Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to ClickUp · 🎨 design
ClickUp vs Leantime
Open-source software designed to streamline tasks, boost productivity, and enhance collaboration for teams of all types, including those with ADHD and neurodiversity. Here is how Leantime ($0/mo open source) stacks up against ClickUp ($20/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Leantime is a verified AGPL-3.0+-licensed open-source replacement for ClickUp. Switching from ClickUp ($20/mo) saves $240/yr per solo seat, or $1,200/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: Leantime covers projects and goals but has fewer polished integrations, rules, mobile workflows, dashboards, and enterprise controls than Asana.
Leantime
$0.00/mo · AGPL-3.0+
ClickUp vs Leantime Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | ClickUp (Paid) | Leantime (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $20 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $240 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $240) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,200) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $2,400 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,400) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 12k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from ClickUp to Leantime
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Leantime covers projects and goals but has fewer polished integrations, rules, mobile workflows, dashboards, and enterprise controls than Asana.
How to deploy Leantime
Paid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
What it takes to run
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.
Where your data lives
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.
Why fork Leantime instead of vibe-coding a ClickUp clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for ClickUp or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 25 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Macro Tasks.
ClickUp vs Leantime FAQ
Is Leantime a good free alternative to ClickUp?+
Yes. Leantime is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0+) replacement for ClickUp. Open-source software designed to streamline tasks, boost productivity, and enhance collaboration for teams of all types, including those with ADHD and neurodiversity.
What is the catch when switching from ClickUp to Leantime?+
Leantime covers projects and goals but has fewer polished integrations, rules, mobile workflows, dashboards, and enterprise controls than Asana.
How much do you save switching from ClickUp to Leantime?+
ClickUp costs $20/mo ($240/yr) per seat, whereas Leantime is $0/mo. Switching saves $240/yr for a solo user, $1,200/yr for a 5-person team, and $2,400/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Leantime instead of ClickUp?+
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.
