternative | Free / $6/user/mo |
| OpenProject | GPL v3 | Yes | Yes | Full-featured enterprise PM | Free (self-host) / €7.25/user/mo |
| Taiga | MPL 2.0 | Yes | Yes (free tier) | Agile/Scrum teams | Free / $5/user/mo |
| Redmine | GPL v2 | Yes | Via third parties | Legacy/enterprise stability | Free (self-host) |
| GitLab | MIT (CE) | Yes | Yes (free tier) | Software dev teams | Free / $29/user/mo |
| Leantime | AGPL v3 | Yes | Yes | Non-technical teams | Free / $7/user/mo |
| ProjectLibre | CPAL 1.0 | Desktop app | No | MS Project alternative | Free |
| Odoo Project | LGPL v3 | Yes | Yes | PM + ERP combined | Free (self-host) / $9.90/user/mo |
| Wekan | MIT | Yes | No (self-host only) | Simple Kanban board | Free |
| GanttProject | GPL v3 | Desktop app | No | Free Gantt charts | Free |
1. Plane — Best Open Source Alternative to Jira
Plane is the fastest-growing open source project management tool in 2026, backed by venture capital and built with a modern React/Next.js frontend that feels nothing like legacy open source tools. Originally designed as a direct Jira alternative, Plane supports issues, cycles (sprints), modules (epics), and pages (docs) in a single workspace — all available as self-hosted via Docker with a single-command setup. The project has accumulated over 28,000 GitHub stars and sees active weekly releases.
- Issue tracking with custom states, priorities, labels, and assignees
- Cycles (sprint management) with burndown charts and velocity tracking
- Modules for grouping issues into epics or project phases
Self-hosting: Docker Compose deployment, officially documented, single server requirement. Community edition is fully featured with no artificial limits.
Cloud option: Yes — Plane Cloud offers a free tier (unlimited members, 12MB file uploads) and Pro at $6/user/month.
Best for: Software teams migrating off Jira who want a modern UI, fast performance, and the ability to self-host without paying per seat.
2. OpenProject — Best Full-Featured Open Source PM
OpenProject is a German-built, enterprise-grade project management platform that has been open source since 2010. It covers the full spectrum of project management — Gantt charts, work packages (tasks/issues), agile boards, time and cost tracking, budgets, and meeting management — in one tool. For EU-based teams or organizations subject to GDPR, OpenProject’s self-hosted Community Edition is particularly attractive since all data stays on your infrastructure.
- Full Gantt chart scheduling with dependencies, milestones, and critical path
- Agile boards (Scrum and Kanban) alongside traditional waterfall planning
- Time tracking, budget management, and project cost reporting
Self-hosting: Docker or manual installation on Linux. Community Edition is free with full core functionality; Enterprise adds premium features and support.
Cloud option: Yes — OpenProject Cloud starts at €7.25/user/month (billed annually), hosted in EU data centers.
Best for: European companies needing GDPR-compliant PM, organizations that need both Agile and Waterfall in one tool, and teams replacing Microsoft Project.
3. Taiga — Best for Agile and Scrum Teams
Taiga is purpose-built for Agile teams, offering first-class Scrum and Kanban support with a clean, intuitive interface. It was one of the first modern open source PM tools when it launched in 2014, and it remains a top choice for teams that live by sprints, user stories, and epics. Taiga’s self-hosted version is deployed via Docker and is straightforward to maintain, with an active open source community contributing plugins and improvements.
- Native Scrum boards with sprints, user stories, tasks, and story points
- Kanban boards with swimlanes and WIP limits
- Built-in issue tracker, wiki, and project documentation hub
Self-hosting: Docker Compose deployment, well-documented. No feature restrictions on the community self-hosted version.
Cloud option: Yes — Taiga Cloud has a free tier for up to 3 members; paid plans start at $5/user/month.
Best for: Product and software teams following Scrum who want an open source tool with genuine Agile-first design rather than an afterthought.
