Jira alternatives/Open source/2026

Open-source Jira alternatives you can self-host

With Jira Server end-of-life since February 2024 and Data Center winding down, teams that need to keep project data on their own infrastructure are turning to open source. These five are the credible options.

Quick answer

Plane is the closest modern open-source Jira replacement — cycles, modules and analytics on a small VPS. OpenProject and Redmine are the battle-tested classics; Taiga is a clean agile pick; and YouTrack Server is self-hostable (free ≤10 users) if you don't need open source specifically.

Side by side

Self-hostable Jira alternatives compared

All of these run on your own servers. "License" notes whether it's true open source. Compiled July 2026.

ToolLicenseStyleHosted optionBest for
PlaneApache-2.0Modern (cycles, modules)Cloud Pro ~$6/userThe closest modern Jira replacement
OpenProjectGPLv3 (Community)Classic PM + agileEnterprise cloudTraditional, feature-rich PM
TaigaAGPL / MPLScrum & kanbanTaiga CloudClean agile-first teams
RedmineGPLv2Veteran issue trackerself-host onlyRock-stable, plugin-driven
YouTrack ServerproprietaryAgile boards + query langYouTrack CloudPower for the price (free ≤10)

Official pages: Plane · OpenProject · Taiga · Redmine · YouTrack

Which to pick

Plane — the modern default

Apache-2.0 licensed with 36k+ GitHub stars, Plane gives you the Jira-shaped essentials — issues, cycles, modules, views and analytics — in a fast, current UI. It runs comfortably on a $10–15/month VPS for up to ~30 users, so the payback against Jira Standard is measured in weeks. It's younger than the classics, with a smaller ecosystem, but it's the one most teams replacing Jira Server land on today.

OpenProject & Redmine — the classics

OpenProject Community (GPLv3) is a full traditional PM suite with agile boards, Gantt and time tracking. Redmine (GPLv2) is the veteran — less pretty, extremely stable, and endlessly extensible via plugins. Both have run production workloads for years.

Taiga & YouTrack Server

Taiga is a clean, agile-first open-source option for scrum and kanban teams. YouTrack Server isn't open source, but it's self-hostable, free up to 10 users, and brings a powerful query language and agile boards — a strong pick when licensing purity isn't the priority.

Migrating off Jira Server / Data Center

Most of these ship a Jira importer or a documented migration path for issues, statuses and comments. As always, custom workflows, ScriptRunner automations and Marketplace-app data won't port cleanly — budget time to rebuild your process rather than mirror it.

Common questions

Open-source Jira alternatives — FAQ

What is the best open-source Jira alternative?

Plane (Apache-2.0) is the closest modern open-source Jira replacement — cycles, modules, issues and analytics, self-hostable on a small VPS. For classic, battle-tested options, OpenProject Community and Redmine remain solid; Taiga is a clean agile-focused choice. JetBrains YouTrack also has a self-hosted Server edition (free up to 10 users) that isn't open source but can be self-hosted.

Why do I need a self-hosted Jira alternative now?

Atlassian ended support for Jira Server on 15 February 2024, and Jira Data Center — the remaining self-hosted option — is on a multi-year retirement path with list prices up about 15% in February 2026. Teams that must keep project data on their own infrastructure are moving to open-source tools they can run indefinitely.

How much does it cost to self-host Plane?

Just your server bill. Plane runs comfortably on a $10–15/month VPS for up to ~30 users, so it typically pays back against Jira Standard within a couple of weeks for a 25-person team. A managed Plane Cloud Pro plan is also available at about $6/user/month if you'd rather not operate it yourself.