What does open source mean today?

• You own your data. Your projects, documents, and workflows live entirely in your environment. This makes it easier to manage projects securely, avoid vendor lock-ins, and meet requirements for sensitive or regulated work.
• You control security. You define where data is stored, how it’s protected, and how long it’s retained. Teams can align deployments with internal network security policies, compliance frameworks, and audit standards.
• You can customize anything. With full access to the code, teams can adapt workflows, build private integrations, and tailor the system to how they plan and track progress across multiple projects.
• Your tool grows with you. Open platforms evolve at your pace, not at the pace of a closed SaaS roadmap. You decide what features matter, and you can extend the product without limitations.
• Costs stay predictable. Self-hosted platforms eliminate per-user fees. One infrastructure cost, unlimited users, and up to 60-80% savings at scale make open platforms a sustainable form of free software.
• Transparency builds trust. Open codebases allow teams to audit security, validate privacy practices, patch faster, and ensure long-term maintainability — an advantage that closed tools cannot match.

Top open source project management software 2026

The open-source project management space now ranges from simple task boards to full enterprise planning systems. What counts is maturity—active development, transparent licensing, and real-world adoption. The overview below focuses on the projects that meet that bar and shows where each one actually fits.

Plane

• License: GNU AGPL v3.0
• GitHub Stars: ~40k stars on GitHub

Plane is a modern, open-source project management tool built to simplify agile workflows and team collaboration. It is particularly attractive to teams looking for a self-hosted alternative to tools like Jira, Linear, and ClickUp, offering a sleek UI and an open-core model that balances power and accessibility. Plane has gained rapid adoption thanks to its focus on clean design, intuitive UX, and seamless integration of key project planning features.

What features does the open source version offer
The open-source Community Edition of Plane is full-featured and mirrors the capabilities of the cloud “Free” tier. Key features include,

• Work Item Tracking: Rich text editing, attachments, comments, labels, and custom statuses.
• Sprints and Cycles: Sprint planning with burn-down charts.
• Modules: Grouping of tasks under thematic sub-projects.
• Custom Views: Kanban boards, list views, and filterable queries.
• Pages: Integrated rich-text documentation for wikis and specs, including AI assistance.
• Built-in analytics: Project insights like completion rates and task flow.
• User management: Role-based permissions at the workspace level.
• Self-hosting options: Deployment via Docker Compose or Helm charts with detailed setup docs.

There are no limits on the number of users or projects in the Community Edition, making it a viable option for teams of all sizes.

What makes Plane distinctly useful,
Plane distinguishes itself in the open-source space by delivering,

• End-to-end Functionality: Combines project tracking, documentation, and metrics in one tool.
• Modern UI: Aesthetically pleasing and fast, built for usability and responsiveness.
• AI Integration: Built-in AI support to assist with task creation, writing docs, and automating workflows.
• Active development: Frequent releases with a transparent public roadmap.
• Scalable design: Handles everything from small team backlogs to complex enterprise modules.
• Community momentum: Backed by a vibrant GitHub community and responsive Discord support.

Plane is an excellent choice for teams who want the power of Jira with the flexibility and ownership of open-source.

OpenProject

License: GNU GPL v3.0

GitHub Stars: ~13k stars on GitHub

OpenProject is a mature open-source project management tool tailored for organizations that require structured workflows, such as enterprises and public institutions. It supports both agile and traditional project planning methods and is especially known for its robust self-hosting and data privacy options.

What features does the open source version offer
The Community Edition includes most of the core features needed for project tracking and planning:

• Task and Issue tracking: Manage work packages with statuses, priorities, and assignees.
• Project planning: Built-in Gantt charts and timelines for scheduling.
• Agile boards: Basic Scrum and Kanban boards.
• Time tracking: Log time on tasks and generate basic reports.
• Roadmapping: Define goals and visualize progress.
• Documentation: Integrated wiki per project.
• Forum and Files Modules: Built-in support for discussions and document sharing.

