OpenProject vs. Redmine: Which Open-Source project management Tool Suits Your Team in 2025?
- Philip Moses
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Choosing the right project management (PM) tool is more important than ever in 2025. With businesses relying heavily on remote collaboration and agile workflows, having an efficient, reliable PM tool can make a huge difference in your team's productivity and success.
OpenProject and Redmine are two of the most popular open-source project management solutions available today. Both offer powerful features, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness — but they serve slightly different needs.
In this blog, we'll break down the latest updates, key features, pros, and cons of OpenProject and Redmine to help you decide which one fits your team's requirements best, based on accurate and up-to-date information.
OpenProject
OpenProject is a comprehensive open-source PM tool designed for both traditional and agile project management methodologies. It offers features like task management, Gantt charts, and agile boards. The latest version, 15.5.0, released in April 2025, introduced enhancements such as filtering for all descendants of a work package, improving project hierarchy management.
Redmine
Redmine is a flexible project management web application. It supports multiple projects, flexible role-based access control, and a customizable issue tracking system. The latest stable version, 6.0.5, released in April 2025, includes significant improvements and bug fixes.
🔍 Key Feature Comparison
Feature | OpenProject | Redmine |
| Modern and intuitive; no additional plugins required. | Functional but dated; UI enhancements often need plugins. |
| Built-in support for Scrum and Kanban methodologies. | Basic support; advanced features require additional plugins. |
| Integrated time tracking with cost reporting features. | Time tracking available; detailed reporting may need customization. |
| Offers customizable workflows and fields. | Highly customizable with extensive plugin support. |
| Active community with regular updates and documentation. | Strong community; extensive plugin ecosystem. |
| Straightforward with comprehensive guides. | Requires manual setup; may be complex for beginners. |
📈 Recent Updates and Enhancements
OpenProject 15.5.0 Highlights
Enhanced Work Package Filtering: Users can now filter for all descendants of a work package, including children and grandchildren, facilitating better project structure visualization.
Meeting Module Updates: Classic meetings are being phased out in favor of more advanced meeting tools, allowing for one-time and recurring meetings.
Redmine 6.0.5: Highlights
Redmine 6.0.5, released in April 2025, focuses on stability with 32 bug fixes and continues the transition to modern SVG icons. It also includes improvements for Right-to-Left language support and resolves an icon path issue with multiple plugins. This maintenance release enhances the reliability and user experience of the 6.0.x series.
🧑💼 Which Tool Should Your Team Choose?
Choose OpenProject if:
You prefer a modern, user-friendly interface.
Your projects follow agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban.
You require integrated time tracking and cost reporting.
Choose Redmine if:
You need a highly customizable tool with extensive plugin support.
Your team is comfortable with manual setup and configuration.
You prioritize a robust issue tracking system.
🚀 One More Thing — Setup Can Be a Challenge
But here’s the catch — most of these tools need some level of technical setup, often requiring a dedicated server and manual configuration.
That’s where Belsterns' House of FOSS comes in.
We handle all the installation, hosting, and setup for you — no technical background needed. Whether you’re a startup, a growing business, or a solo founder, we make open-source tools plug-and-play, so you can focus on your work instead of worrying about technical complexities.
🎯 Get Started with Belsterns Today
Click on “Get Started” and complete a quick registration to begin your journey with us. Let us take care of the tech while you focus on what matters most — your projects.
✅ Conclusion
Both OpenProject and Redmine are powerful open-source project management tools, each with unique advantages.
OpenProject offers a modern, integrated environment ideal for agile teams.
Redmine shines with its flexibility and customizable structure, perfect for teams that need full control.
By understanding your team's specific needs — and knowing that you have easy setup support from Belsterns' House of FOSS — you can confidently choose the project management tool that drives your projects forward.
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