Redmine
Project management software
Project, portfolio & program management software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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Completely free
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
- Transportation and logistics
What is Redmine
Redmine is an open-source web application for project management and issue tracking. It supports task and bug tracking, Gantt charts, calendars, wikis, and time tracking for software and IT-oriented teams managing multiple projects. Redmine is typically self-hosted and extensible through plugins, with a role-based permission model and integrations via REST API. Organizations often choose it when they need control over hosting and customization rather than a bundled, all-in-one business suite.
Open-source and self-hosted
Redmine is released under an open-source license and is commonly deployed on an organization’s own infrastructure. This supports internal security, data residency, and network access requirements that can be difficult to meet with SaaS-only tools. Teams can also standardize environments and backup/restore processes using their existing IT operations practices.
Strong issue tracking core
Redmine provides configurable issue types, workflows, statuses, and custom fields that fit many software delivery and IT service workflows. It supports linking issues, watchers, attachments, and notifications, which helps teams manage work items with traceability. Built-in Gantt and calendar views provide basic scheduling visibility without requiring separate modules.
Extensible via plugins and API
Redmine supports a plugin ecosystem that can add features such as additional reporting, authentication methods, or UI enhancements. A REST API enables integration with source control, CI/CD, chat, and other internal systems. This makes it suitable for organizations that prefer to assemble capabilities rather than adopt a single bundled platform.
UI and UX feel dated
The default interface is functional but can feel less modern than many newer project management tools. Common workflows may require more clicks and configuration, especially for non-technical users. Organizations often rely on themes or plugins to improve usability, which adds maintenance overhead.
Limited portfolio-level capabilities
While Redmine supports multiple projects, its native capabilities for portfolio and program management are limited compared with tools designed for cross-project planning. Advanced resource management, capacity planning, and executive portfolio reporting typically require plugins or external BI tooling. This can make standardized governance and roll-up reporting harder to implement.
Administration and upgrades require effort
Self-hosting requires ongoing administration for the application stack, database, backups, and security updates. Plugin compatibility can complicate upgrades, and organizations may need to test changes carefully to avoid breaking customizations. Teams without dedicated technical administration may find total effort higher than managed SaaS alternatives.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted (Open-source) | $0 — free (GNU GPL v2) | Download and run on your own infrastructure; includes issue tracking, wiki, SCM integration, plugins/themes, multi-project support. Official site provides downloads and documentation. |