4. Redmine — Best for Legacy and Enterprise Teams That Need Stability
Redmine has been the workhorse of open source project management since 2006. Built on Ruby on Rails, it is battle-tested, extremely stable, and has one of the richest plugin ecosystems of any open source PM tool — with hundreds of community plugins covering everything from CRM integration to advanced Gantt charts. The UI is dated by modern standards, but Redmine’s depth of functionality and 18+ years of production use mean it rarely misses a feature that enterprise teams need.
- Flexible issue tracking with custom fields, workflows, and permissions per project
- Multi-project support with role-based access control
- Time tracking, Gantt charts, calendar views, and wiki per project
Self-hosting: Requires Ruby on Rails stack; Bitnami and Docker images are available for easier deployment. Completely free with no cloud upsell.
Cloud option: Not officially — but managed hosting providers like Planio and RedmineUP offer hosted Redmine starting around $18/month.
Best for: Engineering firms, government agencies, and large enterprises that want a proven, stable PM tool with decades of plugin support and no vendor dependency.
5. GitLab — Best for Software Development Teams
GitLab’s Community Edition combines source code management, CI/CD pipelines, and project management (issues, milestones, epics, boards) in a single open source platform. For software teams, this integration is unmatched — requirements live in the same system as the code, merge requests, and deployments. GitLab CE is MIT-licensed and self-hostable, used by tens of thousands of organizations as their complete DevSecOps platform.
- Issue boards, milestones, and epics for project management alongside Git repositories
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines with 400 free minutes/month on cloud
- Merge request reviews, code quality scanning, and vulnerability reporting
Self-hosting: GitLab CE (Community Edition) is free to self-host; requires a Linux server with at least 4GB RAM. Official Docker and Helm chart deployments supported.
Cloud option: Yes — GitLab.com has a free tier; Premium starts at $29/user/month.
Best for: Software development teams who want project management, code hosting, and CI/CD in a single self-hosted platform.
6. Leantime — Best Open Source PM for Non-Technical Teams
Leantime is a strategic project management system designed for non-technical teams and small businesses that want open source software without the complexity. Unlike developer-focused tools, Leantime emphasizes goal-setting (OKRs), ideation boards, and a clean task management interface that non-engineers can onboard into quickly. It’s built with PHP and MySQL, making self-hosting straightforward on standard LAMP/LEMP stacks or via Docker.
- Strategic roadmap and OKR goal-setting tied directly to project tasks
- Timesheets, time tracking, and project budgeting built in
- Kanban boards, to-do lists, and milestone tracking with a clean UI
Self-hosting: PHP/MySQL or Docker deployment; well-documented for small-server setups. Free Community Edition covers core features.
Cloud option: Yes — Leantime Cloud plans start at $7/user/month.
Best for: Marketing agencies, nonprofits, and SMB teams that want open source PM without requiring developer skills to run or use.
7. ProjectLibre — Best Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Project
ProjectLibre is a desktop application that directly replicates Microsoft Project’s interface and file format (.mpp compatible), making it the go-to replacement for project managers who need Gantt-based waterfall planning without paying Microsoft’s licensing fees. It has been downloaded over 4 million times and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. While it lacks real-time collaboration (it’s a desktop app), its depth of scheduling features rivals commercial tools.
- Full Gantt charts with task dependencies, critical path, and resource leveling
- PERT charts and network diagrams for project scheduling
- Cost and budget tracking with baseline vs. actual variance analysis
Self-hosting: Desktop application — no server required. Download and run on any OS.
Cloud option: ProjectLibre Cloud is in development (beta) as a web-based version; the desktop app is fully free.
Best for: Project managers who need Microsoft Project-compatible Gantt scheduling for free, especially for client deliverables and waterfall projects.
8. Odoo Project — Best If You Need PM + ERP
Odoo is a full-suite open source business platform — ERP, CRM, inventory, accounting, HR — and its Project module is included. For teams that need project management tightly integrated with invoicing, timesheets, purchase orders, and customer data, Odoo eliminates the need for separate tools. The Community Edition is LGPL-licensed and free to self-host, though some modules are only in the paid Enterprise edition.
