Jira costs $7.91/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to Jira, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Jira vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $7.91/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 56k | Jira vs Plane → |
| OpenProject | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 15k | Jira vs OpenProject → |
| Redmine | open source | GPL-2.0+ | Self-host | ★ 6.0k | Jira vs Redmine → |
| Taiga | open source | MPL-2.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 844 | Jira vs Taiga → |
| YouTrack | free | proprietary, free | Local or hosted | ★ $0 forever | Jira vs YouTrack → |
The picks
4 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Plane
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted56kaug 2026The closest modern Jira-shaped escape hatch; the self-hosted stack is not a weekend hobby
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.
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 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.
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
Redmine
open sourceGPL-2.0+Self-host6.0kaug 2026Issue tracking, time sheets, Gantt, and wikis from the era when software admitted it needed configuration
The catch vs JiraRedmine lacks Jira's refined backlog and sprint reporting, automation rules, modern issue UX, marketplace breadth, and managed administration.
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
- 04
Taiga
open sourceMPL-2.0Local or hosted844aug 2026Scrum and kanban without Atlassian archaeology; reporting and integrations are thinner
The catch vs JiraTaiga makes Scrum and kanban pleasant, but reporting, workflow customization, permissions, release planning, and integrations are materially thinner than Jira.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted Taiga signup, or the official multi-container Docker Compose production stack
- setup
- Production 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.
- your data
- A 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.
- 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 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.
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 · Jira open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Jira?+
The top free alternative to Jira is Plane (open source, AGPL-3.0). The closest modern Jira-shaped escape hatch; the self-hosted stack is not a weekend hobby Other popular Jira replacements include OpenProject, Redmine, Taiga.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Jira?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to Jira, 5 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Plane (AGPL-3.0), OpenProject (GPL-3.0), Redmine (GPL-2.0+), Taiga (MPL-2.0), YouTrack (proprietary, free).
How much does switching from Jira to a free alternative save?+
Jira starts at $7.91/month per seat ($95/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Plane saves $475 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Jira clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Jira is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). 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.
What is the catch when switching from Jira to Plane?+
Plane is the closest modern substitute, but Jira still has the deeper workflow engine, marketplace, service-management linkages, release reporting, and enterprise governance.