The Community Edition supports unlimited users and projects with no imposed limits. It also benefits from regular updates.

What makes OpenProject useful
OpenProject focuses on completeness and reliability rather than modern UI or speed. What sets it apart,

• Broad feature set: Includes both agile and waterfall planning tools in one platform.
• On-Premises friendly: Designed with strict data control in mind, suitable for regulated industries.
• Custom workflows: Advanced configuration of roles, permissions, and workflows.
• Documentation and planning tools: Strong support for meeting agendas, project wikis, and structured planning.
• Stability: Has been maintained for over a decade with a predictable release cycle.

It’s a solid option for teams that need an open-source PM tool with wide functionality and institutional-grade stability, even if it comes with a steeper learning curve and a more traditional interface.

Leantime

License: GNU AGPL v3.0

GitHub Stars: ~8.6k stars on GitHub

Leantime is an open-source project management system designed with simplicity and inclusivity in mind. Its mission is to make project planning accessible to non-project managers through a clean, user-friendly interface and tools inspired by behavioral science. It appeals to startups, small teams, and individuals looking for a lighter alternative to mainstream tools.

What features does the open source version offer
The open-source version of Leantime includes a wide range of core features:

• Task Management: Kanban boards, task lists, and calendar views.
• Strategic Tools: Lean Canvas and SWOT analysis to guide early-stage planning.
• Documentation: Built-in project wiki for notes and reference material.
• Time Tracking: Timesheets and timers to log task-level work.
• Retrospectives: Post-sprint/project reviews to support team learning.
• Goal & Idea Management: Tools for capturing ideas and setting measurable goals.
• Integrations: Slack/Mattermost/Discord notifications, SSO via LDAP/OIDC, REST API.
• Internationalization: Available in 20+ languages.

There are no functional limitations placed on self-hosted use. Advanced features are either included or available via community plugins.

What makes Leantime useful
Leantime takes a different approach to project management,

• Neurodiversity-focused UX: Designed to reduce cognitive overload and support ADHD/dyslexic users.
• Strategy-first: Unique emphasis on strategic planning with canvases and goal linking.
• Simplicity and usability: Prioritizes ease-of-use for individuals unfamiliar with traditional PM tools.
• All-in-One design: Combines idea boards, tasks, time tracking, and docs in one interface.
• Plugin flexibility: Advanced features are extensible without licensing restrictions.

Overall, Leantime is a compelling option for small teams that want a flexible, human-centric tool without the complexity of corporate PM platforms.

Taiga

License: Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0)

GitHub Stars: ~1000 stars on the core repo (higher if counting related repos)

Taiga is a lightweight, open-source agile project management tool. It focuses on Scrum and Kanban workflows and has been adopted by agile teams seeking simplicity and openness. Taiga has been around since the mid-2010s and continues to serve teams looking for an intuitive interface and core agile functionality.

What features does the open source version offer
Taiga’s open-source version includes:

• Backlog and sprint planning: Create, prioritize, and estimate user stories.
• Scrum boards: Sprint boards with burn-down charts and velocity tracking.
• Kanban boards: Customizable workflow boards with swimlanes and WIP limits.
• Issue/bug tracker: Track issues with prioritization and tagging.
• Wiki module: In-project documentation for meeting notes, requirements, etc.
• Collaboration tools: Comments, attachments, email notifications, and mentions.
• Customization: Custom fields, issue types, priorities, and roles.
• APIs and Integration: REST API, import from other tools (e.g. Trello, Jira), and GitHub/GitLab linking.

There are no feature restrictions in the OSS version—teams get the same functionality as the cloud-hosted offering.

What makes Taiga useful
Taiga appeals to teams who want,

• Agile simplicity: Clean, intuitive UI tailored for Scrum and Kanban.
• Balanced functionality: Rich features without overwhelming users or cluttering the experience.
• Full openness: No functionality is locked behind paywalls.
• Affordable hosting: Paid cloud hosting exists but doesn't limit features for self-hosters.
• Agile-Focused community: Maintained by a community that deeply values agile principles.

