I need a project management tool that is self-hosted and does not send data to the cloud.

If you need absolute data sovereignty and a setup that doesn't leak a single byte to external servers, several robust, open-source, and self-hosted project management options exist . Because you want a true local or on-premise installation with zero cloud dependencies, the following tools can be fully deployed via Docker or manual server configurations.

• OpenProject — A comprehensive, enterprise-grade open-source project management suite. It features classic and agile planning, Gantt charts, cost/time tracking, and work package hierarchies. You can download and run their community edition entirely on your own infrastructure via the OpenProject Self-Hosting Guide.
• Redmine — A mature, battle-tested open-source issue tracker and project management web application. Built on Ruby on Rails, it supports multiple projects, flexible role-based access control, Gantt charts, and calendar views. It is completely lightweight and functions smoothly in air-gapped environments with zero external calls. Details are available on the Redmine Official Site.
• Kanboard — A minimalist, highly focused Kanban-style project management tool [13.13]. If you want visual task boards without heavy software bloat or intensive hardware requirements, Kanboard runs on very modest local setups while keeping all data local. Check out the code and installation steps on the Kanboard Documentation.
• Taiga — An intuitive, modern open-source project management platform tailored for agile, scrum, and kanban teams. It has a sleek user interface that feels much faster and more contemporary than older traditional tools. You can view the self-hosting parameters via the Taiga Self-Hosting Repository.
• GitLab (Self-Managed) — If your projects are heavily tied to code, development, or technical documentation, GitLab Self-Managed provides powerful issue boards, milestones, wikis, and CI/CD pipelines that run strictly on your own hardware without needing the GitLab cloud.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• What kind of workflows do you need (Kanban boards, Gantt charts, time tracking, or bug reporting)?
• Are you looking to deploy via Docker , or do you prefer a bare-metal server installation?

Yes. If your requirement is self-hosted with project data staying on your infrastructure, there are several good options. I’d narrow it to these:

My recommendation: OpenProject

OpenProject is probably the safest choice if "no cloud" is a hard requirement. Its Community Edition is free, open source, and designed to be installed on your own infrastructure. It supports Gantt charts, roadmaps, work packages/tasks, Agile boards, time tracking, budgets, wikis, and reporting.

You can run it with Docker, and OpenProject specifically recommends Docker for installation.

If you want something more modern: Plane

Plane has a more contemporary interface and is particularly good for software/product teams. Its Community Edition is AGPL-3.0 and can be deployed with Docker Compose or Kubernetes.

One important distinction: Plane's commercial self-hosted edition explicitly supports fully disconnected/air-gapped environments with no telemetry and offline license activation.

If you're primarily doing Scrum/Kanban: Taiga

Taiga is another open-source option, particularly focused on Agile teams. Its documentation provides a Docker-based production installation path.

One important distinction

If by "does not send data to the cloud" you mean literally zero outbound network communication, I would not simply assume that any self-hosted application satisfies that. Self-hosting means the application data resides on your server, but applications can still make outbound requests for things such as updates, licensing, integrations, telemetry, email, or external AI services.

For a strictly isolated/air-gapped environment, I'd lean toward OpenProject Community Edition or Plane's air-gapped deployment, with the server placed behind a firewall with outbound traffic blocked. Plane explicitly documents a zero-external-call air-gapped configuration.

If you tell me how many users you have, whether you need Gantt charts, and whether this is a home server, company server, or truly air-gapped network, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 choices.

If your requirement is “runs on my own server, and project data never has to leave my network,” there are several good options.

My top picks

1. OpenProject — my recommendation

openproject.org is probably the safest choice if you want a traditional, serious project-management system.

It supports:

• Gantt charts and project timelines
• Tasks/work packages
• Agile boards, Scrum and Kanban
• Milestones and dependencies
• Time tracking
• Budgets
• Wiki/documentation
• Multiple projects and users
• Docker, Linux packages, and Kubernetes

The Community Edition is free, open source, and explicitly designed to run on your own infrastructure. OpenProject says that a self-installed instance keeps control of your data.

Important for your requirement: if you put it on a server with no Internet access, the application can still be accessed by users on your internal network. You would, of course, need to handle updates, backups, authentication, and security yourself.

