Best Self Hosted Alternatives to OpenProject (Cloud)

OpenProject is a web-based, open source project management platform for planning, tracking, and collaborating on projects. It supports classic, agile, and hybrid methodologies, combining task management, scheduling, and team collaboration in one system.

Key Features

• Work packages for tasks, issues, and project tracking with flexible workflows
• Gantt charts and timelines for project planning, scheduling, and dependencies
• Agile boards supporting Scrum and Kanban-style processes
• Roadmaps and release planning for product and delivery management
• Time tracking and cost reporting/budgeting for project controlling
• Built-in collaboration modules such as wikis, forums, and meeting agendas/minutes
• Integrations such as linking work items to GitHub pull requests

Use Cases

• Running agile delivery with boards, backlogs, and sprint planning
• Managing project schedules and milestones with Gantt-based planning
• Coordinating cross-functional teams with centralized tasks, meetings, and documentation

OpenProject is a strong fit for organizations that want a transparent, extensible project management system with both planning and collaboration features. It scales from small teams to larger organizations needing consistent workflows and reporting.

Leantime is an open-source project management system designed to combine strategy, planning and execution into a single workspace. It emphasizes personal dashboards and cognitive-friendly UX, with features aimed at helping teams and individuals align tasks to goals and milestones.

Key Features

• Personal "My Work" dashboard with time-blocking, notes and cross-project task visibility
• Multiple task views: Kanban, table, list and calendar; unlimited subtasks and dependencies
• Milestones and timeline (Gantt) views with program-level planning and milestone grouping
• Strategy and goal management (vision, focus areas, project-goal linking, blueprints)
• Built-in wikis/docs for project knowledge and idea/validation boards (Lean Canvas, SWOT)
• Time tracking, timesheets and basic reports/dashboards for progress and billing
• Plugin system and JSON-RPC API for extensions, plus integrations with chat platforms
• Official Docker image and a development docker-compose environment; configurable via .env
• AI-assisted features (task prioritization, task breakdowns, status reports) available in paid/hosted tiers

Use Cases

• Small to mid-size teams that need a combined strategy-to-execution workspace with goals and milestones
• Consultants or agencies who want client-facing project dashboards, idea boards and documentation in one place
• Organizations that require self-hosting, data ownership and extensibility via plugins or the API

Limitations and Considerations

• Official system requirements target PHP 8.2+ and MySQL/MariaDB; PostgreSQL is not listed as supported
• Some advanced AI features and managed hosting capabilities are available only in the commercial/hosted offering or via paid plugins
• Requires several PHP extensions (bcmath, mbstring, pdo_mysql, gd, openssl, etc.) and attention to webserver configuration when self-hosting

Leantime provides a full open-source core focused on linking strategy and execution while offering paid hosting and plugin options for additional features. It is suitable for teams that want a self-hosted, extensible PM platform with an emphasis on accessible UX and goal alignment.

Kaneo is an open-source project management platform that emphasizes minimalism, speed, and privacy. It provides focused task workflows (kanban and list views), workspace/team management, and options to run self-hosted or use the project's cloud offering.

Key Features

• Fast, minimalist UI with Kanban board and list (table) views
• GitHub integration: import issues and sync pull requests
• Authentication: password, magic-link, and OAuth social providers (e.g., GitHub, Google)
• Self-hosting-first: Docker Compose images and a Helm chart for Kubernetes deployments
• PostgreSQL-backed data storage with documented environment configuration
• Workspace, teams, labels, priorities, due dates and saved views/filters
• Privacy-minded defaults (minimal analytics, granular access controls)
• Deployment helper (drim CLI) for one-click installs and automated HTTPS

Use Cases

• Small to mid-sized engineering teams tracking work with lightweight Kanban or list workflows
• Teams that want to import or sync GitHub issues and PRs into a dedicated project board
• Organizations seeking a privacy-focused, self-hosted alternative to hosted PM SaaS

Limitations and Considerations

• Native third-party integrations are currently limited compared with large commercial PM platforms; primary integrations focus on GitHub and standard OAuth providers
• No official first-party mobile apps are documented; mobile access depends on the web UI responsiveness

Kaneo is suited for teams that prefer a streamlined, developer-friendly project tool they can host and extend. It prioritizes performance and simplicity over a broad set of built-in integrations or extensive enterprise feature bloat.

Worklenz is an open-source project management platform that combines task management, time tracking, resource planning and basic client/finance features in a single product. It provides a web application suitable for teams that need project planning, collaboration and time-based reporting.

