Redmine: The ultimate open-source project management tool

This article is dedicated to the ones who don't know about the advantages of Redmine just yet and are struggling with increasing pricing of proprietary software.

Redmine is a powerful, free, and open-source project management and issue-tracking platform. Unlike expensive proprietary alternatives, Redmine offers unmatched flexibility, extensive customization options, and a vibrant plugin ecosystem—one that RedmineX excells in.

Whether you're managing a software development project, IT operations, a marketing campaign, or a medical tech company, Redmine gives you all the tools you need to stay organized, hit your deadlines, and collaborate effectively.

Why choose Redmine over proprietary project management tools?

The open-source nature of Redmine brings several strategic advantages:

• Zero licensing fees – Redmine itself is free to use. Add as many users, projects, and tasks as you want—without any hidden costs.

• Full API access – Easily integrate with your favorite tools or your entire software ecosystem using the REST API.

• Customization with plugins – Extend Redmine’s capabilities with hundreds of community or RedmineX plugins.

• Complete data ownership – Host it yourself and maintain full control over your sensitive data. Host it with RedmineX and you still get 100% ownership.

• Cross-platform & cross-database – Redmine runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and SQL Server.

Key features at a glance

• CreatMulti-project support with subprojects

• Gantt charts and calendars for visual planning

• Time tracking & resource planning

• Role-based access control

• Email notifications & feeds

• Issue tracking with customizable workflows

• Integration with version control systems (Git, SVN, Mercurial)

• Multilingual and multi-timezone support

And this is just the core Redmine functionality. Extend it with plugins such as Agile, RedmineX Gantt chart or RedmineX Project templates and you have a project management power house for a fraction of thew price compared to a proprietary solution.

Popular use cases

• Software development with Git integration

• IT service desks via Helpdesk plugins

• Client billing with time tracking and invoicing

• Agile project workflows (Scrum/Kanban) with plugin support

• Internal knowledge bases with wikis and forums

How to install Redmine: A quick overview

Getting started with Redmine takes a bit of technical setup, but it's well worth the effort. If you're not familiar with this level of tech, no worries—RedmineX is here to help you. We offer a help with on-premise installation and even remote maintenance so you can enjoy the perks of Redmine without the tech headaches that running a server presents.

1. Download Redmine

Visit the official Redmine website and download the latest stable release.

2. Prepare your environment

Redmine is built on Ruby on Rails. You’ll need:

• Ruby (2.5–3.1)

• Rails (compatible version)

• A database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite)

• A web server (Apache, NGINX, or WEBrick for testing)

3. Database configuration

Create a new database and user, then edit config/database.yml to reflect your setup.

4. Install dependencies

Use Bundler to install required gems:

5. Set up the database

Run migrations and load default data:

6. Launch Redmine

Start the built-in server for a quick test:

Now visit http://localhost:3000 and log in using:

• Username: admin

• Password: admin

Installing plugins in Redmine

Adding functionality to Redmine is simple. Just:

1. Unpack your plugin into plugins/

2. Run:

3. Restart the server and if everything went correctly, you will have a functional Redmine. If not, troubleshooting is necessary.

Popular plugins include:

• RedmineUP CRM & Helpdesk

• Agile Boards

• RedmineX Gantt chart

• Time tracking & resource management

• RedmineX Inline issue editing

• Checklists, Budgets, and Invoicing

• And of course the greatest of them all, the UX Upgrade.

Themes and custom UI

Redmine supports theming for a better visual experience. To install:

1. Copy the theme to public/themes

2. Restart Redmine

3. Go to Administration → Settings → Display and select the theme

Popular free themes include:

• Circle theme

• Purplemine2

However, the greatest leap forward while still being compatible with vanilla Redmine has been done by the aforementioned RedmineX UX Upgrade which is adding a commecrial RedmineX theme that rivals the best contemporary UIs and is adding around 30 UI & UX features to make users more effective.

Redmine cloud vs. self-hosting

You can either self-host Redmine or use a managed RedmineX Cloud. Self-hosting gives you maximum control, while cloud solutions save you the hassle of maintenance, backups, and updates.

Security in either case includes:

• TLS/SSL encryption

• Daily backups

• Firewall & load balancing

• oAuth/Active Directory integration

• GDPR-compliant privacy policies

Final thoughts

Redmine is more than just an issue tracker—it’s a full-featured project management solution that adapts to your workflows, scales with your team, and integrates with your existing tools. Its open-source nature gives you the freedom to control, customize, and evolve the system as your organization grows.

Whether you’re a freelancer, an agile development team, or an enterprise with complex needs, Redmine is a smart, flexible, and budget-friendly choice. And when you team up with RedmineX, you gain more than just tools—you gain a partner who helps you overcome obstacles, optimize your processes, and keep your focus where it belongs: on your business.

Ready to hop on board?