- Kanban and list project views with task assignments and deadlines
- Native integration with Odoo Timesheets, Invoicing, and CRM
- Customer portal for sharing project progress with external stakeholders
Self-hosting: Odoo Community Edition is free to self-host; requires Python stack or Docker. Enterprise add-ons require a paid license.
Cloud option: Yes — Odoo Online starts at $9.90/user/month (all apps included).
Best for: Service businesses and SMBs that need project management connected to billing, CRM, and operations — not a standalone PM tool.
9. Wekan — Best Simple Open Source Kanban Board (True Trello Alternative)
Wekan is a fully open source Kanban board — MIT licensed, self-hostable, and the genuine open source alternative to Trello (unlike Trello itself, which is a proprietary Atlassian product, not open source). Wekan is built on Meteor.js and is best deployed via Snap package or Docker. It supports boards, lists, cards, labels, due dates, checklists, and attachments — the complete Trello feature set — without any external cloud dependency or per-user pricing.
- Unlimited boards, lists, and cards with no per-user fees when self-hosted
- Card aging, swimlanes, custom fields, and WIP limits
- LDAP/OAuth integration for enterprise user management
Self-hosting: Snap, Docker, or Sandstorm deployment. Completely free — no paid tier exists.
Cloud option: No official cloud — self-hosted only. Some providers offer managed Wekan hosting.
Best for: Teams that want Trello’s simplicity without Trello’s proprietary SaaS model — especially those moving to self-hosted infrastructure.
10. GanttProject — Best Free Gantt Chart Tool
GanttProject is a lightweight, free, cross-platform desktop application focused entirely on Gantt chart-based project planning. It’s been around since 2003, is GPL v3 licensed, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with no installation complexity. While it’s limited compared to full PM suites, it does one thing exceptionally well: creating Gantt charts with dependencies, milestones, and resource allocation for simple to mid-complexity projects.
- Gantt chart scheduling with task dependencies and milestone markers
- Resource allocation chart with workload visualization
- Export to PDF, PNG, HTML, and MS Project-compatible XML
Self-hosting: Desktop application — runs locally with no server needed.
Cloud option: No — offline desktop tool only.
Best for: Students, freelancers, and small teams that need to produce Gantt charts for project planning or client presentations without spending anything.
Open Source vs. Proprietary Project Management Software
Choosing between open source and proprietary PM tools is not purely a cost decision — there are real tradeoffs in support, maintenance burden, and total cost of ownership.
| Factor | Open Source | Proprietary (SaaS) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Free (self-host) or low-cost cloud | Monthly/annual per-seat fees |
| Customization | Full access to source code — modify anything | Limited to vendor-provided settings and APIs |
| Data control | Full control when self-hosted | Data stored on vendor servers |
| Security | You manage patches and updates | Vendor handles security updates |
| Support | Community forums, documentation, paid support add-ons | Dedicated vendor support included |
| Maintenance burden | Your team manages server, backups, upgrades | Zero infrastructure work required |
| Feature velocity | Depends on community; can vary | Continuous product investment by vendor |
| Compliance (GDPR, HIPAA) | Easier — data stays on your servers | Requires vendor DPA and trust |
The bottom line: open source wins on cost, control, and compliance. Proprietary SaaS wins on ease of use, support, and zero maintenance overhead. Many teams use open source for self-hosted environments and proprietary tools for departments that prioritize convenience.
How to Set Up Self-Hosted Project Management Software
Self-hosting an open source PM tool is more accessible than it used to be. Here’s a practical 4-step overview that applies to most modern tools (Plane, OpenProject, Taiga, Leantime):
- Server requirements: Most tools need a Linux VPS (Ubuntu 22.04 recommended) with at least 2–4 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, and 20 GB storage. A $12–20/month VPS from DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or Linode covers most small-team deployments.
- Install via Docker: Nearly all modern open source PM tools ship Docker Compose files. Run
git clone [repo], copy the.env.exampleto.env, set your domain and secret keys, then rundocker compose up -d. Most tools are running in under 15 minutes. - Configure domain and SSL: Point your domain’s A record to your server IP, then set up Nginx or Caddy as a reverse proxy. Caddy handles automatic SSL certificate provisioning (Let’s Encrypt) with minimal configuration.
