Best Open-Source Project Management Tools for Teams

Intro:

Project management has become the backbone of modern teamwork. With distributed teams, hybrid workplaces, and global collaborations, the software you choose can make or break productivity. For years, SaaS tools like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com dominated the space. But now, more and more teams are looking toward open-source project management solutions as an alternative.

The reason is simple: open-source provides freedom. Instead of being locked into subscriptions, limited customization, and uncertain privacy policies, teams can control their workflow platforms, tweak them to their needs, and even host them on their own servers. In an era where data security and cost-efficiency matter more than ever, open-source project management is moving from niche to mainstream.

This article explores why open-source project management matters in 2025, how to choose the right tool, the best open-source platforms available, and how they compare to the SaaS giants. If your team is considering a switch—or if you’re just curious—you’ll find everything you need here.

🚀 Why Open-Source Project Management Matters in 2025

The SaaS model has undeniable strengths: convenience, sleek design, and strong support ecosystems. Yet, its weaknesses are just as apparent. Teams are increasingly frustrated with vendor lock-in, escalating subscription fees, and limitations in how they can customize their tools.

Open-source project management tools address these pain points directly. They give organizations full control over their data, allowing them to host platforms privately, configure workflows according to unique processes, and avoid handing sensitive information to third-party providers. In industries where compliance and data protection are essential—such as healthcare, finance, and government—open-source has become a strategic necessity.

Cost is another major factor. While SaaS platforms charge per user, open-source tools often come free or at a fraction of the cost. For growing teams, this difference can translate to thousands of dollars in yearly savings. More importantly, open-source solutions scale naturally; instead of paying more for every additional seat, teams simply expand their hosting capacity.

Finally, flexibility is the open-source advantage that SaaS can’t replicate. Want to integrate your project management tool with a custom-built internal system? With open-source, it’s not only possible—it’s expected. This adaptability empowers teams to craft a workflow that feels tailor-made rather than one-size-fits-all.

💡 Think of open-source as renting versus owning. SaaS is renting an apartment; open-source is owning your home—where you decide the layout, the paint, and the locks.

🧩 Key Criteria for Choosing Open-Source Tools

Choosing an open-source project management solution isn’t about picking the “flashiest” platform—it’s about aligning with your team’s specific needs. The most successful teams start by defining what matters most.

First, consider deployment. Some tools offer cloud-hosted versions in addition to self-hosted options, which may suit teams without dedicated IT staff. Others are fully self-hosted, giving maximum control but requiring more technical management.

Second, evaluate usability. Open-source tools sometimes lag behind SaaS in design polish. If your team is non-technical, prioritize platforms with intuitive interfaces to minimize onboarding friction.

Third, check for community and support. A vibrant open-source community often translates to faster bug fixes, frequent updates, and plenty of tutorials. Look for tools with active GitHub repositories and user forums.

Finally, measure integration capability. Open-source solutions should connect to your other systems—whether that’s Slack, GitHub, or niche automation tools. Teams that rely on automation for scaling (see our guide on How to Use Niche Automation Tools to Scale as a Solopreneur) will want tools that embrace APIs and plugins.

🏆 Best Open-Source Project Management Tools (Detailed Reviews)

Here are some of the strongest open-source contenders in 2025. Each tool has its strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases, making them suitable for different types of teams.

1. OpenProject

OpenProject is a full-featured project management platform designed for enterprise use. It offers task management, Gantt charts, Agile boards, time tracking, and budget planning. Unlike SaaS platforms, OpenProject can be hosted securely on your own servers, which makes it a favorite in industries where data protection is critical.

Teams migrating from Asana or Jira will find OpenProject familiar but with greater customization depth. Imagine a healthcare team needing strict compliance for patient-related projects—OpenProject offers the control they need while still delivering robust features.

2. Taiga

Taiga is ideal for Agile teams, especially developers. With sprints, backlogs, Kanban boards, and epics, it competes directly with Jira while offering a cleaner, more lightweight experience. Developers love it because it integrates seamlessly with GitHub and GitLab, aligning coding workflows with project tasks.

For startups or software agencies, Taiga can serve as the backbone of product development without the licensing costs of Jira. It’s proof that open-source can deliver specialized workflows without sacrificing usability.

