ClickUp vs Leantime
Leantime is a credible open-source replacement for ClickUp’s project-management core, covering tasks, dependencies, milestones, multiple planning views, goals, reports, docs, time tracking, and whiteboards. Choose Leantime when self-hosting, source access, or a goals-focused workflow for non-project managers matters more than suite breadth. Keep ClickUp when you depend on documented capabilities not established forLe
Decision guide
The practical reasons to choose either option, based on documented capabilities.
Choose Leantime if
- Teams seeking self-hosted project management with direct infrastructure control.
- Non-project managers using goal-driven planning, milestones, tasks, and status reporting.
- Teams needing Kanban, list, table, calendar, and Gantt-style planning without adopting a broader work suite.
Stay with ClickUp if
- Persistent team chat must be built into the work platform; the supplied Leantime feature list documents comments and messaging integrations, but not equivalent native workplace chat.
- Workflow automation is required; no equivalent to ClickUp’s assignment, status, or prioritization automations is documented in the supplied Leantime sources.
- Workspace-wide AI search, agents, and AI automations are required; the sources mention AI-assisted personal organization but do not establish comparable coverage or inclusion in the open-source edition.
Deployment and operations
Leantime is self-hostable under AGPLv3 and is primarily PHP. Production can use a local installation or the maintained Docker image; documented requirements include PHP 8.2+, MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+, and Apache or Nginx. Managed hosting and SaaS are also offered. Self-hosters must handle backups and updates; Docker deployments require persistent database storage, and official support is limited to standard installations or the official Docker Compose setup on the most recent version. NoKube
Feature fit
What Leantime covers
- Task and subtask tracking
- Dependencies and milestones
- Kanban, list, table, calendar, and Gantt views
- Project dashboards and reports
- Goals and metrics
- Project docs and wikis
- Time tracking and timesheets
- Whiteboards and visual planning
What’s different or missing
- Native workplace chat not documented
- Workflow automations not documented
- Forms and intake workflows not documented
- ClickUp-compatible import not documented
- Equivalent workspace-wide AI not established
Project snapshot
- GitHub stars
- 11,356
- Contributors
- 193
- Language
- PHP
- Last commit
- Aug 15, 2026
- Latest release
- Jul 8, 2026
Categories: Workflow Automation, Customer Relationship Management, Project Management, Task Management, Knowledge Management, Digital Whiteboards, Document Collaboration, DevOps, Calendars & Scheduling
Sources and editorial review11 linked sources
Public documentation supports this comparison. Automation assists collection and classification; editorial standards and corrections remain the responsibility of Kris.
Leantime is a goals focused project management system for non-project managers.
repository description · github.comLeantime is an open source project management system for non-project managers.
readme · github.comTask management via kanban boards, gantt, table, list and calendar views.
readme · github.comProject Dashboards, reports & status updates; Goal & metrics tracking.
readme · github.comWikis / Docs; Timetracking & timesheets.
readme · github.comThere are two main ways to install LeanTime for production: install all needed pieces locally or use the officially supported Docker image.
readme · github.comLeantime is an open source project management system for non-project managers.
verdict · github.comTask management via<br>kanban boards, gantt, table, list and calendar views
shared feature · github.comUnlimited subtasks and dependencies
shared feature · github.comThere are two main ways to install LeanTime for production. The first of which is to install all needed pieces of the system locally. The second is to use the officially supported Docker image.
deployment · github.comLeantime is licensed under AGPLv3.
deployment · github.com
