OpenProject vs Plane: Self-Hosted PM Comparison

OpenProject vs Plane head-to-head comparison. Features, pricing, self-hosting difficulty, Agile support, and which project management tool wins for your team.

OpenProject wins for enterprises needing Gantt charts, time tracking, and BIM support. Plane wins for modern teams wanting a fast, clean interface inspired by Linear and Jira.

Features Compared

FeatureOpenProjectPlane
Open SourceGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
Self-Hosted✓✓
Docker Deploy✓✓
Gantt Charts✓✗
Kanban Boards✓✓
Sprint Planning✓✓
Time Tracking✓Basic
Wiki/Docs✓✓
Roadmaps✓✓
Custom Fields✓✓
API AccessRESTREST
SSO/SAML✓Enterprise only
BIM Support✓✗
Mobile AppPWAPWA

OpenProject Pros

  • Mature and battle-tested — used by enterprises worldwide
  • Full Gantt chart support with dependencies and milestones
  • Built-in time tracking and cost reporting
  • BIM support for construction/engineering teams
  • SSO with SAML, LDAP, and OIDC
  • Comprehensive documentation and enterprise support

OpenProject Cons

  • UI feels dated compared to modern tools
  • Steep learning curve — complex to set up and configure
  • Resource-heavy — needs significant RAM and storage
  • Docker setup requires multiple containers
  • Slower development pace than newer tools

Plane Pros

  • Modern, fast UI inspired by Linear and Jira
  • Lightweight Docker deployment (single compose file)
  • Active development with frequent feature releases
  • Cycles, modules, and views for flexible project organization
  • Good GitHub/GitLab integration
  • Clean API for automation

Plane Cons

  • No Gantt charts (roadmap view is simpler)
  • Less mature — still adding core features
  • No built-in time tracking for detailed reporting
  • SSO only available in enterprise/paid tier
  • Smaller community and fewer third-party integrations

Winner: tie — It depends on your team. OpenProject for established enterprises that need Gantt, time tracking, and compliance features. Plane for modern software teams that want speed, clean UX, and rapid iteration.

FAQ

  • Is OpenProject free to self-host?

    Yes. The community edition is free under GPL-3.0. Enterprise features (SSO, additional security, support) require a paid license starting at $7.25/user/month.

  • Is Plane ready for production use?

    Plane is actively developed and usable for production. It covers issue tracking, sprints, kanban, and roadmaps well. It lacks some enterprise features like Gantt charts and advanced time tracking.

  • Which is easier to self-host?

    Plane is easier. Its Docker Compose setup is simpler and lighter on resources. OpenProject requires more configuration and RAM but has better documentation for complex deployments.

  • Can Plane replace Jira?

    For software teams using basic Jira features (issues, sprints, boards), yes. Plane has a modern UI and covers core agile workflows. It does not match Jira's full feature set for complex enterprise workflows.