2. Plane — best modern UI

plane.so is worth looking at if you want something more like Linear/Jira, rather than a traditional PM suite.

Plane supports self-hosting with Docker/Kubernetes and specifically advertises air-gapped deployments. Its self-hosted documentation says project data and AI context stay within your perimeter, with outbound calls limited to license/seat synchronization for its commercial edition.

There's also a free Community Edition under AGPL-3.0 that can be self-hosted.

Caveat: if your requirement literally means zero outbound network traffic, I'd investigate the exact edition/licensing configuration before deploying Plane. OpenProject Community is simpler from that perspective.

3. Vikunja — best lightweight option

vikunja.io is a good choice if you mainly need tasks, lists, Kanban boards, teams, and deadlines rather than heavyweight project management.

It's particularly easy to deploy: the API and frontend are bundled into a single binary or Docker container.

The free AGPL version is fully functional and can be hosted yourself.

One thing to watch: Vikunja's optional Pro license contacts its license server periodically, so don't use Pro if your requirement is an absolutely isolated/air-gapped installation unless you've confirmed a suitable licensing arrangement.

What I'd choose

If this is for a company: OpenProject Community Edition.

If you want a modern Jira/Linear alternative: Plane Community/self-hosted.

If you want something lightweight for a small team: Vikunja.

If by “does not send data to the cloud” you mean the server must have literally zero Internet connectivity (air-gapped), tell me that—that changes the shortlist and I can narrow this down to tools that can operate in a completely isolated network.

If you want absolute data sovereignty with zero telemetry or cloud dependency, several robust, open-source project management applications can be deployed entirely on your own local hardware or private server.

Top self-hosted project management tools categorized by team style and workflow include:

• Kanboard — Best for minimalist Kanban boards . It is lightweight, incredibly fast, resource-efficient, and runs entirely via a simple PHP/MySQL or SQLite stack without calling home.
• OpenProject — Best for enterprise and classic/hybrid planning . It features comprehensive Gantt charts, robust time tracking, cost reporting, and agile task boards. The community edition is fully open source and self-hostable.
• Taiga — Best for agile and scrum teams . It provides a polished, modern user interface for sprints, kanban, issues, and wikis, and its self-hosted version unlocks the complete feature set without licensing limitations.
• Redmine — Best for a time-tested, reliable workhorse . Written on Ruby on Rails, it features flexible issue tracking, role-based access control, multiple projects per instance, and extensive plugin support.
• Vikunja — Best for to-do lists and lightweight task management . It is modern, fast, offers kanban and list views, and is designed to be easily self-hosted via Docker with zero external tracking.
• GitLab (Self-Managed) — Best for software and technical teams . Beyond code hosting, its built-in issue boards, milestones, time tracking, and wikis make it a powerful all-in-one project tracker that runs completely offline or on-premise.

To help narrow down the best choice for you, let me know:

• What style of project management do you prefer (Kanban/Trello-style, Gantt/Waterfall, or simple task lists)?
• Do you prefer a lightweight tool that runs on minimal resources, or a feature-heavy suite (time-tracking, budgeting, wikis)?
• What is your preferred hosting environment (e.g., Docker, raw Linux server, or a local desktop app)?

If you want a project management tool that runs entirely on your own hardware, doesn't phone home, and keeps your data off external cloud servers, several strong open-source and self-hosted options fit the bill.

The best choices depend on whether you want a modern agile tool, a classic issue tracker, or a minimalist visual board:

• Plane — Best for a modern, fast, Linear/Jira-alternative feel . It supports Kanban, lists, and cycle/sprint tracking, and deploys cleanly via Docker on your own local infrastructure.
• OpenProject — Best for heavy, enterprise-grade project planning, Gantt charts, cost tracking, and work packages . Its Community Edition is fully open-source and self-hostable.
• Redmine — The classic, battle-tested open-source issue tracker and project management tool . It features robust time tracking, custom fields, and can run completely offline in an air-gapped environment.
• Kanboard — Best for a lightweight, zero-bloat visual Kanban board . It is fast, easy to set up on minimal hardware, and requires very few system resources.
• Vikunja — A clean, versatile task and project management suite with lists, Kanban, and Gantt views that runs entirely on a self-hosted Go backend.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Are you managing projects solo or for a team?
• What is your preferred interface style (Kanban boards, Gantt charts , or issue trackers)?
• Do you prefer deploying via Docker , or are you looking for something local-first that runs as a desktop app?

