OpenProject or Allegra?
The question is not easy to answer. The OpenProject alternative Allegra is functionally richer and more extensively configurable than OpenProject. It supports practically all common database systems and is very strong from simple task management through agile project management to classical project management and workflow management. Allegra can be customized so that even users with little technical affinity can work well with it.
OpenProject makes getting started easy through its open-source licensing model. However, it should be noted that for many serious applications, only the paid version provides the necessary feature set. Below, we compare the two project management tools.
OpenProject
When looking for a free project management software, OpenProject ranks quite high on the list in terms of quality and feature scope. The project is among the best solutions I have found. It forked from the Redmine project and is being developed independently. It offers a clear, organized, and modern interface.
Extensive Feature Set
OpenProject is well suited for projects related to software development. The system is comprehensively configurable. Like Redmine, it offers so-called “modules” that can be enabled on a per-project basis. There are modules with functions for tickets (issue tracking), time tracking, news, documents, files, wiki, repository, forums, calendar, and an interactive Gantt view.
Project and Item Hierarchies
OpenProject allows creating project hierarchies and item hierarchies of any depth. Items can be linked to each other, e.g., through predecessor-successor relationships. Efforts can be categorized and logged.
No Support for Agile Methods
To find out what OpenProject does not offer, I looked at the list of features for the paid Enterprise version. It quickly becomes clear that the free version has no Agile Board for Scrum and Kanban. Support is also missing for single sign-on, attribute highlighting, full-text search in attachments, a usable workflow system, and unfortunately even a basic function like a multi-select custom field. I also found no way to freely design input forms.
Good for Classical PM and Issue Tracking
The free version is therefore best suited for classical project management, task management, and as an issue tracking tool where you don’t need workflows and the number of task attributes remains manageable.
OpenProject is maintained by a company in Berlin and further developed together with an active developer community. The project has approximately 3,100 stars on GitHub.
Installation and Technology
The free project management software OpenProject is written in Ruby on Rails and supports the PostgreSQL database system. I installed my test system on a Linux server, which was relatively easy using a Docker container. Installation on Windows servers is possible but more challenging.
OpenProject Alternative Allegra
The project management software and OpenProject alternative Allegra by Steinbeis comprehensively supports agile, classical, and hybrid project management models. Proven methods such as the Eisenhower Principle, Earned Value, Getting Things Done, and RACI Matrix are consistently used to ensure clarity even in very large initiatives.
Modern, Mature, Complete, but Little Known
The OpenProject alternative Allegra supports virtually all important features. The user interface is clean and modern. The configurability can be somewhat intimidating at first, but after a brief familiarization, it proves to be logical and well-thought-out. The Gantt chart, the resource view, and the graphical workflow editor are all interactive.
Comprehensive Role and Permission System
The role and permission system of the OpenProject alternative makes a well-thought-out impression and is based on the RACI Matrix principle. Access permissions can be configured down to individual fields. All important methods such as Earned Value, Milestone Trend, Eisenhower Principle, and Getting Things Done are supported. Drag-and-drop operations can be performed practically everywhere.
Allegra supports common database systems and runs on virtually all operating systems. It is written in Java and JavaScript, has been on the market for over ten years, and is used by approximately 10,000 users.
Servers Located in Germany
Allegra Cloud is operated on servers located in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Karlsruhe. Allegra Cloud is fully GDPR-compliant. There is personally reachable support that assists via email, phone, and web conferences.
Further Reading
Here is an interesting article about Allegra as an alternative to Wrike.
Discover the comprehensive project management software Allegra for yourself and book a free live demo.
Gabriella Martin
Editor and Writer
Gabriella Martin is a Yale University graduate and holds a Master's degree in German Literature from the University of Tübingen. She loves explaining complex things in simple terms.