3. Redmine

One of the oldest and most reliable open-source project management tools, Redmine is known for flexibility. It supports multiple projects, role-based access, time tracking, and issue tracking. Though its interface may feel dated compared to modern SaaS, Redmine’s strength lies in its adaptability through plugins.

Engineering firms or consulting agencies often choose Redmine because it can evolve alongside their changing needs. For instance, if you need to integrate with a custom billing system, Redmine can handle it through extensions.

4. Odoo Project

Odoo is more than a project management tool—it’s an entire suite of open-source business apps. Its Project module allows for task planning, deadlines, and collaboration. The real advantage is that it integrates seamlessly with Odoo’s other modules like CRM, invoicing, and HR.

This makes Odoo a powerful choice for growing companies that want one ecosystem to run everything. While Trello may win on simplicity, Odoo shines when you want project management deeply embedded into your overall business process.

5. Phabricator (Phorge fork)

Originally created by Facebook, Phabricator (now maintained as Phorge) offers project management, code review, and repository hosting. For software development teams, it’s a powerhouse—combining task management with development workflows in one place.

A product team using Asana for tasks and GitHub for code might juggle two ecosystems. With Phabricator, everything lives under one roof. This not only saves money but reduces context switching.

6. Kanboard

Kanboard is minimalist by design. It offers a pure Kanban experience with drag-and-drop simplicity. While it lacks advanced features, its strength is in focus—teams that just need clear task visualization without distractions thrive here.

For small creative teams that don’t need the complexity of enterprise tools, Kanboard is a perfect lightweight alternative. Its simplicity also means easy self-hosting with minimal overhead.

7. Restyaboard

Often compared to Trello, Restyaboard is an open-source Kanban tool with offline sync, easy migration from Trello, and self-hosting options. For teams tired of Trello’s limitations or rising costs, Restyaboard offers a nearly identical experience—with the freedom of open-source.

This makes it particularly appealing to nonprofits and education teams that want familiar interfaces but need tighter budget control.

8. ERPNext Projects

ERPNext, like Odoo, is a full suite of business apps. Its project management module supports tasks, milestones, timesheets, and cost tracking. The strength of ERPNext lies in connecting projects with accounting, HR, and inventory systems—something SaaS task managers rarely do.

For manufacturing or logistics teams, ERPNext provides not only project management but also end-to-end operational visibility.

⚖️ Open-Source vs Popular SaaS Tools

So how do these open-source platforms compare with household SaaS names like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com?

The most obvious difference is cost. SaaS charges per user per month, which scales poorly for larger teams. In contrast, open-source requires only hosting and maintenance, which can be a fraction of the cost.

Another difference is customization. SaaS tools keep features tightly controlled for consistency, while open-source allows for deep modifications. If your team has unique workflows, SaaS often forces you to adapt, whereas open-source adapts to you.

However, SaaS still wins on ease of onboarding. Platforms like Trello are designed for instant adoption, while open-source tools may require technical setup. For non-technical teams, this learning curve is a consideration.

💡 If your team values plug-and-play simplicity, SaaS may be safer. But if long-term cost and flexibility matter more, open-source wins.

For more detailed comparisons, check our guide: Notion vs ClickUp – Which Project Management Tool Wins?

🔄 How to Transition Your Team to Open-Source

Shifting from SaaS to open-source can feel daunting, but with the right steps, it becomes manageable. Start small—pilot an open-source tool with a single project or department before rolling it out company-wide. This reduces risk and gives your team space to adapt.

Next, invest in training. Even the most intuitive open-source platforms have quirks. Dedicate time for workshops or tutorials so your team feels confident. Remember, adoption is as much about mindset as it is about features.

Data migration is another critical step. Most open-source platforms provide import tools for Trello, Jira, or Asana. Restyaboard, for example, lets teams migrate from Trello in minutes.

Finally, build a support strategy. Unlike SaaS vendors with dedicated help desks, open-source relies on community and internal expertise. Assign someone on your team—or hire an IT partner—to ensure stability and updates.

For additional strategies on setting up efficient workflows, our Ultimate Guide to Project Management Software provides deeper insights.

