Asana costs $13.49/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to Asana, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Asana vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $13.49/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 56k | Asana vs Plane → |
| OpenProject | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 15k | Asana vs OpenProject → |
| Leantime | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 10k | Asana vs Leantime → |
| Redmine | open source | GPL-2.0+ | Self-host | ★ 6.0k | Asana vs Redmine → |
| YouTrack | free | proprietary, free | Local or hosted | ★ $0 forever | Asana vs YouTrack → |
The picks
4 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Plane
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted56kaug 2026Linear-and-Jira-shaped work tracking without the subscription; the stack behind it is not small
The catch vs AsanaPlane is built around software-style work items and lacks Asana's mature goals, portfolios, workload planning, forms, rules, and broad cross-functional template ecosystem.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted signup, or the official Docker/Kubernetes self-hosting stack
- setup
- Self-hosting is a multi-service deployment: Docker or Kubernetes plus PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, object storage, a domain, TLS, and usually email configuration.
- your data
- Self-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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
OpenProject
open sourceGPL-3.0Local or hosted15kaug 2026The enterprise project suite; free in money, expensive in menus
The catch vs AsanaOpenProject can model more formal project plans, but its denser interface and weaker no-code automation make ordinary team coordination slower than Asana.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
- setup
- The free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
- your data
- Self-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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Leantime
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted10kaug 2026A small-team project suite that remembers goals and timesheets, not just tickets
The catch vs AsanaLeantime covers projects and goals but has fewer polished integrations, rules, mobile workflows, dashboards, and enterprise controls than Asana.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Paid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
- setup
- There is no longer a permanent free hosted tier: the free route means operating PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, persistent storage, backups, and a web-facing Docker or LAMP stack.
- your data
- Self-hosted project data lives in MySQL 8 or MariaDB 10.6+, while uploaded files use the local filesystem or configured S3-compatible storage; hosted-account data lives in Leantime's cloud.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Redmine
open sourceGPL-2.0+Self-host6.0kaug 2026Project tracking, time sheets, Gantt, and wikis from the era when software admitted it needed configuration
The catch vs AsanaRedmine gives up Asana's modern collaboration, mobile experience, forms, automation, portfolio reporting, and real-time polish in exchange for a highly configurable server.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Install the Ruby on Rails application against PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, or SQLite; packaged containers/appliances are third-party conveniences
- setup
- The 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.
- your data
- Issues, users, projects, time entries, and configuration live in the configured SQL database; uploaded attachments live as files in Redmine's `files` directory.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
YouTrack
freeproprietary, freeLocal or hostedA full project tracker for ten people; user eleven is where JetBrains remembers billing
The catch vs AsanaYouTrack is developer-centric and free only through ten users, with much thinner goals, portfolio, workload, and cross-functional campaign planning than Asana.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted YouTrack Cloud signup, or the official Docker image for YouTrack Server
- setup
- The 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.
- your data
- YouTrack 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.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Asana open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Asana?+
The top free alternative to Asana is Plane (open source, AGPL-3.0). Linear-and-Jira-shaped work tracking without the subscription; the stack behind it is not small Other popular Asana replacements include OpenProject, Leantime, Redmine.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Asana?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to Asana, 5 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Plane (AGPL-3.0), OpenProject (GPL-3.0), Leantime (AGPL-3.0+), Redmine (GPL-2.0+), YouTrack (proprietary, free).
How much does switching from Asana to a free alternative save?+
Asana starts at $13.49/month per seat ($162/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Plane saves $809 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Asana clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Asana is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Asana, track team work through projects, tasks, owners, dependencies, and status updates. The hard boundary is large integration ecosystem, automation, reporting, permissions, and organizational trust, plus collaboration, integrations, and organizational trust.
What is the catch when switching from Asana to Plane?+
Plane is built around software-style work items and lacks Asana's mature goals, portfolios, workload planning, forms, rules, and broad cross-functional template ecosystem.