Taiga is best suited for agile teams that want a purpose-built tool for iterative development, without adopting heavy-weight enterprise tools.

Redmine

License: GNU GPL v2.0

GitHub Stars: ~5.8k stars on GitHub mirror (SVN is primary source)

Redmine is one of the oldest and most stable open-source project management software. It supports issue tracking, time logging, wikis, forums, and integrates with source control systems. While its UI is dated, its modular design and mature plugin ecosystem make it highly customizable for teams with technical expertise.

What features does the open source version offer
Redmine is entirely open-source with no commercial version. Key capabilities include:

• Multi-Project support: Manage many projects in one instance with separate settings.
• Issue Tracking: Custom statuses, priorities, workflows, and trackers (bug, feature, etc.).
• Gantt charts and Calendar: Visual project timeline and scheduling support.
• Time tracking: Log hours per issue and run time-based reports.
• Wikis and Forums: Built-in knowledge sharing for each project.
• Document and file management: Upload and share project files.
• Role-based access: Fine-grained permissions and user roles.
• SCM integration: Git, SVN, Mercurial, and more.
• Email notifications and feeds: Activity updates and RSS/Atom support.

There are no restrictions on users, features, or projects.

What makes Redmine useful
Despite its age, Redmine continues to be used by thousands of teams due to,

• Plugin ecosystem: Hundreds of plugins extend functionality from Agile boards to CRM.
• Self-hosted control: Ideal for users who want complete data and system control.
• Extensibility: Built for customization in Ruby on Rails.
• Legacy stability: Frequently updated for compatibility and security.
• One-stop tool: Combines issue tracking, documentation, collaboration, and reporting.

Redmine is best suited for technically-oriented teams who want full ownership of their PM tool and are comfortable customizing it.

Focalboard

License: MIT License

GitHub Stars: ~16k stars on GitHub

Focalboard is an open-source project management software and task management tool originally developed by Mattermost. It was designed as an alternative to Trello and Notion-style kanban tools, offering self-hosting and privacy-focused workflows. While it gained popularity for its clean UI and real-time task boards, active development has slowed significantly, and the project is no longer maintained at the pace it once was.

What features does the open source version offer
The open-source edition of Focalboard includes,

• Kanban boards: Visual task management (manage tasks) with drag‑and‑drop cards.
• Custom properties: Add fields such as status, priority, dates, and tags.
• Views: Board, table, and calendar views for different planning needs.
• Templates: Starter templates for personal productivity and team workflows.
• Self‑hosting: Runs standalone or inside a Mattermost server.
• Multi‑platform apps: Desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The tool remains usable for personal organization or small team workflows despite the lack of recent updates.

What makes Focalboard useful
Focalboard stands out in a few ways,

• Lightweight and clean UI: Minimalist interface easy for individuals and small teams.
• Flexible self‑hosting: Simple Docker deployment with no licensing restrictions.
• Open and extensible: MIT license allows full freedom to fork and modify.
• Mattermost integration: Works well for teams already using Mattermost for communication.

However, the most important consideration:

⚠ Maintenance Status

Focalboard is no longer actively maintained, and Mattermost has shifted focus to other internal tools. While the repository is still available and functional, users should be aware that:

• No major updates or new features are planned.
• Bug fixes and security patches are limited.
• Community-driven forks may continue development independently.

Because of this, Focalboard is best suited for hobby projects, one‑person workflows, or teams who can maintain a fork themselves. For long‑term team use, tools like Plane or Leantime offer better community activity and continued support.

Self-Hosted versus Cloud Options

Below is a simplified comparison to help teams choose the right deployment model for how they manage projects, protect project data, and control project costs.

FAQ: Plane Open Source

Is Plane Community Edition, CE truly open source?