💰 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): The Hidden Math Behind Tools

When evaluating software, teams often stop at the surface cost—SaaS looks expensive month-to-month, while open-source appears “free.” But the reality is more nuanced. The true metric you need is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

With SaaS, the costs are predictable but cumulative. A team of 50 paying $10 per user per month for Asana is already spending $6,000 per year—and that’s before considering add-ons like premium integrations, automation features, or increased storage. Over five years, this can easily balloon into tens of thousands of dollars.

Open-source flips the equation. While the tools themselves are free, you’ll need to consider hosting, server capacity, and IT expertise for setup and maintenance. For small teams, this may add modest expenses. But for larger organizations, spreading these infrastructure costs across dozens or hundreds of users makes open-source significantly more cost-efficient in the long run.

The bottom line? SaaS charges per head, open-source charges per infrastructure. For growing teams, that difference compounds dramatically.

💡 Don’t just ask “what’s the subscription fee?” Ask “what will this tool cost us over five years?”

📖 Case Studies: Teams That Made the Switch

Abstract discussions are useful, but stories make the value real. Here are two examples of how teams transitioned to open-source and what it meant for them.

Case 1: A Startup Agency (15 employees)
A small marketing agency had been using Asana for task tracking. As they scaled, costs rose to over $2,000 annually—eating into their tight margins. They switched to Taiga, hosted on a simple cloud server. The result? Costs dropped by 70%, and their developers loved the seamless GitLab integration. What began as a cost-saving move became a workflow improvement.

Case 2: An NGO (50+ volunteers)
This nonprofit managed multiple international projects on Trello. Security was a concern, as sensitive donor data passed through boards. They moved to Redmine, self-hosted, ensuring complete control over their data. Volunteers adapted quickly with a bit of training, and the NGO gained peace of mind knowing compliance was in their hands—not a third-party’s.

Both stories highlight the dual advantage of open-source: lower costs plus greater control.

🔮 Future Outlook: The Next Era of Project Management

Looking ahead, the open-source vs. SaaS debate won’t be a zero-sum game. Instead, we’re entering a hybrid era. Many organizations will blend both worlds: open-source for core, sensitive operations and SaaS for non-critical, convenience-driven tasks.

Already, we see hybrid players like GitLab and Odoo offering both open-source self-hosted and cloud-hosted options. This flexibility allows teams to choose their level of control. Over the next five years, expect open-source to claim more market share, especially as economic pressure forces organizations to rethink software costs.

The trend is clear: open-source tools will no longer be the underdog. They’re becoming mainstream contenders, backed by vibrant communities and enterprise adoption. For teams considering a switch, the question is less “should we?” and more “when will we?”

✅ Migration Checklist: Moving from SaaS to Open-Source

Transitioning to open-source doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s a practical five-step checklist to guide your team through the switch:

Teams that follow these steps report smoother transitions and higher adoption rates. For example, Restyaboard even provides Trello importers that make Step 1 nearly automatic.

💡 Migration isn’t a leap—it’s a staircase. Take it one step at a time.

⚖️ Hybrid Strategy: The Best of Both Worlds

Not every organization needs to go “all in” on open-source immediately. A hybrid approach often makes sense. For example, a software development team could adopt Taiga for sprint planning while the marketing team stays on Trello for simplicity. Over time, as comfort grows, more teams can transition.

This blended strategy reduces disruption and keeps everyone productive while gradually moving toward greater control and cost savings. It also reflects the reality that some teams value plug-and-play ease, while others need customization and security above all.

By acknowledging hybrid strategies, you show your team that open-source isn’t an all-or-nothing choice—it’s a spectrum of possibilities.

🧠 Nerd Verdict

Open-source project management tools are no longer just for tech-savvy developers—they’re maturing into real alternatives for any team that values cost control, security, and flexibility. Platforms like OpenProject and Taiga rival enterprise SaaS tools, while Kanboard and Restyaboard prove simplicity can be powerful too.

The decision isn’t whether open-source is “good enough”—it’s whether your team is ready to own its workflows instead of renting them. For teams that value independence and scalability, the answer is clear: open-source isn’t just an option; it’s the future.

❓ FAQ: Nerds Ask, We Answer

💬 Would You Bite?

If your team could save thousands of dollars a year by switching to open-source, would you make the leap—or stick with the safety of SaaS?