- Onboard your team: Create user accounts, set up your first project, import any existing data (most tools support CSV or JSON import), and invite team members. Set up automated daily backups for the database and file uploads before rolling out to your full team.
Frequently Asked Questions
<!– wp:rank-math/faq-block {"questions":[{"id":"faq-1","title":"What is the best free open source project management software in 2026?","content":"Plane is the best free open source project management software in 2026 for most teams — it has a modern interface, active development, and a free self-hosted Community Edition with no feature restrictions. OpenProject is the best choice if you need enterprise features like Gantt charts, budgeting, and EU data compliance.
“},{“id”:”faq-2″,”title”:”Is Trello open source?”,”content”:”No. Trello is a proprietary product owned by Atlassian. Its source code is not publicly available, it cannot be self-hosted, and it is not open source by any definition. If you need a true open source Trello alternative, use Wekan — it is MIT-licensed and fully self-hostable.
“},{“id”:”faq-3″,”title”:”Can I use open source project management software for free?”,”content”:”Yes. Most open source PM tools are free when self-hosted — you only pay for server costs (typically $10–20/month for a VPS). Tools like Plane, Taiga, and OpenProject also offer free cloud tiers with usage limits if you prefer not to self-host. The self-hosted versions generally have no per-user fees or feature restrictions.
“},{“id”:”faq-4″,”title”:”What is the difference between open source and free project management software?”,”content”:”“Free” software means no cost to use but may still be proprietary (like Trello’s free plan). “Open source” means the source code is publicly available and can be modified and self-hosted — but some open source tools do charge for cloud hosting or enterprise features. The best open source PM tools (Plane, Taiga, Redmine) are both free and open source when self-hosted.
“},{“id”:”faq-5″,”title”:”Is self-hosting project management software difficult?”,”content”:”Modern open source PM tools have made self-hosting much easier. Tools like Plane and Leantime can be deployed with a single Docker Compose command on a standard Linux VPS in under 15 minutes. The main ongoing tasks are keeping the software updated and running automated database backups. If you have basic Linux comfort, it is well within reach for a small IT team or technical co-founder.
“}]} –>What is the best free open source project management software in 2026?
Plane is the best free open source project management software in 2026 for most teams — it has a modern interface, active development, and a free self-hosted Community Edition with no feature restrictions. OpenProject is the best choice if you need enterprise features like Gantt charts, budgeting, and EU data compliance.
Is Trello open source?
No. Trello is a proprietary product owned by Atlassian. Its source code is not publicly available, it cannot be self-hosted, and it is not open source by any definition. If you need a true open source Trello alternative, use Wekan — it is MIT-licensed and fully self-hostable.
Can I use open source project management software for free?
Yes. Most open source PM tools are free when self-hosted — you only pay for server costs (typically $10–20/month for a VPS). Tools like Plane, Taiga, and OpenProject also offer free cloud tiers with usage limits if you prefer not to self-host. The self-hosted versions generally have no per-user fees or feature restrictions.
What is the difference between open source and free project management software?
“Free” software means no cost to use but may still be proprietary (like Trello’s free plan). “Open source” means the source code is publicly available and can be modified and self-hosted — but some open source tools do charge for cloud hosting or enterprise features. The best open source PM tools (Plane, Taiga, Redmine) are both free and open source when self-hosted.
Is self-hosting project management software difficult?
Modern open source PM tools have made self-hosting much easier. Tools like Plane and Leantime can be deployed with a single Docker Compose command on a standard Linux VPS in under 15 minutes. The main ongoing tasks are keeping the software updated and running automated database backups. If you have basic Linux comfort, it is well within reach for a small IT team or technical co-founder.
Related Resources
- Best Project Management Software in 2026 — Full list covering both open source and proprietary tools
- Best Trello Alternatives — Wekan is the top open source Trello alternative
- Best Asana Alternatives — Plane competes directly with Asana for modern team workflows
- Best Project Management Software for Small Business — Includes free and low-cost options
