Pick by shape and by who'll keep the server running. Open-source trackers range from full project suites to simple kanban boards and classic issue trackers, and self-hosting any of them means you own upgrades, backups and security patches. Choose the shape your team works in, then check the project is actively looked after.
Self-hosting sounds free until the first Friday-night upgrade. You get control over your data and no per-seat surprises, and in return someone on your team becomes the person who keeps the tracker alive.
That trade-off sits at the heart of choosing a replacement for Plane. The eight alternatives below are all open source or self-hostable, listed in no particular order, and grouped by shape: full project suites, kanban-first boards and developer-centred trackers. Most are small projects, and that's worth knowing before you move a team onto one.
What self-hosting asks of you
Open source doesn't mean free to run. When you host a tracker yourself, these jobs land with you:
- Upgrades. New releases need installing, and some need data migrations.
- Backups. If the server dies, the backups are the only copy of your project history.
- Security patching. A tracker exposed to the internet needs the same care as any other web app.
- Support. Some of the projects here are maintained by one or two people, so help may come from a forum rather than a support desk.
None of that rules self-hosting out. It means you should plan who owns it before the first install.
Three shapes of open-source tracker
- Full project suites for teams who want tasks, timelines and documents together.
- Kanban-first boards for teams who think in cards and columns.
- Developer-centred trackers for issue tracking and agile work close to the code.
| Tool | Shape | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Huly | Open-source all-in-one | Tracking, chat and docs in one app |
| Kanboard | Minimal kanban | A plain, no-frills kanban board |
| Leantime | Open-source PM for neurodiverse teams | People who find busy tools overwhelming |
| OpenProject | Open-source project suite | Waterfall, agile and hybrid projects |
| PLANKA | Self-hosted kanban | Real-time boards on your own server |
| Redmine | Classic open-source tracker | Issue tracking on many platforms |
| Taiga | Agile open source | Scrum and agile boards for small teams |
| Vikunja | Self-hosted task manager | A task manager you own |
Full project suites
OpenProject covers classic, agile and hybrid work with task management, Gantt charts and boards, so it can serve a team that mixes planned projects with sprints. Huly aims wider still: the vendor pitches it as one open-source app for project tracking, chat and docs. Leantime is a suite with a different focus, built for people who find traditional tools overwhelming.
Kanban-first boards
Kanboard keeps things minimal, with a free, open-source board and very little around it. PLANKA is a self-hosted board with real-time collaboration. Vikunja sits between the two, a task manager offering lists, kanban and Gantt views, which you can run yourself or use hosted in the EU.
For more hosted options in this style, my guide to the best project tracking software goes wider.
Trackers for developers and agile teams
Redmine is a long-standing, cross-platform and cross-database issue tracker, popular with teams who want something they can bend to their own process. Taiga is a free, open-source agile tool with a cleaner, more visual feel. If you're also weighing closed-source trackers, see my list of Linear alternatives.
All eight trackers, A to Z
Huly
Best for: Teams wanting project tracking, chat and docs in one open-source app, which the vendor pitches as a replacement for several separate tools.
Kanboard
Best for: People who want simple, free, open-source kanban project management without a large suite around it.
Leantime
Best for: Teams with neurodivergent members, since the vendor says it's designed for all brains and built to make tasks less overwhelming.
OpenProject
Best for: Organisations running classic, agile or hybrid projects that need task management, Gantt charts and boards in one open-source tool.
PLANKA
Best for: Agile teams wanting a self-hosted kanban board with real-time collaboration, which the vendor says is GDPR compliant, with a free Community edition.
Redmine
Best for: Developers needing a long-standing open-source issue tracker and project manager that runs across platforms and databases.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Taiga
Best for: Small agile teams after a free, open-source project management tool that the vendor describes as easy and intuitive.
Vikunja
Best for: Individuals and small teams wanting lists, kanban and Gantt views, self-hosted or hosted in the EU.
Advice for small engineering teams
Run a real sprint of your own work before you commit. Use the hosted trial where there is one, or a local install on a spare machine, and move one live project across rather than a demo board. You'll find out quickly whether the tool fits how your team writes tickets, reviews work and plans the next cycle.
Then ask the quiet question: who'll look after this in a year? If the answer is nobody, a hosted option may be kinder to the team than a self-hosted one.
Signs a project is still being looked after
- The last release is recent, and the changelog explains what changed.
- Issues on the public repository get replies, not silence.
- The documentation covers upgrades and backups, not only installation.
- There's more than one regular contributor, or a company standing behind the project.
Check those four things on any tracker you shortlist. They tell you more about the next few years than the feature list does.
Do you make open-source project management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is open-source project management software free?
The software is usually free to download, but running it isn't free of effort. You'll need a server, plus someone to handle upgrades, backups and security.
What's the difference between a kanban board and a project suite?
A kanban board shows work as cards moving across columns. A project suite adds more, such as timelines, Gantt charts, documents or chat, for teams that plan across longer periods.
Can I move my issues from one open-source tracker to another?
Often, through an import tool or an export file, but field names and workflows rarely match exactly. Test the move with one project before you migrate everything.
Should a small team self-host its project tracker?
Only if someone is happy to own the server. If nobody wants that job, the hosted version of an open-source tool gives you the same software without the upkeep.
Are these project trackers ranked?
No. They're in no particular order and grouped by shape, because the right one depends on how your team works.
How do I check that an open-source project is active?
Look at the date of the last release, how quickly issues get replies and how many people contribute. A project with one maintainer can still be excellent, but it carries more risk.
