Redmineflux vs OpenProject
Redmineflux vs OpenProject – two open-source platforms, one measured comparison.
For Redmine teams comparing open-source platforms – plugin depth, AI, operations breadth.
This is not David vs Goliath.
OpenProject forked from ChiliProject, which itself forked from Redmine. Both tools share the concept of a structured work package as the unit of work. Both support self-hosted deployment. Both are licensed under open-source licences (OpenProject: GPL v3; Redmine: GPL v2). This comparison is two mature, open-source tools addressing the same core problem from different angles.
Who this comparison is for
Read this if you are choosing between two open-source project management platforms.
Teams evaluating open-source PM tools from scratch will find this comparison directly useful. Development teams currently on Redmine considering whether to stay or migrate to OpenProject need the architecture section. IT decision-makers weighing EU data sovereignty and self-hosted options on both sides will find the deployment comparison most applicable.
Quick verdict
Seven rows. Thirty seconds.
Scan the trade-offs here. The full feature matrix and pricing detail follow below.
| Consideration | OpenProject | Redmineflux |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams evaluating a standalone open-source PM platform from scratch, without an existing Redmine installation | Teams already on Redmine extending it with plugins; teams needing CRM, helpdesk, or invoicing alongside PM |
| Relationship to Redmine | Independent platform — forked from ChiliProject (which forked from Redmine); not compatible with Redmine plugins | Plugin suite built directly on top of Redmine — extends Redmine rather than replacing it |
| Deployment | Self-hosted Community (free) or OpenProject Cloud (EU-hosted) | Self-hosted Redmine + plugins, or Redmineflux Managed Cloud — same plugins on either |
| Data ownership | Community: full ownership; Cloud: EU-hosted by OpenProject | Full ownership on self-hosted; EU/US region on Managed Cloud — your choice |
| Pricing model (Cloud) | Per seat / per month — from €5.95/user/month (Basic, 25-user minimum); cost scales with every team member | Per-plan, not per-seat — Cloud Gold/Platinum/Diamond from $49/mo regardless of user count |
| Plugin ecosystem | Core modules (Agile, Time, Budgets, Meetings) — no third-party plugin marketplace | 18 focused plugins maintained by Zehntech — helpdesk, CRM, invoice, QA, AI/MCP Server |
| AI support | MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration listed as Professional-tier add-on as of 2026-07-13 — verify current scope at openproject.org/pricing | MCP Server — connects Claude, Cursor, and custom agents to Redmine; available in Cloud Pro plan |
Pricing
Total cost of ownership, compared.
Know what you’re investing in
Open-source / SaaS
OpenProject
- Community self-hosted: $0 licence cost — server infrastructure costs apply
- Basic Cloud: 25 × €5.95 × 12 = ~€1,785/yr — standard support; 25-user minimum
- Professional Cloud: 25 × €10.95 × 12 = ~€3,285/yr — advanced features, OneDrive/SSO
- Premium: €15.95/user/month — 100-user minimum
- Corporate: custom pricing — 1,000-user minimum
- No third-party plugin marketplace
- No native helpdesk, CRM, or invoice generation module
- MCP integration listed as Professional-tier add-on as of 2026-07-13 — verify current scope and availability at openproject.org/pricing
Source: openproject.org/pricing/ · verified 2026-07-13. OpenProject prices via a dynamic configurator, primarily in EUR — USD figures vary with exchange rate and subscription runtime; verify at openproject.org/pricing before purchase.
Per installation — flat
Redmineflux
- All 18 paid plugins — Agile Board, Gantt, Workload, Timesheet, Knowledge Base, Helpdesk, Test Case Management, CRM, Invoice, and more
- All three themes (Daisy, Scarlet + Lotus) included with the Bundle
- Redmine itself is free and open-source (GPL v2)
- Cloud Gold from $49/mo — all plugins included, managed infrastructure
Source: redmineflux.com/redmine-plugins-pricing/ · verified 2026-07-13
Get a Free Demo →Both Community editions are free on self-hosted. The divergence occurs on Cloud: OpenProject scales per seat; Redmineflux Cloud charges per plan regardless of user count.
How they differ in practice
Four meaningful differences between two open-source peers.
Shared lineage, different architecture, different plugin ecosystems. The differences compound at the edges of the operations loop.
01 – Architecture
Platform vs plugin layer.
OpenProject is a standalone platform that replaces Redmine. Redmineflux is a plugin suite that extends the Redmine already in use. For teams already invested in Redmine – data, custom workflows, existing integrations – Redmineflux is the lower-risk path. Choosing OpenProject means re-platforming.
02 – Plugin depth
Core modules vs focused stack.
OpenProject extends its capabilities through core modules – Agile, Time/Costs, Budgets, Forums, Meetings. These are comprehensive for project delivery. There is no equivalent of Redmineflux’s 18-plugin focused stack: no helpdesk, no CRM, no invoice generation from time logs. Redmineflux fills gaps that OpenProject leaves open at both ends of the operations.
