Redmine
FreeFree open-source project management web app with issue tracking, Gantt charts, wiki, time tracking, and multi-project support built on Ruby on Rails.
What does this tool do?
Redmine is a self-hosted, open-source project management platform built on Ruby on Rails that serves as a lightweight alternative to tools like Jira or Asana. It's designed for teams that want full control over their project management infrastructure without recurring subscription costs. The tool excels at issue tracking with flexible customization through custom fields, role-based access control, and extensive reporting capabilities. It integrates directly with version control systems (Git, SVN, CVS, Mercurial, Bazaar) and supports both Gantt charts and calendar views for timeline visualization. What distinguishes Redmine is its multi-project support, per-project wikis and forums, and the ability to receive issues via email—making it particularly suited for distributed teams. However, it requires technical setup and maintenance since it's self-hosted, distinguishing it from managed SaaS solutions.
AI analysis from Feb 23, 2026
Key Features
- Flexible issue tracking with custom fields, statuses, workflows, and issue linking for complex project requirements
- Gantt charts and calendar views for timeline visualization and deadline management across projects
- Time tracking with activity logging, allowing granular time entry per issue and project billing analysis
- Multi-project support with per-project wikis, forums, documents, and file repositories for decentralized collaboration
- Version control integration (Git, SVN, CVS, Mercurial, Bazaar) with repository browsing and commit-to-issue linking
- Role-based access control with customizable permissions at project and system levels
- Email-based issue creation and LDAP authentication for enterprise directory integration
- News announcements, feeds, email notifications, and multilingual interface supporting multiple languages
Use Cases
- 1Software development teams using Git or other VCS who need issue tracking tightly integrated with version control
- 2Organizations requiring strict data privacy and control by self-hosting their project management infrastructure
- 3Multi-team environments managing 5+ projects simultaneously with different access controls per project
- 4Distributed teams using per-project wikis and forums for documentation and team communication
- 5Companies with complex time tracking requirements across multiple billable projects
- 6Open-source projects needing community contribution management without proprietary platform lock-in
- 7Technical teams needing custom fields and workflows specific to their industry or process
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Completely free and open-source under GPL v2, with no licensing costs regardless of team size or project count
- Self-hosted architecture provides complete data ownership, control over security, and compliance with strict data residency requirements
- Deeply integrated version control support with Git, SVN, and other systems allows developers to browse repos and link commits directly to issues
- Extensive customization through custom fields, plugins, and themes enables tailoring to specific workflows without vendor constraints
- Multi-project support with granular role-based access control allows managing complex organizational hierarchies efficiently
Limitations
- Requires technical expertise to install, configure, maintain, and upgrade—not suitable for non-technical teams without DevOps support
- User interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools like Jira Cloud or Linear, with steeper learning curve for UI navigation
- Active community and plugin ecosystem is smaller than alternatives, resulting in fewer third-party integrations and add-ons available
- Self-hosting means bearing responsibility for server maintenance, backups, security patches, and database administration
- Limited mobile experience with no native mobile app—primarily designed for desktop web access
Pricing Details
Redmine is completely free and open-source software released under GNU General Public License v2. There are no licensing fees regardless of the number of users, projects, or features used. Costs are limited to infrastructure (server hosting if self-hosted), optional commercial plugins from third-party developers, and internal resource allocation for installation and maintenance.
Who is this for?
Technical teams and organizations with in-house DevOps or IT expertise who need self-hosted project management. Best suited for: software development teams using Git/other VCS, open-source projects, companies with strict data governance requirements, multi-project enterprises, and organizations seeking to avoid recurring SaaS subscriptions. Not ideal for non-technical teams, organizations without hosting infrastructure, or those prioritizing modern UI/UX and minimal maintenance overhead.