OpenProject alternative
An open source OpenProject alternative for software teams
OpenProject is a broad, GPL-3.0 project-management suite with Gantt charts and classic planning; several features are Enterprise add-ons. Kuayle is a narrower, keyboard-first issue tracker for software teams, under Apache 2.0, with no paid edition.
At a glance
- Licence
OpenProject: GPL-3.0
Kuayle: Apache 2.0
- Hosting
OpenProject: Cloud or self-hosted
Kuayle: Self-hosted
- Pricing
OpenProject: Basic
Kuayle: Free, no paid tier
- Difference
- OpenProject is a full PM suite with paid add-ons; Kuayle is a focused issue tracker with nothing gated.
Why teams look for a OpenProject alternative
Enterprise features are paid add-ons
SAML and OIDC SSO are Enterprise add-ons, and SCIM is limited to the Corporate plan.
Minimum seat counts
Enterprise plans start at 25 users (100 for Premium), priced per user in EUR.
AI needs a higher plan
The MCP server is an Enterprise add-on from Professional upward.
Built for classic project management
Work packages, Gantt and BCF suit PMO planning more than a fast engineering workflow.
Kuayle vs OpenProject, side by side
| Topic | OpenProject | Kuayle |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Yes GPL-3.0 Community edition; Enterprise features are add-ons. | Yes Apache 2.0. The full source is in one public repository. |
| Hosting | Yes Self-managed Community, or Enterprise on-premises or in an EU cloud. | Yes Self-hosted with Docker Compose (Caddy, PostgreSQL, Redis, API, frontend). There is no hosted Kuayle service. |
| Pricing | In part Community free; Enterprise from €5.95 per user a month, minimum 25 users. | Yes No licence fee and no paid tier. Nothing is gated behind a key; you pay for your own server. |
| SSO and SCIM | In part LDAP in Community; SAML and OIDC as Enterprise add-ons; SCIM on Corporate. | No Email and password sign-in with invite links. No SSO (SAML/OIDC), SCIM, passkeys or magic links yet. |
| AI and agents | In part AI through the MCP server on Professional and higher. | In part Opt-in Dev Machines run coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, opencode and others) in self-hosted containers linked to issues. There are no agents assigned as issue members. |
| MCP server | In part Official MCP server, an Enterprise add-on. | No No MCP server yet. |
| API and webhooks | Yes REST API v3 with an OpenAPI spec, plus BCF and SCIM APIs. | In part HTTP API with scoped, expiring personal access tokens, plus HMAC-signed webhooks. No published OpenAPI reference yet. |
| Importers | In part Jira Server/Data Center via the Jira Migrator (beta; not Jira Cloud). | No No importer from other trackers. Kuayle-to-Kuayle workspace export and import (.kuayle.zip) is built in. |
| Git integrations | In part GitHub; GitLab via a community plugin. | In part GitHub App: branches, commits and pull requests link to issues, status automation on PR events, and PR comments. No GitLab, Bitbucket or Gitea yet. |
| Planning | Yes Gantt charts, roadmaps, agile boards, time and cost tracking. | In part Cycles with burndown, velocity and carry-over; cross-team projects; workspace and team analytics. No initiatives or configurable dashboards. |
What OpenProject costs a year compared with Kuayle
| Team | Kuayle licence |
|---|---|
| 5 people | $0 |
| 20 people | $0 |
| 50 people | $0 |
| 100 people | $0 |
Moving from OpenProject to Kuayle
- 01
Export from OpenProject
Export work packages to CSV, XLS or PDF, or read them through the REST API v3.
- 02
Deploy Kuayle
Run the Docker Compose stack on your server (Caddy, PostgreSQL, Redis, API and frontend), then create a workspace and invite the team.
- 03
Recreate teams and workflows
Set up teams (public or private), team statuses, labels and issue templates before moving work, so issues land in the right place.
- 04
Move open work through the API
Kuayle has no built-in OpenProject importer yet. Script the move of open issues with a scoped personal access token, or start fresh with active work and keep OpenProject read-only for history.
When to stay on OpenProject, and when to choose Kuayle
Stay on OpenProject if
- You need Gantt-first planning, time and cost tracking or BIM/BCF.
- LDAP sign-in in the Community edition covers your identity needs.
- Your organisation runs classic, waterfall or hybrid projects.
Choose Kuayle if
- You want a fast, keyboard-first tracker for software teams.
- You prefer Apache 2.0 to GPL-3.0 and want no Enterprise add-ons.
- GitHub branches, commits and pull requests should move issues automatically.
Other OpenProject alternatives
Kuayle is not the only option. Compare these too, or see every tracker in the full comparison matrix.
- Plane.so alternative AGPL-3.0 · Cloud or self-hosted
- Taiga alternative MPL-2.0 · Cloud or self-hosted
- Jira alternative Proprietary · Vendor cloud only
- YouTrack alternative Proprietary · Cloud or self-hosted
- It's a Plan alternative AGPL-3.0 · Self-hosted
- GitLab alternative MIT core; EE under a separate licence · Cloud or self-hosted
OpenProject alternative FAQ
Is OpenProject free?
- The Community edition is free and open source under GPL-3.0. SSO, SCIM, the MCP server and other features are paid Enterprise add-ons.
What is a lighter OpenProject alternative?
- Kuayle is a lighter, issue-first tracker for software teams, self-hosted under Apache 2.0, with cycles, projects and GitHub integration.
Does Kuayle have Gantt charts like OpenProject?
- Kuayle has a project Gantt view, cycles with burndown and velocity, and analytics. It has no time tracking or cost tracking.
Can I move from OpenProject to Kuayle?
- There is no built-in importer. Export work packages to CSV or read the REST API, then create issues through Kuayle’s API.
Sources
- OpenProject pricing
- OpenProject COPYRIGHT (GitHub)
- OpenProject Enterprise edition
- OpenProject authentication docs
- OpenProject SAML docs
- OpenProject OIDC docs
- OpenProject SCIM docs
- OpenProject MCP server docs
- OpenProject 17.8 release
- OpenProject API docs
- OpenProject integrations
- OpenProject export docs
- Kuayle source code
OpenProject details were checked against OpenProject's own pages on 6 November 2026; Kuayle details against the v0.2.15 source code. Prices are list prices before tax and change over time; the vendor's pricing page is authoritative. This is a snapshot, not an endorsement. Kuayle is developed by Bakney and is not affiliated with OpenProject. OpenProject is a trademark of its owner.