OSI-licensed only · self-hostable
Basecamp is a proprietary all-in-one project tool combining to-dos, messages, docs and chat. Open-source tools usually split those jobs, but several come close, and you can run them on your own server.
Every tool below is under an OSI-approved licence (AGPL-3.0, GPL-3.0, MPL-2.0 or MIT), checked against its repository. Planka, a popular kanban tool, is listed separately because its licence is fair-code.
Licences checked against each repository on November 7, 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Licence | Runs as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | Modern project tracking | AGPL-3.0 | Docker |
| OpenProject | Planning and agile boards | GPL-3.0 | Docker |
| Taiga | Agile teams | MPL-2.0 | Docker |
| Leantime | Non-specialist project teams | AGPL-3.0 | Docker |
| Vikunja | To-do lists and tasks | AGPL-3.0 | Docker |
| WeKan | Kanban boards | MIT | Docker |
| Campfire | Group chat from Basecamp's makers | MIT | Docker |
Best for: Modern project tracking
An open-source project management tool for tasks, sprints, docs and triage.
Best for: Planning and agile boards
A self-hostable, open source project management tool covering planning, agile boards and issue tracking.
Best for: Agile teams
The backend for Taiga, with API documentation and guides for self-hosting the platform.
Best for: Non-specialist project teams
An open-source project management tool built for people who aren't professional project managers.
Best for: To-do lists and tasks
A self-hosted, open-source task and project management app. Most of the repository is AGPL-3.0-or-later; the desktop folder is GPL-3.0-or-later.
Best for: Kanban boards
A free, self-hostable kanban board app built with Meteor.
Best for: Group chat from Basecamp's makers
A self-hostable, web-based group chat app with rooms, direct messages, search, notifications and a bot-capable API.
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| If you need… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Basecamp-style team project tool | Plane or OpenProject |
| Agile and scrum | Taiga |
| Simple lists | Vikunja |
| Kanban only | WeKan |
| Chat | Campfire |
Public source code, but under licences the Open Source Initiative doesn't approve. Fine to use; read the terms first.
Source is public and self-hosting is allowed, but the Fair Use licence is fair-code rather than OSI-approved, and Pro features need a paid licence.
Quick answers to common questions
Basecamp itself is proprietary. Plane and OpenProject are the closest full project tools, and Campfire (MIT) covers its chat.
Vikunja, WeKan and Campfire are light. Taiga and OpenProject take more setup.
Not by OSI definition. It uses a Fair Use licence with paid Pro features.
Basecamp allows exports, but these tools may not import them directly. Test with a small project first.
For internal use, little. If you modify and offer it to others over a network, AGPL requires publishing changes; MIT does not.
List it on TechLogHub and we'll review it for this page.