Yes. Plane Community Edition, CE is licensed under AGPL-3.0, ensuring the core remains free, open, reviewable, and extensible. The CE codebase is public and powers everything else in Plane — including the Commercial and Air-Gapped Editions which are built on top of CE, not beside it.

What features does Plane CE include out of the box?

Plane CE includes all foundational features needed for modern project management,

• Issues, Cycles, Modules, Pages
• Multiple project views: Kanban, List, Gantt, Calendar, Spreadsheet
• Issue templates, custom states, labels, and filters
• Built-in documentation with Pages
• REST API and integrations foundation
• Docker & Helm deployment support

These are the same features available in Plane Cloud’s free tier.

Can Plane CE be self-hosted?

Absolutely. Plane CE is built for self-hosting. You can deploy using,

• Docker Compose (fastest start)
• Helm charts for Kubernetes (production deployment)
• Lightweight server footprint (<2GB image size) Plane provides clear documentation, upgrade guides, and versioned releases.

Is Plane secure enough for enterprise or regulated industries?

Yes. Plane CE supports secure, private deployments with:

• HTTPS/SSL
• Role-based access control
• Network isolation
• Private IP-restricted deployments For complete enterprise-grade security — SSO/SAML, RBAC, audit logs, advanced reporting, and governance — organizations can layer the Commercial or Air-Gapped Edition on top of CE.

How does Plane compare to other open-source project management tools?

Plane offers a modern UX, powerful planning workflows, built-in documentation, and an opinionated but flexible structure that’s closer to Linear and Jira than older tools like OpenProject or Redmine. Its active development pace, growing community, and clear open-core roadmap make it a strong long-term choice.

Can I extend or customize Plane CE?

Yes. Plane CE is fully extensible,

• Customize workflows and schemas
• Build internal automations using the API
• Fork the repo to modify behavior
• Create bespoke deployments for air-gapped environments (using the Air-Gapped Edition) Plane is open where it compounds — giving developers full freedom.

What support options exist for self-hosting Plane?

For Plane CE,

• Community support via GitHub Discussions & Discord
• Public documentation and deployment recipes For advanced or regulated deployments:
• Commercial Edition self-hosted plans
• Dedicated SLAs, enterprise support, onboarding, and migration guidance

Does Plane integrate with other tools?

Yes. Plane supports,

• GitHub, Slack, GitLab integrations and more
• Webhooks & API-based automations
• Upcoming support for deeper integrations via OpenWorkLang Enterprise editions extend this with more automation and workflow controls.

If Plane is open source, what happens if development slows?

Because CE is under AGPL-3.0:

• The community can fork and maintain the project
• Organizations can run their own version indefinitely
• Data stays portable, thanks to open schemas and standards This eliminates the risk of vendor lock-in.

Can Plane be used for multi-project management?

Yes. Plane supports,

• Multiple projects within a workspace
• Cycles and Modules for complex breakdowns
• Multiple views for tracking project progress Plane’s structure scales from individuals to large teams managing dozens of projects.

What’s the difference between Plane CE and Plane Commercial Edition?

Plane CE, open source

• Core features
• Self-hosting
• Open schema + transparent codebase
• No user or project limits

Commercial Edition (Self-Hosted or Cloud)

• SSO/SAML, RBAC
• Advanced governance & reporting
• Enterprise workflows & automations
• Priority support and SLAs

Air-Gapped Edition

• All enterprise features
• Fully isolated deployment
• Zero outbound network dependencies

Who maintains Plane CE?

Plane CE is maintained by,

• The core Plane engineering team
• Community contributors
• External developers building integrations and extensions Plane openly credits researchers and contributors through public SECURITY.md and CONTRIBUTING.md processes.

Can Plane scale for large organizations?

Yes. Plane supports,

• Large workspaces with many projects
• High activity volume
• Kubernetes-based deployments for horizontal scaling
• Air-gapped setups for enterprise or government environments

Plane is built to scale without requiring re-tooling as teams grow from 5 → 500 → 5,000.