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Open source resource management software offers a way to manage resources on your projects in a completely customizable way. There are a variety of tools out there, but finding the right fit for your needs is difficult.

Here are my picks for the best open source resource management software tools, which I've chosen based on independent testing and evaluation and my personal experiences using dozens of different resource management tools with a variety of businesses.

Compare Specs Side-By-Side

Compare the details about each of my picks for open source resource management software with the table below.

open source resource management software logos list

Open Source Resource Management Software

Here’s a brief description of each open source resource management software tool on my list, showing what it does best, screenshots, features, and more.

Best for customization using its open GraphQL API

  • 14-day free trial + free plan available
  • From $8/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

monday.com is a flexible platform to help teams communicate in context, get a birds-eye view of outstanding projects, available resources, and projected timelines. monday.com’s simplistic design and straightforward interface mean teams can get started planning timelines, assigning project ownership, and managing any project in minutes.

monday.com offers various views to represent data, so each team member can work according to his preferences. With workload view, you can easily see who’s able to take on more work and who’s not. Gain insight into your team’s work capacity and make adjustments to timelines or ownership accordingly— no matter where you are. The monday.com app gives you the flexibility and power to run your team on the go. You can organize your daily work, projects, and teams all in one place.

monday.com has over 40 integrates with apps like Slack, Excel, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and others, accessible via Zapier.

monday.com costs from $6/user/month and comes with a free 14-day trial. They offer a free plan for up to 2 users.

Best for small businesses and medium-sized businesses

  • Free to use
  • Free software
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Rating: 4.7/5

WP ERP allows you to optimize and manage your business directly from your WordPress dashboard. The tool is easy to install and use, and provides access to extensions and modules for additional features and capabilities.

As a tool powered by WordPress—with the traditional WordPress layout—the learning curve is minimal.

Best open source resource management software for freelancers

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $15/user/month

Even without employees, freelancers and startup companies can benefit from the use of resource management software. Dolibarr is designed specifically for freelancers who require a flexible solution and advanced features in an easy to use package.

The marketing, finance and billing, and sales features are particularly useful to freelancers.

Best open source resource management software for simplicity

  • Free plan available (up to 10 users)
  • From $403/month

ResourceSpace is an easy-to-use and understand resource management software. The tool also has digital asset management capabilities and features for file sharing, version control, privacy and access controls, and more.

ResourceSpace also allows for a wide variety of integrations, including integrations with Microsoft Active Directory, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more.

Best for creating custom features

  • Free demo available
  • Free to Use

Apache OFBiz is a highly flexible and customizable resource management software. Users can easily enhance the framework with custom features—such as those for reporting—to meet the unique needs of their company.

Apache OFBiz isn’t as modern as other software on the list, but it more than makes up for it by way of custom features.

Best open source HR management software

  • Free to use
  • Free to use

Sentrifugo is an all-in-one solution for HR professionals. The tool can handle a variety of HR processes from performance appraisals to background checks.

Sentrifugo’s advanced analytics and metrics allow you to visualize things such as employee status, department count, and recent activity.

Best for those seeking flexibility

  • Free Version available

TaskJuggler is a flexible resource management tool that also assists with project planning and tracking. It covers a comprehensive list of resource management tasks, such as resource assignment, project scoping, communication management, and revenue planning.

A great feature is TaskJuggler’s ability to calculate timelines and resources based on your project plan any constraints or dependencies you’ve added.

Best for a fast start

  • From $1999/user, as a one-time payment.

With access to templates and pre-built application modules, ABP Commercial allows teams to get set up and start managing resources quickly. The tool also offers premium support and rapid application development tooling.

The modern, color-coded layout and intuitive navigation is designed for fast learning.

Best for customer relationship management (CRM)

  • Free trial available
  • From $7.25/user/month

Odoo is a full-service open source resource management software with a built-in CRM tool. It offers advanced features such as real-time messaging, forecasting, goal setting, and more.

With a large integration library, Odoo is customizable to suit your many resource management requirements.

Best open source resource management software for large teams

  • 14 days free trial
  • Free up to 3 users + starts at $8/month
Visit Website
Rating: 3.5/5

Orangescrum can be used by teams of all sizes, but it’s best for large teams seeking a streamlined project management solution. The dashboard is simple to use and understand, which cuts down on training time.

Also, for a fee, Orangescrum provides access to various high-level features, such as document management, in-app chat, and invoice Pro.

Other Open Source Resource Management Software Options

Here are some other open source resource management tools to check out if you didn’t find what you were looking for above.

  1. OpenProject

    Open-source enterprise resource planning software

  2. EPESI CRM

    For built-in BIM capabilities

  3. WP-HR Manager Software

    For WordPress integration

  4. ProjectLibre

    Free open source resource management software

  5. GanttProject

    Open source resource management software for beginners

If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for here, check out these tools closely related to project management software that we’ve tested and evaluated:

Open Source Resource Management Software Selection Criteria

When selecting the best open source resource management software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like collaborating across teams and managing resource allocation. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:

Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:

  • Manage resource allocation and scheduling
  • Track project progress and workload distribution
  • Provide visibility into team capacity and availability
  • Support role-based access and permissions
  • Integrations with other project management tools

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • Automated workload balancing
  • Predictive analytics for resource forecasting
  • Customizable reporting and dashboards
  • An open API for seamless third-party integrations
  • AI-driven task recommendations

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I looked for the following:

  • An intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Customizable views and dashboards
  • Minimal learning curve for new users
  • Mobile accessibility for remote management
  • Performance and responsiveness of the platform

Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered whether the tool offered the following:

