Jira alternatives: 5 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
La salida más cercana con forma de Jira moderna; el stack autoalojado no es un pasatiempo de fin de semana
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or the official Docker/Kubernetes self-hosting stack
dataSelf-hosted Plane keeps workspaces, projects, work items, users, comments, and settings in PostgreSQL; attachments, images, and exports live in MinIO or another S3-compatible object store, with RabbitMQ and optional OpenSearch alongside them. Plane Cloud stores the equivalent data in Plane's infrastructure.
the catch vs JiraPlane is the closest modern substitute, but Jira still has the deeper workflow engine, marketplace, service-management linkages, release reporting, and enterprise governance.
setupSelf-hosting is a multi-service deployment: Docker or Kubernetes plus PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, object storage, a domain, TLS, and usually email configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
La suite de proyectos empresarial; gratis en dinero, cara en menús
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
dataSelf-hosted application data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded attachments live on a persistent filesystem volume or configured S3-compatible object storage, while configuration and any linked repositories must be backed up separately. Cloud data lives in OpenProject's hosted infrastructure.
the catch vs JiraOpenProject handles projects and agile boards, but it is less developer-native than Jira and has a much smaller ecosystem for CI, service management, releases, and workflow extensions.
setupThe free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Seguimiento de incidencias, hojas de tiempo, Gantt y wikis de la era en que el software admitía que necesitaba configuración
licenseGPL-2.0+
runsyour server
installInstall the Ruby on Rails application against PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, or SQLite; packaged containers/appliances are third-party conveniences
dataIssues, users, projects, time entries, and configuration live in the configured SQL database; uploaded attachments live as files in Redmine's `files` directory.
the catch vs JiraRedmine lacks Jira's refined backlog and sprint reporting, automation rules, modern issue UX, marketplace breadth, and managed administration.
setupThe official install is a real Rails deployment, Ruby and gem versions, database creation, migrations, a production web server, email, backups, and upgrades are all the operator's job.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Scrum y kanban sin arqueología de Atlassian; los informes y las integraciones son más limitados
licenseMPL-2.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Taiga signup, or the official multi-container Docker Compose production stack
dataA self-hosted deployment stores application data in PostgreSQL, messages/events in RabbitMQ, and uploaded media in persistent volumes or configured storage; hosted workspaces live in Taiga's cloud.
the catch vs JiraTaiga makes Scrum and kanban pleasant, but reporting, workflow customization, permissions, release planning, and integrations are materially thinner than Jira.
setupProduction self-hosting is not one container: it needs Docker/Compose familiarity, several Taiga services, PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, environment files, a reverse proxy, TLS, and email settings.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Un rastreador de proyectos completo para diez personas; el usuario once es donde JetBrains recuerda la facturación
licenseproprietary, free
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted YouTrack Cloud signup, or the official Docker image for YouTrack Server
dataYouTrack Server stores issues, users, projects, and configuration in its own integrated on-disk database under the data directory, with separate configuration, logs, and backups directories; YouTrack Cloud keeps the data in JetBrains-managed infrastructure.
the catch vs JiraYouTrack is excellent for small engineering teams, but its free plan stops at ten users and its integration and marketplace footprint is far smaller than Jira's.
setupThe cloud edition installs cleanly; self-hosting requires Docker volume mapping, enough storage, a one-time setup token, and external HTTPS/reverse-proxy work for a public server.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
FocalboardStill recommended everywhere; Mattermost stopped maintaining it and the last standalone release was April 2023
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 55,600 | 2026-08 |
| OpenProject | GPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 15,200 | 2026-08 |
| Redmine | GPL-2.0+ | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 6,000 | 2026-08 |
| Taiga | MPL-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 844 | 2026-08 |
| YouTrack | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
A Jira ticket is often connected to a pull request, deployment, support case, audit trail, roadmap, and three teams' reporting rules. Rebuilding the visible board is straightforward; replacing the shared organizational contract around issue IDs, permissions, automations, and history is not. The subscription buys continuity and integration upkeep more than draggable cards. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $94.92 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Jira?
Yes: Plane, OpenProject, Redmine and 2 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Jira?
Our verdict is PARCIAL. Issues, workflows, a backlog, sprints, and a board are a credible multi-day build for one small team. The replacement stops being small when Jira is the company's system of record: custom schemes, permissions, automation, reporting, marketplace apps, two-way integrations, and years of workflow history are the product people are actually paying not to migrate. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/jira.