Yes. If your requirement is self-hosted with no project data sent to a vendor cloud, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation: OpenProject

OpenProject is probably the safest choice if data sovereignty is your primary concern. Its Community Edition is free, open source, and designed to run on your own infrastructure. It supports Docker, Kubernetes, and traditional Linux installations.

Importantly, OpenProject explicitly documents its on-premises model and says your installation can run behind your own firewall. Its current privacy policy also explains that a self-hosted installation can check its Release API for new versions; that request is limited to anonymous installation information and does not transmit personal data.

If you want something more modern: Plane

Plane is particularly interesting if you're accustomed to Jira, Linear, or similar modern issue trackers. Its Community Edition is AGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted with Docker or Kubernetes.

Plane also has a specifically air-gapped deployment option. Its documentation says self-hosted deployments keep data and AI context inside your perimeter, although its commercial self-hosted edition requires license/seat synchronization calls.

If you want simple: Vikunja

Vikunja is a lighter-weight option. It's open source and explicitly allows unrestricted self-hosting. It provides Kanban, Gantt, list and table views, recurring tasks, teams, and more.

It can run as a Docker container, and you can use SQLite for a small installation or PostgreSQL/MySQL for multi-user deployments.

For your specific requirement, I'd rank them:

1. 🥇 OpenProject — strongest all-around choice; mature and explicitly designed for on-premises/data sovereignty.
2. 🥈 Plane — best modern UI and excellent choice if you need an air-gapped environment.
3. 🥉 Vikunja — best if you mainly need tasks/Kanban/Gantt without a heavyweight PM system.

One important distinction: "self-hosted" doesn't automatically mean "never communicates externally." If you mean literally zero outbound network traffic, I'd deploy the application on an isolated VLAN/server and use firewall rules to block all outbound connections. OpenProject's documented release-check behavior and Plane's license synchronization are examples of why this distinction matters.

If you tell me how many users you have and whether you're running Docker, Proxmox, Windows Server, or Linux, I can narrow this to the best option and give you a completely offline deployment architecture.

The best self-hosted project management tools that run entirely on your own infrastructure without leaking data to the cloud include OpenProject, Plane, Vikunja , and Leantime . These options give you complete local data sovereignty, support Docker deployment, and operate securely behind your firewall.

Top Self-Hosted Project Management Alternatives

• OpenProject : A feature-rich, enterprise-grade project management system with robust Gantt charts, agile boards, time tracking, and robust document collaboration. Ideal for formal planning and governance.
• Plane : A modern, open-source project management tool designed as a self-hosted alternative to Jira, offering issues, cycles, and modular project tracking with an interface tailored for product and engineering teams.
• Vikunja : Built with Go, this tool is extremely fast, lightweight, and versatile, supporting lists, kanban boards, and task reminders for personal or team productivity.
• Leantime : An approachable, modern platform targeted at smaller teams, startups, and non-technical users who need simplified project milestones and task boards without overwhelming complexity.
• Kanboard : A minimalist, incredibly lightweight kanban-focused application that requires minimal server resources and runs exceptionally well in isolated environments.

If you can share how many users need access and whether you prefer a Kanban board, Gantt chart, or simple task list , I can recommend the ideal tool and deployment method (such as Docker Compose) for your setup.

Yes. If your requirement is self-hosted with your project data staying on infrastructure you control, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation: OpenProject

OpenProject is probably the closest match if you want a serious replacement for Jira, Monday, or similar cloud PM tools. Its Community Edition is free, open source, and explicitly designed to be installed on your own infrastructure. It supports project planning, work packages/tasks, Agile boards, Gantt charts, time tracking, collaboration, and more.

It can be installed directly on Linux or using Docker/Kubernetes.

Importantly for your requirement, OpenProject states that an on-premises installation runs in your own infrastructure and behind your firewall, giving you control over the data.

