- Free project management software at a glance
- Ten free project management tools to try
- The hidden job behind free open source project tools
- Hosted free plan or self-hosted free project management software
- Five checks before you commit to free project management software
- Getting a team to use free project management software
- What free project management plans usually leave out
- My plain advice on free project management software
- Frequently asked questions
Free project management software comes in two kinds: hosted tools with a free plan that caps users, projects or storage, and open source tools you can install yourself at no charge. This page lists ten options in no particular order, then explains the trade-offs and how to pick.
Free doesn't have to mean flimsy. Some of the most capable project tools for small teams are open source, and several hosted tools keep a free plan going for years because it's how new customers find them.
Here are ten tools that describe a free plan or free edition on their own websites, listed in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. Each description comes from the tool's own site, re-checked today. If you're new to running projects, my guide to what project management involves in practice shows the moving parts any tool has to handle.
Free project management software at a glance
Every tool in this table says it has a free plan or free edition. Limits change, so check the current caps on users, projects and storage before you rely on one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedcamp | Hosted project tool | Long-running free plan | Yes |
| Leantime | Open source project tool | Self-hosted planning | Yes |
| MeisterTask | Kanban task manager | Personal and small team boards | Yes |
| nTask | Task and timesheet tool | Tasks with timesheets | Yes |
| OpenProject | Open source project tool | Gantt charts and phases | Yes |
| Plaky | Task and project boards | Colourful views with custom fields | Yes |
| Plane | Open source project tool | Issue tracking for product teams | Yes |
| Quire | Nested task manager | Breaking goals into steps | Yes |
| Taiga | Open source agile tool | Scrum and kanban teams | Yes |
| Wekan | Open source kanban board | Simple self-hosted boards | Yes |
Ten free project management tools to try
Freedcamp
Best for: Small teams that want tasks, discussions, calendars and milestones on a free plan that doesn't expire.
Leantime
Best for: Teams that want an open source tool they can host themselves, with milestones on a timeline.
MeisterTask
Best for: Individuals and small teams who like a clean kanban board and only need a handful of projects.
nTask
Best for: Small teams that want task lists and simple timesheets in the same free account.
OpenProject
Best for: Organisations that want a free Community edition with timelines, phases and work packages on their own server.
Plaky
Best for: Teams that want colourful boards and custom fields on a plan the site calls completely free.
Plane
Best for: Product and software teams that want a hosted free tier or the choice to self-host.
Quire
Best for: People who plan in nested lists and want to flip the same tasks into a board.
Taiga
Best for: Agile teams that want sprints and kanban boards in a free, open source tool.
Wekan
Best for: Anyone comfortable running a small server who wants a basic open source kanban board.
The hidden job behind free open source project tools
Here's what the download page doesn't spell out. OpenProject's free Community edition is something you download and install, and that's true of most open source project tools. It's free to use, but someone has to run the server, apply updates, back up the data and keep it secure. If nobody on your team wants that job, a hosted free plan is the safer choice.
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Hosted free plan or self-hosted free project management software
Hosted free plans are quicker to start: you sign up and invite people. Self-hosted tools take longer to set up but don't usually cap users in the same way. Ask yourself who will look after it in a year, not just who can install it today.
Five checks before you commit to free project management software
- Count everyone who needs access, including clients and freelancers.
- Check how many active projects the free plan allows.
- Look at storage limits if you share large files.
- Test the mobile app with real tasks.
- Find the export option so you can leave later.
Getting a team to use free project management software
Free tools fail for the same reason premium ones do: nobody updates them. Keep the first version tiny, with a few statuses and one owner per task, and run your weekly check-in from the board. People start updating it when they see it's where decisions happen.
It also helps to agree on a way of working before you pick the software. Kanban, sprints and simple to-do lists all need different views, and my guide to the main project management methodologies explains which one suits which kind of team.
What free project management plans usually leave out
Free tiers tend to keep the everyday basics and hold back the features that matter once a team grows. Expect to find tasks, boards or lists, comments and file attachments on most free plans. Expect to wait for an upgrade for things like automation rules, time tracking reports, guest permissions, advanced views and admin controls.
- Automation: recurring tasks and rules that move work along are often limited or missing.
- Reporting: workload and progress reports are usually on higher plans.
- Permissions: fine-grained access for clients and guests is rarely free.
- Storage: large files fill a free allowance quickly.
None of that is a reason to avoid a free plan. It's a reason to test with real work, so you find the limit before your team depends on the tool.
Do you make project management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on free project management software
Start on a hosted free plan unless you already have someone who enjoys running servers. Move to self-hosting only when you know the tool works for your team and you have a reason, such as data control.
Frequently asked questions
Is there completely free project management software?
Yes. Several open source tools are free to download and run yourself, and some hosted tools keep a free plan with limits.
What's the catch with free project management plans?
Most cap users, active projects or storage, and keep features such as automation or reporting for upgraded plans.
Is self-hosted project software really free?
The software is, but you'll spend time on hosting, updates, backups and security.
Which free project tool is easiest for beginners?
Board-based tools are usually the easiest to learn because you drag tasks across columns.
Can I use free project management software for client work?
Usually, yes. Check the terms and whether client guests count towards the user limit.
How do I move from a free tool to another one?
Export your tasks to a spreadsheet file, then import them into the new tool. Test the export before you rely on it.
