Top 5 open source project management software 2026
How to choose the best open source project management software
Finding the right project management software for your organization can be a challenge — especially when you want a solution that is transparent, flexible, and gives you full control over your data.
Open source project management tools are increasingly popular in 2026, as many organizations look for alternatives to proprietary platforms, rising licensing costs, and cloud-only solutions. At the same time, requirements around data privacy, security, and compliance continue to grow — particularly for public institutions and regulated industries.
To help you make an informed decision, we have updated our overview of the top open source project management software in 2026. The tools listed below differ in focus and strengths: some are built for agile teams, others for software development workflows, and others for full-featured project planning across an organization.
When comparing project management software, make sure to consider:
- Feature set and supported methodologies (classic, agile, or hybrid)
- Hosting options (cloud vs. self-hosted)
- Data protection and privacy strategy
- Community activity and long-term maintenance
- Pricing and available support options
The tools listed in this article are widely used and well-established open source solutions, each with different strengths depending on your organization’s needs.
Here are our 5 top open source project management tools to consider in 2026:
OpenProject
OpenProject is a widely used open source project management platform, licensed under GNU GPL v3.
Best for in 2026: organizations looking for a secure solution that supports classic, agile, and hybrid project workflows.
Free and open source software
The software code is freely available on GitHub. All changes to the source code are transparently traceable at any time. With OpenProject, there is no vendor lock-in.
OpenProject meets high data protection and security requirements. The company, based in Berlin, Germany, focuses on developing a secure and privacy-compliant European alternative for project management and team collaboration. Read more about security and privacy conditions at OpenProject.
Data sovereignty
With OpenProject, users retain full control over their data. With the self-installed version hosted on own servers, OpenProject offers a high level of data sovereignty. Alternatively, hosting is provided on demand on secure servers within Germany. OpenProject follows a strict privacy approach and does not rely on user tracking within the application. Read the OpenProject privacy policy.
Secure hosting
If you don’t have the capacity or knowledge to host OpenProject in your environment, the Enterprise cloud edition offers secure hosting in the EU.
Feature set
OpenProject maps the entire project lifecycle, from project planning and execution to project controlling and closure. The software supports classic, agile, and hybrid project management.
It includes extensive project management functions such as project and milestone planning (Gantt charts), task management, agile boards, meetings, project wiki, forums, time and cost tracking, budgets, and more. See OpenProject collaboration features.
Configuration
The software is flexibly configurable and can be adapted to individual requirements. With a powerful API, additional systems can be connected if required.
Part of openDesk
OpenProject is part of openDesk, an open source office and collaboration suite for the German public sector. Learn more about openDesk.
Active maintenance and development
OpenProject is continuously developed and maintained by an active developer Community. New features, improvements, and updates are released regularly. To learn more, take a look at the OpenProject roadmap.
Professional support and training
Building on extensive documentation, OpenProject offers professional support and training for organizations that require additional guidance.
Pricing
The OpenProject Community edition is free of charge and self-hosted. All essential project and task management features are included in this free version.
The Enterprise cloud and on-premises editions offer professional support as well as additional premium and security add-ons. Pricing starts from €5.95 per month per user.
OpenProject also offers a 14 days free trial to explore the Enterprise edition in practice — no credit card required, and you won’t receive unwanted marketing emails.
Redmine
Redmine is a long-established open source project management and issue tracking tool, licensed under GNU GPL v2.
Best for in 2026: teams looking for a lightweight, self-hosted solution focused on issue tracking and extensibility through plugins.
Feature set
Redmine combines project management with strong issue tracking capabilities. It is particularly popular among technical teams who want a flexible tool for managing tasks, bugs, and workflows.
Key features include:
- Issue and task tracking
- Project and role-based access management
- Custom fields and workflows
- Wiki and documentation features
- Plugin ecosystem for extending functionality
Redmine is often chosen for its simplicity and adaptability. However, compared to more modern platforms, it may require additional configuration and plugins to cover advanced project planning features such as Gantt-based scheduling or portfolio management.
See a comparison between Redmine and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.
Hosting
Redmine is primarily designed for self-hosting, giving organizations full control over where their data is stored. This makes it a common choice for teams with strict infrastructure or compliance requirements.
Pricing
Redmine is free to use as open source software. Costs typically depend on hosting, maintenance, and whether professional support is provided by third-party vendors.
GitLab
GitLab is a source code management and DevOps platform that can also be used for project planning and collaboration. It is licensed under an MIT open source license and has a clear focus on software development teams.
Best for in 2026: software development teams looking to manage code, CI/CD, and project planning in one integrated platform.
Feature set
GitLab offers a broad feature set to support the entire software delivery lifecycle. In addition to version control and DevOps functionality, it includes project management features such as issue tracking, agile boards, workflows, and timelines.
GitLab is especially strong for teams that want to connect project work directly to development processes. However, features such as budgeting, cost tracking, or more advanced project portfolio management are not a core part of GitLab’s offering.
