Basecamp alternatives: 8 open-source picks
Basecamp costs $15/mo — $180 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Huly, OpenProject and Leantime. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Tasks, docs, chat, calendar, and files; hosted Huly died in July, so this is self-host or nothing
licenseEPL-2.0
runsyour server
installRun the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production
dataThe self-host stack uses CockroachDB for account/workspace data, Elasticsearch for search indexes, Redpanda for event streams, and persistent volumes for uploaded files; optional services may add MongoDB. The public hosted Huly service announced its shutdown, so new use means self-hosting.
the catch vs BasecampHuly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
setupThe first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
facts verified 2026-08-10
To-dos, files, schedules, meetings, forums, and wikis; calm is not included
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Enterprise Cloud signup, or Community Edition via Docker Compose/all-in-one Docker or supported Linux packages
dataSelf-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.
the catch vs BasecampOpenProject can hold files, meetings, forums, and schedules, but its enterprise planning interface is much less approachable than Basecamp for ordinary clients and small teams.
setupThe free Community Edition needs a Linux server; the recommended Docker setup still requires persistent database/file volumes, a hostname, TLS, and mail configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Projects, discussions, files, milestones, and status reporting without Basecamp's deliberate simplicity
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installPaid hosted signup, or the free open-source edition via Docker Compose/official image or a PHP release archive plus MySQL/MariaDB
dataSelf-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.
the catch vs BasecampLeantime has projects, discussions, milestones, and status reports, but its communication flow, mobile polish, email participation, and automatic check-ins are weaker than Basecamp's.
setupThere 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.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Projects, discussions, files, calendars, milestones, and time tracking in one enormous self-hosted office
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
installDeploy the official ONLYOFFICE Community Server Docker image, normally alongside Document Server and Mail Server as needed
dataGroupware records live in the deployment's relational database and users' documents/attachments live on persistent server storage; Docker deployments mount host directories for data, logs, and configuration.
the catch vs BasecampONLYOFFICE Groups replaces Basecamp's deliberate calm with an enormous office suite whose setup, permissions, and menus are far more complex and whose automatic check-ins are less central.
setupThe product is an office suite rather than a small project app: a usable deployment brings Docker, persistent volumes, a database, domains/TLS, mail settings, and often separate Document Server services.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Open-source project management with issues, cycles, and product roadmaps
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Kanban and project boards, a Trello/Notion-boards alternative from Mattermost
licenseMIT/AGPL dual
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Realtime kanban board that feels exactly like Trello, on your own server.
licenseFair Use (source available)
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Self-hosted to-do and task management with lists, gantt, and kanban views
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Huly · OpenProject · Leantime · Plane · Focalboard
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Basecamp alternative
Easiest to get running
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Plane, with 55,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Works on your phone
ONLYOFFICE Groups has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
Needs real ops to self-host
Huly and ONLYOFFICE Groups are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving Basecamp
- mature opinionated workflow, email delivery, guest access, support, and reliability
- deep integrations
- enterprise permissions
- large-scale reporting
- battle-tested notifications and mobile apps
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Basecamp alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huly | EPL-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 25,866 | 2026-05 |
| OpenProject | GPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 15,200 | 2026-08 |
| Leantime | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 10,000 | 2026-08 |
| ONLYOFFICE Groups | Apache-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, windows, linux, ios, android, self-hosted | 3,100 | 2026-05 |
| Plane | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 55,000 | 2026-08 |
| Focalboard | MIT/AGPL dual | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 26,000 | 2026-08 |
| Planka | Fair Use (source available) | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 10,000 | 2026-08 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Basecamp
People still pay for Basecamp because teams pay because project state has to remain authoritative through staff changes, outages, and years of accumulated workflow exceptions. The recurring cost buys auth, permissions, notifications, search, migrations, audit history, integrations, backups, and uptime, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $180 a year.
questions about switching from Basecamp
Is there an open-source alternative to Basecamp?
Yes: Huly, OpenProject, Leantime and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Basecamp?
Our verdict is YES. Plane (55k stars), Focalboard (26k stars), Huly (26k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Basecamp — self-host with docker and stop paying $15/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/basecamp.
What is the easiest open-source Basecamp alternative to set up?
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Basecamp alternative?
By GitHub stars, Plane (55,000). Focalboard is next with 26,000.
