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Redmine gives teams issue and project tracking without a license fee, but it requires self-hosting and is described as less polished. That trade-off works for teams willing to manage their own software; it can be a poor fit if you want a different balance of planning, collaboration, or ease of use. These six alternatives cover visual task boards, cross-project workflows, product tracking, and client work. Compare their listed starting prices and plan limits before moving.
01Why people leave Redmine
It can feel like an issue tracker
One Reddit thread called Redmine an overgrown issue tracker, reflecting a common mismatch between issue tracking and broader project management.
Self-hosting adds upkeep
Redmine requires self-hosting, and the published description flags a less polished experience—trade-offs that can make administration and adoption harder.
Teams need different workflows
Reddit commenters disagreed on what project software should cover, from issue tracking to planning and simple task lists.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Cross-project workflows
AsanaAsanaChoose Asana if Redmine’s project-and-issue tracking feels too narrow for coordinating work across projects. Its listed strengths include cross-project coordination, goals, dependencies, and shared workflows, which suit teams that need a broader work hub. The listed starting price is $10.99, with a free plan; check higher-tier and enterprise pricing before moving.
Trade-off: Higher tiers and custom enterprise pricing need scrutiny.
7.0/10from
$10.99/mofree plan - Visual task boards
TrelloTrelloTrello is a simpler option if your team wants to organize work around visual boards rather than Redmine’s configurable issue and project tracking. It is aimed at individuals and small teams, and the pricing page notes a useful free tier. Its listed starting price is $5, with scaling costs to consider as your team grows.
Trade-off: Less suited to teams that need broader project planning.
7.3/10from
$5/mofree plan - Consolidating team tools
ClickUpClickUpConsider ClickUp if you want projects, docs, chat, and time tracking together instead of using Redmine as your central tracker. The pricing page positions it for small teams seeking project flexibility and tool consolidation. It starts at $9 and has a free plan, but users report complexity and reliability concerns, so weigh those against the appeal of one system.
Trade-off: Users report complexity and reliability concerns.
6.7/10from
$9/mofree plan - Product issue tracking
LinearLinearLinear is the closest fit here for teams leaving Redmine mainly because they want focused product issue tracking. It is positioned for product teams planning work from idea to launch and Jira switchers prioritizing simplicity. The listed starting price is $10, with a free plan; check whether its reporting meets your needs and account for annual pricing.
Trade-off: Check reporting needs and annual pricing.
7.7/10from
$10/mofree plan - Custom shared workflows
monday.commonday.commonday.com is worth comparing if your team wants customizable shared workflows and visual dashboards instead of Redmine’s issue-tracking emphasis. The pricing page specifically calls out marketing and operations teams. It starts at $8 and has a free plan, but check the seat price and plan limits before estimating the cost of moving a whole team.
Trade-off: Seat prices and plan limits may affect the total.
6.5/10from
£8/mofree plan - Client project work
Teamwork.comTeamwork.comTeamwork.com is a better match than Redmine for agencies and client teams focused on project margins, staff capacity, and forecasts from logged hours. Those are the use cases in its the pricing page. It starts at $9.99 and has a free plan, but minimum seats and plan caps can raise the bill, so check them against your team size.
Trade-off: Minimum seats and plan caps can raise costs.
7.2/10from
$9.99/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Redmine Redmine (current) | 7.0 | Free | Yes | Teams comfortable self-hosting software |
| Asana Asana | 7.0 | $10.99/mo | Yes | Teams coordinating cross-project work |
| Trello Trello | 7.3 | $5/mo | Yes | Individuals and small teams |
| ClickUp ClickUp | 6.7 | $9/mo | Yes | Teams consolidating work tools |
| Linear Linear | 7.7 | $10/mo | Yes | Product teams wanting focused issue tracking |
| monday.com monday.com | 6.5 | £8/mo | Yes | Teams building shared workflows |
| Teamwork.com Teamwork.com | 7.2 | $9.99/mo | Yes | Agencies tracking project margins |
Questions people ask
Why do teams leave Redmine?
The pricing page describes Redmine as free but self-hosted and less polished. In one Reddit thread, a commenter called it an overgrown issue tracker, while other commenters disagreed about what project-management software should include. The fit depends on whether your team wants issue tracking, broader planning, or simpler task coordination.
Is Redmine free?
Redmine is listed as having a free plan, with its starting price shown as not applicable. The trade-off in the published description is that teams have to self-host it. The alternatives listed here have free plans too, though their paid starting prices range from $5 for Trello to $10.99 for Asana.
What should we compare before switching from Redmine?
Start with the work you need the tool to handle: issue tracking, cross-project coordination, visual boards, product planning, or client work. Then compare the listed starting price with seat costs and plan caps. The pricing page flag limits or pricing considerations for Asana, monday.com, and Teamwork.com.