Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to Smartsheet AI in 2025: A Comprehensive Comparison

As project management continues to evolve, 2025 brings an array of powerful open-source alternatives to Smartsheet AI, each offering unique features and capabilities tailored to various project needs. This article explores the top 10 open-source Smartsheet AI alternatives, comparing them on key data points like licensing, ease of use, customization, and target audience.

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1. OpenProject

License: Open Source
Key Features: Gantt charts, time tracking, agile support, bug tracking, team collaboration
Customization: Highly customizable through plugins and themes
Scalability: Suitable for projects of varying complexity
Target User: Teams needing advanced and comprehensive project management
Ease of Use: Can have a steeper learning curve but offers extensive functionality
Learn more about OpenProject

2. Taiga

License: Open Source
Key Features: Scrum and Kanban support, backlog management, sprint planning, issue tracking, project analytics
Agile Focus: Tailored for agile development teams
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface for easy adoption
Target User: Agile development teams and projects needing streamlined management
Customization: Provides some customization options
Discover Taiga

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3. Redmine

License: Open Source
Key Features: Issue tracking, multiple project support, time tracking, role-based access control, customizable workflows
Technical Focus: Good for technical projects and issue tracking
Flexibility: Highly customizable
Target User: Technically proficient teams and organizations
Ease of Use: Can require technical expertise to set up and customize
Explore Redmine

4. Worklenz

License: Self-Hosted
Key Features: Task automation, integration, scalability, task tracking, progress monitoring
Scalability: Suitable for growing businesses
Customization: Offers some customization
Target User: Businesses wanting a self-hosted, customizable, and cost-effective solution
Ease of Use: Designed to be user-friendly
Learn more about Worklenz

5. TaskJuggler

License: Open Source
Key Features: Resource allocation, project scenario analysis, reporting, flexible task structures, Gantt chart support
Planning Focus: Strong emphasis on planning and resource management
Complexity: Suitable for complex projects
Target User: Project managers needing detailed planning and resource management
Ease of Use: May require some learning to utilize its advanced features
Discover TaskJuggler

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6. Baserow

License: Open Source
Key Features: Real-time collaboration, workflow automation, drag and drop interface, customizable views, scalable database management
User Friendly: Easy to use without coding knowledge
Customizable: Allows for creation of custom databases and applications
Target User: Teams wanting a flexible database-driven project management solution
Ease of Use: Simple drag and drop interface
Explore Baserow

7. Leantime

License: Open Source
Key Features: Project portfolio management, time tracking, task management, milestone tracking, resource management
Lean Focus: Designed with lean principles in mind
User Friendly: Designed for ease of use
Target User: Startups and lean organizations
Ease of Use: More user-friendly compared to some other open-source options
Learn more about Leantime

8. Fossil

License: Open Source
Key Features: Integrated web interface, wiki and bug tracking system, distributed database, simple management, self-contained
Version Control: Great for managing complex projects
Self-Contained: Easy to set up and use
Target User: Software developers and project managers wanting an integrated approach
Ease of Use: Simple and efficient, though the command line is important
Discover Fossil

9. OrangeScrum

License: Open Source
Key Features: Multiple project views, resource management, Gantt charts, task management, time tracking
Customizable: Offers many customizations
Team Collaboration: Designed with teamwork in mind
Target User: Small to medium teams needing a customizable and full-featured solution
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface
Explore OrangeScrum

10. LibrePlan

License: Open Source
Key Features: Project planning, tracking, resource management, financial management, reporting, Gantt charts
Comprehensive: Aimed at large organizations or projects needing full control
Resource Management: Great for complex resource allocation
Target User: Large organizations with complex requirements
Ease of Use: May have a steeper learning curve
Learn more about LibrePlan

This list provides a good starting point for exploring open-source alternatives to Smartsheet for your project management needs in 2025.

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FAQ

1. What is a robust open-source alternative to Smartsheet AI for comprehensive project management?

OpenProject is a robust, open-source project management software that offers advanced project planning, tracking, and collaboration capabilities. Learn more about OpenProject

2. Which open-source tool is best for agile teams and emphasizes ease of use?

Taiga is an open-source project management tool designed for agile teams, offering simplicity and an intuitive interface. Explore Taiga

3. Is there an open-source project management tool suitable for technical teams with advanced customization needs?

Redmine is a feature-rich and flexible open-source project management tool, ideal for technical teams and multiple project support. Discover Redmine

4. What is a cost-effective, self-hosted project management solution for growing businesses?

Worklenz is a self-hosted project management solution that offers scalability and integration with other systems for businesses of all sizes. Learn more about Worklenz

5. Which tool offers advanced planning and reporting capabilities for complex projects?

TaskJuggler is an open-source project management tool that focuses on resource allocation, scheduling, and comprehensive reporting. Explore TaskJuggler

6. What is an open-source, no-code database platform suitable for project management?

Baserow is an open-source platform that offers real-time collaboration, workflow automation, and customizable views for project management. Discover Baserow

7. Is there a project management system designed with lean principles in mind for startups?

Leantime is an open-source project management system built around lean principles, making it ideal for startups and lean organizations. Discover Leantime

8. Can an open-source version control system be used for project management?

Fossil is a distributed version control system with integrated tools for project management, including a web interface and bug tracking. Learn more about Fossil

9. What is a user-friendly, self-hosted project management tool aimed at team collaboration?

OrangeScrum is a self-hosted project management tool designed to enhance team collaboration with multiple project views and resource management. Explore OrangeScrum

10. Which open-source project management tool is suitable for large organizations with complex needs?

LibrePlan is an open-source web application that focuses on project planning, resource management, and financial management, ideal for large organizations. Learn more about LibrePlan

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.