Tip
If you are not entirely convinced by the GitLab offering in terms of project management, but like its feature set, you can use OpenProject with its GitLab integration.
See a comparison between GitLab and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source tools.
Hosting
GitLab is available both in the cloud and as a self-hosted on-premises solution. The self-managed version provides full control over your data and infrastructure.
GitLab.com, the hosted cloud offering, is primarily operated on Google Cloud infrastructure in the United States. For organizations with strict compliance requirements, hosting location and applicable regulations should be reviewed carefully.
Pricing
GitLab offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans provide additional functionality and support, with pricing depending on the selected edition and team size. GitLab also offers a free trial for its paid plans.
Tuleap
Tuleap is an open source project management and application lifecycle management (ALM) platform, licensed under GNU GPL.
Best for in 2026: agile software development teams that need structured planning and lifecycle management in one open source platform.
Feature set
Tuleap provides a comprehensive set of agile project management features, including task boards, backlogs, Kanban boards, burnup and burndown charts, and dashboards.
In addition to agile planning, Tuleap supports software development workflows such as test management and project tracking, making it particularly relevant for teams working in regulated or complex development environments.
For organizations looking for a broader project management approach, Tuleap’s focus on agile and ALM may feel more specialized. Traditional project management features such as Gantt-based scheduling, budgeting, or cost tracking are not as central as in other tools.
See a comparison between Tuleap and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.
Hosting
Tuleap is available both as a cloud solution and as a self-hosted on-premises edition.
For the premium cloud version, hosting providers are available in several regions, including France, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, Korea, and others. Organizations with specific compliance requirements should review the hosting setup carefully depending on the chosen plan.
Pricing
Tuleap does not offer a fully free cloud version. Pricing depends on the selected edition and hosting model, and a free trial is available upon request.
Taiga
Taiga is an open source project management software whose beginnings date back to a Kaleidos hackathon in 2013. It is licensed under MPL 2.0.
Best for in 2026: agile teams looking for a simple and visually intuitive tool focused on Scrum and Kanban workflows.
Feature set
Taiga was created with the goal of providing an accessible and user-friendly agile project management tool for developers and designers.
It offers a comprehensive feature set for agile methodologies, including:
- Kanban boards
- Product and sprint backlogs
- Issue tracking
- Estimation tools
- Dashboards and reporting features
Taiga is well suited for teams working primarily with Scrum or Kanban. However, classic project management features such as Gantt charts, budget tracking, or broader portfolio planning are not part of its core focus.
See a comparison between Taiga and OpenProject to explore the differences between both open source project management tools.
Hosting
Taiga is available both as a cloud solution and as a self-hosted on-premises edition.
The cloud version is hosted in the European Union via AWS, which can be relevant for organizations that require GDPR-aligned hosting.
Pricing
Taiga offers free cloud and self-hosted options. Paid plans provide additional services such as premium support, with pricing depending on the selected edition.
Compare the top 5 open source project management software in 2026
Choosing the best project management software for your organization depends on a variety of criteria, including the features and workflows you need, the size of your team, and your hosting and data privacy requirements.
All listed open source project management tools have their own strengths and are suited for different use cases — from lightweight issue tracking to full-featured hybrid project planning.
If you are looking for an open source project management software in 2026, we recommend taking a closer look at OpenProject, Redmine, GitLab, Tuleap, and Taiga.
To give you a quick summary:
| Tool | Best for in 2026 | Hosting options |
|---|---|---|
| OpenProject | Hybrid project management across teams | Cloud + self-hosted |
| Redmine | Lightweight issue tracking and plugins | Mainly self-hosted |
| GitLab | DevOps teams managing code + planning | Cloud + self-hosted |
| Tuleap | Agile planning + lifecycle management | Cloud + self-hosted |
| Taiga | Scrum and Kanban teams | Cloud + self-hosted |
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OpenProject supports classic, agile, and hybrid project management in one platform. It offers features such as Gantt charts, agile boards, time and cost tracking, and a strong focus on data sovereignty through self-hosting or secure EU-based cloud hosting.
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Redmine is a long-established open source tool focused on issue tracking and extensibility through plugins. It is primarily self-hosted and often used by technical teams looking for a lightweight and customizable solution.
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GitLab combines project planning with source code management and DevOps workflows. It is especially relevant for software development teams that want to manage code and project work in one integrated environment.
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Tuleap focuses on agile project management and application lifecycle management (ALM). It is well suited for teams working in structured software development environments that require agile planning and lifecycle tracking.
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Taiga provides an intuitive and visually appealing agile project management experience, focused on Scrum and Kanban workflows. It is a strong option for teams looking for simplicity in agile execution.
Regarding pricing and hosting details, we recommend visiting the individual websites, as costs and available plans may vary depending on team size, deployment model, and support requirements.
You can also take a look at more detailed comparisons of OpenProject to other alternatives here. Every organization is different, make a choice that’s best for your needs. We are here if you have more questions.