Key Features

• Task management with subtasks, dependencies, attachments and activity logs
• Kanban board and phase-based project views for visual workflow tracking
• Built-in time tracking and timesheets with time reports and per-user/project summaries
• Resource and workload views to monitor team allocation and utilization
• Project templates and reusable task templates for standardizing projects
• Client portal and basic project finance tracking for billing visibility
• Dashboard analytics and project health/estimated vs actual reporting
• Files and comments attached to tasks for team collaboration
• Deployable via Docker with recommended stack components (PostgreSQL, Redis, MinIO, nginx)

Use Cases

• Agencies and consultancies managing client projects, deliverables and billing
• Software and IT teams organizing work with kanban, time tracking and roadmap views
• Small-to-medium organizations needing resource planning, workload balancing and project analytics

Limitations and Considerations

• The free tier limits active projects (site notes a three-active-project limit for the free plan)
• Several features (CRM, HR) are listed as "coming soon" on the product site and roadmap
• Import/migration tools from other PM platforms appear limited or pending enhancements

Worklenz targets teams that want an integrated, open-source PM tool they can run themselves or use as a hosted service. It emphasizes a combined feature set (tasks, time, resources, analytics) and provides Docker-based deployment and documented setup for self-hosting.

Taiga is an open source project management platform focused on agile workflows, designed to help teams plan, track, and deliver work using Scrum or Kanban. It provides a web UI plus an API, making it suitable for product teams that need both collaboration features and integrations.

Key Features

• Scrum and Kanban project templates with backlog and sprint planning
• Issue tracking with custom workflows, statuses, and fields
• Team collaboration features such as comments, watchers, and notifications
• Real-time updates via events and websockets
• REST API for integrations and automation
• Optional authentication integrations such as GitHub and GitLab OAuth
• Email notifications via SMTP configuration

Use Cases

• Managing software development with sprints, user stories, and epics
• Tracking bugs and support work alongside product tasks
• Coordinating cross-functional teams with a shared backlog and boards

Taiga is a solid choice for teams that want an agile-focused alternative to proprietary tools, with the flexibility to run it on their own infrastructure and integrate it with existing systems.

ZenTao is an open source project management platform originally developed in China that supports end-to-end software delivery workflows. It combines product and project planning with quality management, documentation, and reporting in one system, with built-in support for Scrum, Kanban, and Waterfall.

Key Features

• Product management for requirements/stories, releases, roadmaps, and traceability
• Project and execution tracking with Scrum sprints, Kanban boards, and task management
• QA tools including bug tracking, test case management, and test reporting
• Built-in dashboards and reporting for project visibility and metrics
• Extensible platform with additional modules and integrations depending on edition

Use Cases

• Replace separate tools for backlog, sprint planning, bugs, and test cases in one workspace
• Track delivery across mixed methodologies (Scrum/Kanban/Waterfall) for different teams
• Provide stakeholders with status dashboards, reports, and release tracking

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced capabilities are offered in paid editions (Biz/Max/IPD) rather than the community edition

ZenTao is well-suited for teams that want a single system to manage requirements, delivery execution, and QA activities. It can scale from small agile teams to larger organizations needing structured processes and reporting.

4ga Boards is an open-source, realtime Kanban-style board system for team project and task management. It provides a minimal, wide-screen web interface with realtime updates, multitasking tools, and an advanced Markdown editor for card descriptions.

Key Features

• Realtime board updates and collaborative editing with WebSocket-based sync
• Kanban-style boards: projects → boards → lists → cards → tasks hierarchy
• Advanced Markdown editor for rich card descriptions and notes
• Import/export of boards and Trello import support
• SSO support (Google, GitHub, Microsoft) and user management
• Dark mode, collapsible lists and sidebar, keyboard shortcuts for productivity
• Docker Compose and Kubernetes deployment options; PostgreSQL database backend

Use Cases

• Managing software development sprints, issues, and backlog with Kanban workflows
• Coordinating marketing or operations projects with shared boards and templates
• HR onboarding and task pipelines where visibility and task assignments matter

Limitations and Considerations

• Mobile-first native apps are not provided; primary interface is a responsive web app
• Some language translations are partial; English, Polish, French, and Portuguese are fully supported
• Planned features such as two-way GitHub sync are listed on the roadmap but not yet available

4ga Boards is designed for teams that need a simple, extensible Kanban tool with realtime collaboration and easy self-hosted deployment. It is suitable for small to medium teams seeking a lightweight alternative to heavier project management platforms.

EGroupware is a browser-based, open-source groupware suite for teams and organisations, providing calendars, contacts, email, file management, tasks and project tools accessible from desktop and mobile browsers. It is developed and maintained by the EGroupware project and available as cloud packages or on-premises installations. (egroupware.org)

Key Features

• Unified online office: calendar, address book, tasks, projects, ticketing and integrated email client. (egroupware.org)
• Integrated online document editing via Collabora Online for collaborative editing of text, spreadsheet and presentation files. (egroupware.org)
• Modern frontend based on Web Components / Lit (notable tech change in recent releases). (egroupware.org)
• Flexible authentication and SSO options (OpenID Connect, OAuth, SAML) and LDAP/AD synchronization for user management. (github.com)
• Multiple deployment options: Linux packages, Docker containers and cloud-hosted trial packages; push/notification server and integrations for chat/video/remote-desktop. (github.com)

Use Cases

• Company intranet and team collaboration with shared calendars, tasks and project tracking. (egroupware.org)
• Secure document collaboration and editing with Collabora Online for teams avoiding desktop office installs. (egroupware.org)
• Centralised user/auth management for organisations using LDAP/AD and federated login (OpenID/OAuth/SAML). (github.com)

Limitations and Considerations

• Full feature set and recommended installation path rely on distribution packages or Docker; a manual developer clone/install can be more complicated and may miss components (push-server, integrations). (github.com)

EGroupware is a mature, extensible groupware platform aimed at organisations that require full data control and multiple integration points. It is actively developed with regular releases and public demos/trials available from the project. (egroupware.org)

Traq is a web-based project management and issue tracking system built with PHP and a TypeScript frontend. It provides multi-project issue tracking, milestones/sprints, granular permissions, and an integrated Markdown wiki for team documentation.

