Software alternatives to Atlassian – free and open source

With the end of Jira Data Center announced and prices rising year after year, vendor lock-in is no longer just an abstract risk, it has already become reality. Many organizations now face a costly migration to the cloud, whether they want it or not.

But there’s another way. Open source software gives you back control: over your data, your infrastructure, and your budget. It’s built on transparency, community, and long-term reliability, without locking you into a single company’s roadmap or pricing. And while Atlassian has been steadily raising prices, open source has grown into a powerful, future-ready alternative.

OpenProject is your secure, self-managed alternative to Jira, and it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Whether you also rely on Confluence, Bitbucket, or other parts of the Atlassian stack, there are strong open source options ready to support your team. You’re not stuck. You’ve got choices. And we’re here to help.

Migrating away from Atlassian: We know it’s not easy

If you’re looking for an alternative to Atlassian, you’re not alone. Many organizations are now preparing to move away from Jira Data Center and Confluence. Not because they want to, but because they have to. With Atlassian ending support for self-managed hosting and pushing users toward the cloud, the pressure is mounting.

Still, switching tools isn’t a decision you make lightly. You’ve built entire workflows around Jira and Confluence. You’ve got hundreds of users, complex integrations, and a mountain of project data to manage. The idea of replacing your Atlassian stack can feel overwhelming, and we understand that.

But here’s the good news: there is a way forward. With powerful, professional open source software, you can migrate from Atlassian on your own terms, without compromising on functionality, security, or support. Whether you’re seeking a Jira replacement, a Confluence alternative, or a complete open source stack, we’re here to support you during this journey.

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Why open source? Open source software means no vendor lock-in, giving you full control over your infrastructure, updates, and data, with affordable pricing. It offers transparency, letting you inspect the source code and know exactly how your tools work. And with Community-driven development, features evolve based on real need, not shareholder interests. And these are just some of at least 8 reasons to choose an open source software.

The open source ecosystem is ready for you

You don’t have to give up powerful workflows just because you’re moving away from Atlassian. Today’s open source tools are mature, well-integrated, and ready to replace the full Atlassian stack, from project management and documentation to team chat and file sharing.

OpenProject as alternative to Jira

OpenProject provides issue tracking, agile boards, Gantt charts for project timelines, cost and time tracking, and much more — fully self-managed or hosted, with a strong focus on data sovereignty. You decide if you want to host your data in the cloud or on your own servers. So if you’re looking for a Jira Data Center alternative, OpenProject is built for you.

Learn more about migrating to OpenProject as a Jira alternative.

XWiki as alternative to Confluence

XWiki is a powerful and extensible open source wiki platform. It enables collaborative documentation, structured content management, and fine-grained access control, making it a flexible alternative to Atlassian Confluence. And: Since July 2025, XWiki and OpenProject are officially partners to offer a strong alternative to Confluence and Jira.

Learn more about XWiki as Confluence alternative.

Element as alternative to Atlassian Team Chat

Element, based on the Matrix protocol, offers secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration. It’s perfect for teams looking for a self-hosted alternative to Atlassian’s chat tools or Slack.

Learn more about Element as Atlassian team chat alternative.

Nextcloud as alternative to Atlassian’s file management tools

Nextcloud is the most popular self-hosted open source platform for file sharing and collaboration. With advanced access control, integration options, and European data protection standards, it’s a strong alternative to proprietary cloud file systems. And: Nextcloud integrates with OpenProject and vice versa.

Learn more about Nextcloud as Atlassian’s file management alternative.

Collabora as alternative to Microsoft 365

Collabora Online is a powerful open source office suite for editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time. It’s a great choice for teams looking to replace Confluence and Microsoft 365 with a self-hosted solution.

Learn more about Collabora as Atlassian Office alternative.

Frequently asked questions about Atlassian alternatives

Switching away from Atlassian isn’t just a technical decision, it’s a strategic one. If you’re considering alternatives to Jira, Confluence, or other Atlassian tools, you likely have questions about features, pricing, migration, and the open source ecosystem. Here are some answers to help you navigate the transition with confidence.

Why is open source software free and still costs money?

Open source doesn’t mean zero cost. It means freedom: to use, inspect, modify, and host the software yourself. Many open source vendors like OpenProject offer a free Community edition, alongside paid support and enterprise features. This ensures long-term sustainability and helps teams get professional assistance where needed. Still, open source software like OpenProject is often more affordable than proprietary tools like Atlassian. And if your budget ever becomes tight, your data stays safe, because OpenProject will always provide a cost-free Community edition.

Read more about why free open source software costs money.

I want one suite for all tools. Does that exist for open source?

Yes. In Europe, there is openDesk, your secure all in one office and collaboration suite. It brings together leading open source solutions — including OpenProject, XWiki, Nextcloud, and more — to create a fully sovereign digital workplace. The tools are interoperable, user-friendly, and developed with long-term public and enterprise use in mind.

Does OpenProject include the features I currently use in Jira, or do I need plugins?

OpenProject comes feature-rich out of the box. Unlike Jira, which often requires multiple plugins for core functionality, OpenProject includes agile boards, Gantt charts, cost tracking, time logging, custom workflows, and more — all in one system. This makes it especially attractive for teams moving away from Jira Data Center or self-managed Jira installations.

Of course, OpenProject is not exactly the same product as Jira, and users will need to adapt to some differences in workflows. However, OpenProject customers value its personalized and responsive support, as well as documentation available in English, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

How can I migrate my data from Atlassian / Jira or Confluence?

You have several options for migrating your data, whether you’re switching from Jira, Confluence, or both. Here’s what we recommend:

• Use the OpenProject API to migrate data programmatically.
• Use the Excel synchronization feature to import data in bulk.
• Export Confluence content using the Markdown Exporter app and paste it into OpenProject Wiki or other modules.

For a fully supported migration, we recommend contacting ALM Toolbox, an experienced migration partner that specializes in Atlassian to OpenProject transitions.

Need help deciding? Contact us, we’ll help you find the right path. More information on: https://migration.openproject.org/