If you like an open-source project tool but want something different, start by deciding how heavy it should be. Light task and kanban boards suit solo workers and small teams. Fuller agile and classic planners suit busier projects. Developer platforms suit software teams. Then move one live project into each trial and keep the one you open unprompted.
Owning your project tool is a good instinct. Leantime is open source and, in its own words, built with ADHD and neurodivergent people in mind, so the people who leave it usually want to keep that ownership and that calm feel. These eight alternatives, in no particular order, are grouped by how much tool you're taking on.
From light boards to developer platforms
Light task and kanban boards. Vikunja, WeKan and PLANKA are light boards you can run yourself. One adds lists and Gantt alongside its board, one is a pure privacy-minded kanban, and one focuses on real-time collaboration for agile teams. If your projects fit on a board, start here.
Fuller agile and classic planners. Taiga and OpenProject are fuller open-source tools. The first is built for agile work such as sprints and backlogs. The second covers classic, agile or hybrid planning with Gantt charts and time reporting. Worksection sits near them as a hosted option with Gantt, kanban, dashboards and chat.
Developer-focused and file-based planning. Tuleap leans towards software development, tying requirements and processes to agile delivery. ProjectLibre is different again: it opens Microsoft Project files, and its own page says Microsoft Project Online has now been retired, which is why it pitches itself as a direct replacement.
Eight project tools, in no particular order
OpenProject
Best for: Organisations running classic, agile or hybrid projects with Gantt charts, boards and time reporting, installable on their own infrastructure, the vendor says.
PLANKA
Best for: Agile teams wanting a self-hosted Kanban board with real-time collaboration, including a free Community edition the vendor offers under a Fair Use Licence.
ProjectLibre
Best for: Planners with existing Microsoft Project files who want to open them and keep working, which is how the vendor pitches itself.
Taiga
Best for: Agile teams after a free, open-source project tool with a simple start and an interface the vendor calls intuitive.
Tuleap
Best for: Software development teams who want agile management, processes and requirements brought together on one open-source platform.
Vikunja
Best for: Individuals and small teams wanting an open-source task manager with lists, Kanban and Gantt, on their own server or hosted in the EU.
WeKan
Best for: Privacy-minded teams who want a customisable, open-source kanban board with boards, columns and cards and nothing extra.
Worksection
Best for: Small businesses wanting hosted project management with Gantt charts, Kanban, dashboards, time management and team chat, which the vendor says is easy to implement.
Weight and hosting at a glance
| Tool | Kind of tool | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| OpenProject | Open-source project management | Classic, agile or hybrid plans on your own servers |
| PLANKA | Self-hosted kanban | Agile teams wanting a real-time board they host |
| ProjectLibre | Desktop-style project planner | Opening existing Microsoft Project files |
| Taiga | Open-source agile tool | Scrum and kanban with a simple start |
| Tuleap | Agile and software platform | Software teams tying requirements to delivery |
| Vikunja | Open-source task manager | Lists, kanban and Gantt you own |
| WeKan | Open-source kanban | Privacy-minded boards, columns and cards |
| Worksection | Hosted project management | Gantt, kanban, dashboards and chat in one place |
Calm, simple views: what to check in each trial
The tool you're leaving puts a simple, low-distraction experience at the front of its pitch. That's a vendor's positioning, not a guarantee any tool can make, and what feels calm differs from person to person. Still, it's a fair test to bring to every alternative, because a tool you avoid opening is a tool that's failed.
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- Can you hide everything except today's tasks?
- Is there a single view you can start from every morning, or do you have to choose between five?
- How many notifications arrive by default, and how quickly can you switch most of them off?
- Can you add a task in one step without filling in a form?
Judge every tool on these practical questions rather than on labels, and give each one a full working week before you decide.
My advice on picking a tool you'll keep opening
Pick the lightest tool that holds your real projects. Teams often choose a heavy planner because it might be needed one day, then abandon it because every task takes six clicks. If a board does the job, use a board. Move to a fuller planner only when you need dependencies, time reporting or several projects running side by side.
Software teams are the exception. If your work runs on requirements, releases and code, a developer-focused platform will save you from bending a general board into shape. For a wider look at this space, see my comparison of project management tools for small teams and my Basecamp alternatives.
Before you host it yourself
Most of these tools can run on your own server, which is a big part of their appeal. It's also a job. Someone has to install updates, take backups and fix things when an upgrade goes wrong. If that person is you, be realistic about how much time you'll give it.
If nobody wants that job, check whether the project offers its own hosting, or pick a hosted tool and keep an export of your data somewhere safe. Owning your data matters more than owning the server it sits on.
Do you make an open-source or hosted project management tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a free open-source alternative for project management?
Yes. Several tools here are free and open source, and some offer a free edition alongside a hosted service. You'll still need to host and maintain the free versions yourself.
What's the difference between a kanban board and a project planner?
A kanban board shows tasks as cards moving across columns, which suits ongoing work. A project planner adds timelines, dependencies and Gantt charts, which suits projects with fixed stages and deadlines.
Can I open Microsoft Project files without Microsoft Project?
Some planners can open those files. One tool on this list is built around that job, so test it with a copy of a real plan before you rely on it.
Is a simpler project tool better for people with ADHD?
That depends on the person. Some vendors design for neurodivergent users, but what helps varies, so try a tool with your own real work and keep the one you open without being reminded.
Do I need to self-host an open-source project tool?
No. Some open-source projects also offer hosting, so you get the open code without running the server. Check each project's own site for what it offers.