Key Features

• Multi-project issue tracking with support for multiple milestones and sprints
• Granular per-project permissions and role-based access controls (RBAC)
• Custom fields for tickets, features, and tasks to capture project-specific data
• Built-in Markdown-powered wiki for internal documentation
• Extensible via a REST API and plugin system for integrations and automation
• Web UI built with TypeScript/JavaScript and server-side PHP backend
• Uses MariaDB/MySQL as the data store and supports typical PHP hosting setups
• Development and build tooling uses Composer and Node.js-based package tooling

Use Cases

• Self-hosted issue tracker and project management for small to medium development teams
• Organizing work into milestones or sprints and tracking progress across multiple projects
• Centralized internal documentation using the integrated Markdown wiki

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires PHP 8.3+ and a MariaDB/MySQL database; webserver should support rewriting (Apache mod_rewrite recommended)
• Installation expects a typical LAMP-style environment and uses Composer and Node.js tooling for building the UI

Traq is suitable for teams that want a lightweight, self-hosted project management and issue-tracking platform with built-in documentation and extensibility. It focuses on core issue tracking and project features and is configurable through custom fields and plugins.

Trac is an enhanced wiki and issue tracking system designed for managing software development projects with a lightweight, process-neutral approach. It combines tickets, wiki pages, and version control references into a single web interface to help teams track work and project history.

Key Features

• Issue tracking with wiki-style markup in ticket descriptions
• Integrated wiki for project documentation and collaboration
• Integration with version control systems such as Subversion and Git
• Automatic cross-linking between tickets, changesets, files, and wiki pages
• Timeline view aggregating project events for quick historical context
• Roadmap and milestones for planning upcoming work
• Reporting and query capabilities for tracking progress and status

Use Cases

• Manage bugs, tasks, and feature requests for software projects
• Maintain project documentation alongside development activity
• Provide traceability between code changes and the tickets they address

Limitations and Considerations

• User interface and workflow model are intentionally minimal and may feel dated compared to newer “all-in-one” dev platforms
• Some advanced features are commonly added via plugins, which can increase maintenance complexity

Trac is well-suited to teams that want a straightforward, self-managed environment for tickets and documentation with strong cross-referencing to source control activity. Its minimalism and extensibility make it a practical choice for organizations that prefer adapting tools to existing processes rather than adopting rigid workflows.

Redmine is a flexible project management web application focused on issue tracking and team collaboration. Built with Ruby on Rails, it supports multiple projects and works with several database backends.

Key Features

• Multiple projects with per-project configuration
• Flexible issue tracking with custom fields and workflows
• Role-based access control (RBAC)
• Gantt chart and calendar views
• Time tracking and reporting
• Wiki and forums per project
• Documents and file management
• Email notifications, feeds, and issue creation via email
• Source control integration (including Git and Subversion)
• Authentication options including LDAP and self-registration

Use Cases

• Managing software development projects with issues, milestones, and timelines
• Running internal IT/helpdesk-style ticketing with roles and custom workflows
• Coordinating documentation and discussions using per-project wiki and forums

Limitations and Considerations

• Plugin and theme compatibility can depend on the specific Redmine version
• The official shared demo referenced by the community is operated by a third party

Redmine is well-suited to teams that need a proven, extensible tracker with strong project structure and permissions. Its cross-database support and mature ecosystem make it a common choice for long-running, process-oriented projects.

ProjeQtOr is an open-source, web-based project management and project portfolio steering tool designed for operational control of projects. It aims to replace spreadsheets and scattered tools by centralizing planning, tracking, and governance in one application.

Key Features

• Multi-project and multi-level portfolio management with consolidation across programs and projects
• Project planning and scheduling with resource availability constraints and shared resource management
• Task and activity tracking, milestones, and deliverables management
• Cost and budget follow-up to support project steering and commitments control
• Management of risks, issues/incidents, and quality-related follow-up for day-to-day project execution
• Highly configurable roles and interfaces to adapt to different organizations and methods (agile, waterfall, hybrid)

Use Cases

• Running an internal PMO tool for portfolio visibility across multiple departments
• Replacing Excel-based planning with centralized scheduling and resource allocation
• Tracking delivery execution with integrated monitoring of deadlines, costs, risks, and issues

ProjeQtOr is suited to organizations that want an all-in-one, configurable project governance platform while keeping full control over their data and infrastructure. Its breadth of integrated features makes it a strong option for teams seeking a pragmatic project steering system rather than a single-purpose task tracker.