  • Comprehensive documentation and tutorials
  • Interactive product tours and guided onboarding workflows
  • Templates and pre-built configurations
  • Training webinars and self-paced learning resources
  • Dedicated support for implementation and migration

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I looked for the following in each tool:

  • Availability of 24/7 support options
  • Responsiveness and resolution time of support tickets
  • Access to a community forum or user group
  • Multichannel support, including live chat and phone
  • Quality and depth of knowledge base articles

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered whether each tool had the following:

  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • Flexibility of pricing tiers based on business size
  • Availability of a free plan or trial period
  • Cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives
  • Inclusion of essential features without requiring expensive add-ons

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered whether the following was highlighted in customer reviews:

  • Overall rating and satisfaction scores
  • Commonly mentioned pros and cons
  • Trends in customer complaints and praise
  • Testimonials about customer support experiences
  • Feedback on product reliability and performance

How to Choose Open Source Resource Management Software

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityMake sure the software can grow with your team. Look for solutions that support increased users, projects, and data without major performance issues.
IntegrationsCheck if the software connects with your existing tools like project management, CRM, or accounting platforms to avoid workflow disruptions.
CustomizabilityYour team’s needs are unique. Make sure the tool allows for custom workflows, fields, and dashboards so it adapts to how you work.
Ease of UseA complicated system will slow your team down. Look for intuitive interfaces, simple navigation, and minimal learning curves.
BudgetOpen-source doesn’t always mean free. Factor in hosting, support, and add-ons when evaluating total cost of ownership.
Security SafeguardsYour data needs protection. Prioritize tools with encryption, role-based access control, and regular security updates.
Collaboration FeaturesMake sure the software offers team communication, task assignments, and visibility into resource availability.
Support & CommunityOpen-source tools often rely on community support. Check the availability of active forums, documentation, and developer responsiveness.

What Is Open Source Resource Management Software?

Open source resource management software is a tool with source code that is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and improve. It helps you manage resources like employees, equipment, and time, by providing tools for scheduling, tracking, and reporting. This type of software is freely accessible and can be adapted to suit various organizational needs.

The key benefits of using open source resource management software include its customizability and cost-effectiveness. You can tailor the software to fit your specific requirements, and it's usually free or low-cost, making it budget-friendly, especially for smaller organizations. Open source software also often has strong community support and offers a wealth of shared knowledge and regular updates.

Features of Open Source Resource Management Software

When selecting open source resource management software, keep an eye out for the following key features:

  • Resource scheduling: Allows you to allocate tasks and manage workloads efficiently to prevent overallocation or underutilization.
  • Time tracking: Helps monitor work hours and productivity so projects stay on schedule and within budget.
  • Role-based access: Allows for controlled access to data and functionalities based on user roles, which improves security and workflow efficiency.
  • Reporting and analytics: Provides insights into resource usage, performance trends, and project progress to support data-driven decision-making.
  • Collaboration tools: Facilitates communication and coordination among team members through shared dashboards, comments, and notifications.
  • Customization options: Allows you to tailor workflows, data fields, and dashboards to meet the unique needs of your organization.
  • API and integrations: Supports connections with other software solutions, such as project management tools, to streamline operations.
  • Budgeting and cost tracking: Helps manage expenses, forecast costs, and maintain financial accountability throughout project life cycles.
  • Mobile accessibility: Allows for remote resource management through mobile-friendly interfaces or dedicated apps.
  • Data security measures: Keeps sensitive information protected with encryption, regular updates, and compliance with security best practices.

More about the most common features of resource management software here.

Open Source Resource Management Software FAQs

Find answers to common questions around this topic.

What are the Benefits of Using Open Source Resource Management Software?

  1. Software can help streamline resource management and uses automation to help you work more efficiently and effectively, as well as save time and money.
  2. Open-source software is flexible and adaptable, allowing you to make custom changes that suit your unique requirements.
  3. It provides a comprehensive overview of current resources and capacity to assist with decision-making.

Learn more about the benefits of resource management software here.

What’s the Best Way to Compare Open Source Resource Management Software?

  1. Features: The best software applications have a long list of features designed to meet your many requirements or your use case, including some you might not have considered such as invoicing, timesheets, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, drag and drop functionality, project roadmaps and life cycle tracking, project portfolio management, and team task lists.
  2. Easy to use: Even though you can adapt open source software to meet your needs and methodologies, you still want your application to be easy to use “out of the box.”
  3. Tech support: There will be times when you have questions and/or concerns. Find software that offers many forms of support, from live agents to training videos and detailed documentation. This allows you to spend more time on resource planning and less time on tasks that don’t move the needle.
  4. Compatibility: Choose open source resource management software that’s compatible with your preferred operating system. Does your mobile device run on Android or iOS? Do you use a Mac or Linux machine? Without compatibility, you have nothing.

What's Next?

If you would like to continue learning about this topic, check out our in-depth guide to resource availability in project management.

Additionally, you can learn about 5 different techniques that can help you keep your projects balanced according to the your available resources.

Ben Aston
By Ben Aston

I’m Ben Aston, a digital project manager and founder of thedpm.com. I've been in the industry for more than 20 years working in the UK at London’s top digital agencies including Dare, Wunderman, Lowe and DDB. I’ve delivered everything from film to CMS', games to advertising and eCRM to eCommerce sites. I’ve been fortunate enough to work across a wide range of great clients; automotive brands including Land Rover, Volkswagen and Honda; Utility brands including BT, British Gas and Exxon, FMCG brands such as Unilever, and consumer electronics brands including Sony. I'm a Certified Scrum Master, PRINCE2 Practitioner and productivity nut!