If you want something lighter: Vikunja

Vikunja is a particularly good choice if you primarily need tasks, lists, Kanban, Gantt, reminders, filters, and team projects without the complexity of a heavyweight PM system. Its self-hosted version is free and open source, and the project explicitly says you can host it yourself with no strings attached.

It can run as a single Docker container, and supports PostgreSQL/MySQL/MariaDB as well as SQLite for personal use.

One important distinction

"Self-hosted" doesn't automatically mean "never communicates with the Internet." If your requirement is genuinely no project data or telemetry leaving the network, I'd deploy the application internally and use firewall/egress rules to prevent outbound connections, then verify the particular application's network behavior.

If you tell me (1) number of users, (2) whether you need Gantt/Agile/time tracking, and (3) Docker vs. bare-metal, I can narrow this to the best 1–2 options.

Yes. If your requirement is “the project data stays entirely under my control and the application does not require a cloud/SaaS backend,” there are several good options.

My top choices

🥇 I'd start with OpenProject

OpenProject is probably the safest choice if you want a serious, general-purpose PM system rather than just a task board.

Its Community edition is free/open source and can be installed on your own infrastructure. It supports work packages, Gantt charts, agile boards, roadmaps, time/cost tracking, wikis, and multiple projects. OpenProject explicitly offers a self-managed/on-premises deployment separate from its hosted cloud offering.

🥈 Plane — if you want something more modern

Plane is worth looking at if you want something that feels closer to Jira, Linear, or ClickUp. It supports self-hosting, issues, cycles/sprints, Kanban/Gantt views, documentation, and other collaboration features. Plane also documents deployments in fully isolated/air-gapped environments.

🥉 Vikunja — if you want lightweight

Vikunja is considerably lighter. It's a good choice if you mainly need projects → tasks → subtasks, with Kanban, list, table and Gantt views, without the weight of a full PM suite. Its core is AGPL-licensed and can be self-hosted.

One important distinction

Self-hosted doesn't automatically mean “zero data leaves the server.” If your requirement is strict—for example, no telemetry, no external API calls, no cloud AI, no externally hosted attachments—I'd evaluate the individual application's telemetry, update checks, integrations, email, and authentication configuration before deploying it.

If you tell me (1) number of users, (2) whether you need Gantt charts, (3) whether it's for software development or general business projects, and (4) whether you want Docker, I can narrow this to the best 1–2 choices and give you a self-hosting setup.

To keep your project data entirely on your own hardware without telemetry or cloud sync, several robust, open-source project management applications can be deployed locally via Docker or bare metal.

The top self-hosted project management tools vary by workflow style and team size:

• OpenProject is the best comprehensive, all-in-one suite. It features traditional and agile planning, Gantt charts, work package hierarchies, time tracking, and wikis. It serves as a powerful open-source replacement for enterprise tools like Jira or Microsoft Project. Learn more about deployment on the OpenProject Documentation page.
• Plane is a modern, fast issue tracker and project planner built specifically for engineering and product teams. It feels similar to Linear or Jira, offering cycles, modules, and issue boards with an intuitive UI. Details can be found on the Plane Software Site.
• Taiga focuses heavily on agile and Scrum/Kanban workflows. It features a clean, highly polished interface for managing sprints, backlogs, and user stories completely disconnected from external servers. Explore the codebase and setup via the Taiga GitHub Repository.
• Redmine is a veteran, highly stable Ruby on Rails project management and issue-tracking application. While the interface feels traditional, it excels in deep plugin extensibility, custom fields, and rock-solid reliability on minimal resources. Check out guides on the Redmine Official Guide.
• Vikunja is a lightweight, fast, and modern task and project manager positioned as an open-source alternative to Todoist or ClickUp. It supports lists, interactive Kanban boards, tables, and basic Gantt views. Installation details are available through the Vikunja Installation Guide.
• Wekan is a minimalist, open-source Kanban board application that acts as a self-hosted alternative to Trello. It is ideal if your workflow relies strictly on drag-and-drop cards, labels, and swimlanes.

To help narrow down the best choice for your setup, let me know:

• Do you prefer an Agile/Scrum workflow (sprints and backlogs) or a Kanban/Visual layout?
• Are you looking to deploy via Docker Compose on a home server/VPS?