03 – AI integration
No AI vs MCP Server.
Redmineflux has an MCP Server that connects Claude Code, Cursor, and custom AI agents directly to Redmine – allowing AI to read, create, and update Redmine issues. OpenProject lists MCP integration as a Professional-tier add-on as of 2026-07-13; verify its current scope and availability at openproject.org/pricing. For teams evaluating AI-assisted development workflows, verify the depth of each tool’s MCP offering before deciding.
04 – Cloud pricing
Per seat vs per plan.
OpenProject Community self-hosted is free, matching Redmine (also free). On Cloud, OpenProject charges per seat from €5.95/user/month (Basic, 25-user minimum). Redmineflux Managed Cloud charges per plan (Gold/Platinum/Diamond), not per user. For teams of 25+, Redmineflux Cloud’s flat structure becomes increasingly cost-efficient relative to OpenProject’s per-seat model.
Migration
Moving between OpenProject and Redmine + Redmineflux.
The shared data model makes this the most structurally compatible tool pair in this comparison series. Both use structured tickets as the unit of work.
Export from OpenProject
Use OpenProject’s REST API export or CSV work package export. Work packages, assignees, statuses, priorities, and custom fields are exportable. The data model maps closely to Redmine issues.
1–2 daysMap work packages
Map OpenProject work package types to Redmine trackers. Statuses, priorities, and custom fields have direct equivalents in Redmine. Map OpenProject projects to Redmine projects.
1–2 daysImport to Redmine
Import the mapped CSV into Redmine using Redmine’s CSV import with field mapping. The structural similarity means this is among the cleanest migrations in the open-source PM space.
1–2 daysInstall Redmineflux plugins
Install the Redmineflux plugins that replace OpenProject capabilities your team was using. Agile Board replaces OpenProject Agile Boards; Gantt Chart Plugin replaces the Gantt timeline.
1–3 daysParallel run & cutover
Run both systems for 30–60 days. New issues go into Redmine + Redmineflux. Once the team is confident, decommission OpenProject as the primary system.
30–60 daysWhen to choose each
The honest version.
Both tools are mature and genuinely capable. The right choice turns on whether you are already on Redmine, and whether you need CRM, helpdesk, or AI integration.
Choose OpenProject when
OpenProject is the right choice.
- Your team is evaluating from scratch and has no existing Redmine installation
- You want a unified open-source PM platform without the complexity of a plugin ecosystem
- EU data residency is mandatory and you prefer a European-hosted Cloud option
- Your workflow fits OpenProject’s module set without needing CRM, invoicing, or helpdesk
- Community support is sufficient and you want zero licence cost on self-hosted
Choose Redmineflux when
Redmineflux is the right choice.
- Your team is already on Redmine – migrating to OpenProject means re-platforming your issue data
- You need helpdesk, CRM, or invoice generation alongside project management
- AI-assisted workflow (MCP Server, Claude integration) is a current or near-term requirement
- You want a focused plugin stack maintained by one vendor against specific Redmine versions
- Flat per-installation pricing is preferable to per-seat Cloud pricing as the team grows
Ready to evaluate Redmineflux?
Don’t just compare. Try it.
Get a free demo link with every plugin included, or buy the ones you need for your Redmine.
Self-hosted or Managed Cloud · Every plugin in Cloud also runs on self-hosted Redmine.
Frequently asked
Questions about OpenProject vs Redmineflux.
Five questions that come up in every evaluation of open-source PM tools. If yours isn’t here, check pricing or contact support.
Is OpenProject compatible with Redmineflux plugins?
No. OpenProject and Redmine are different platforms. Redmineflux plugins are built for Redmine and do not run on OpenProject. If you are on OpenProject and want Redmineflux, you would need to migrate your data to Redmine first.
The migration is structurally compatible – both tools use a structured work package / issue model – but it is a platform change, not a plugin swap.
Does OpenProject have Kanban boards?
Yes. OpenProject has an Agile Board module that supports Kanban and Scrum boards with sprint management. This is comparable in depth to the Redmineflux Agile Board Plugin. Both tools cover this capability well.
Which has better Gantt support?
Both OpenProject and Redmineflux offer Gantt charts with dependencies, milestones, and timeline views. Both are strong. OpenProject’s Gantt is included in the Community (free) tier; the Redmineflux Gantt Chart Plugin is a paid plugin available per installation.
The differentiator is what surrounds the Gantt: Redmineflux has helpdesk, CRM, and invoicing alongside it; OpenProject does not. For standard project management, both are capable Gantt tools.
Does Redmineflux have EU data residency on Cloud?
Redmineflux Managed Cloud infrastructure is configurable by region. Contact the team to confirm current data residency options for your region. On self-hosted, the team controls data residency entirely – deploy on any infrastructure, in any region.
Which Redmine versions does Redmineflux support?
All Redmineflux plugins are tested and maintained against the three most recent stable Redmine releases. Compatibility is verified with each update. Check the documentation for the confirmed supported version list before installing.