Redmine Pricing Breakdown: Costs, Features, and Value
Ryan Tanner
Product Marketing Specialist
Aug 5, 2026
Ryan Tanner
Aug 5, 2026
10 min read
Redmine is a powerful, open-source project management tool widely used by software and IT teams. While it's free to download and use, many teams find that the total cost of ownership is higher than expected due to hosting, plugins, and ongoing maintenance. Understanding Redmine pricing is crucial for businesses looking to balance cost and functionality.​
This post dives deep into Redmine, Easy Redmine, and the hidden expenses teams should anticipate. We'll also explain why some modern teams choose Lark as a more streamlined alternative for project management, communication, and automation.​
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What is Redmine, and is it free to use?
​​Redmine is a powerful, open-source project management tool widely used by software and IT teams. It helps organizations track issues, manage projects, and collaborate across teams with customizable workflows, Gantt charts, calendars, and time-tracking features. ​
Unlike many SaaS tools, Redmine is free to use under the GPL license, giving teams full control over their data through self-hosted deployment. As the official forums suggested, only some plugins can be paid. So, in the following part, we will introduce its popular plugin.​
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Image source: redmine.org​
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Core Redmine features explained
​​Redmine is a flexible project management tool that offers a suite of features to help teams plan, track, and execute projects efficiently. Understanding these Redmine features is key to evaluating its value and total Redmine pricing for your team.​
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​Feature area​ | What Redmine offers​ |
Issue and bug tracking​ | Create and assign issues and bugsCustom issue types, priorities, and statusesReal-time updates for IT and development teams​ |
Project and task management​ | Custom workflows per projectTask dependencies and prioritiesFlexible structure for different team processes​ |
Gantt charts and calendars​ | Visual timelines based on start and due datesMilestone and deadline trackingAutomatic updates from issue changes​ |
Time tracking and activity logs​ | Log time at task or project levelTrack effort by user, activity, or categoryUseful for billing and productivity reporting​ |
Role-based access control​ | Custom roles and permissionsControl access to issues, files, and projectsSecure collaboration across teams​ |
Documentation and knowledge sharing​ | Built-in wiki for project documentationForums for discussions and updatesCentralized reference for teams​ |
REST API and extensibility​ | API access for custom integrationsSupport for automation and custom toolsLarge plugin ecosystem for expansion​ |
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What is Easy Redmine?
​​Easy Redmine is a commercial enhancement of the open-source Redmine platform, designed to simplify project management for teams that need more functionality without heavy technical setup. While Redmine is free, many organizations find that customizing and maintaining it requires significant effort, which is where Easy Redmine comes in.​
Easy Redmine includes pre-installed plugins, advanced dashboards, and reporting tools that streamline workflows, making it easier to track tasks, manage projects, and monitor team performance. It supports Gantt charts, time tracking, resource management, and agile methodologies, providing a more polished, user-friendly experience than standard Redmine.​
By reducing setup complexity and offering built-in features, Easy Redmine helps teams save time and avoid hidden costs associated with hosting and plugin management. For organizations evaluating Redmine pricing, Easy Redmine presents a more predictable and scalable option.​
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Image source: redmine.org​
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What Easy Redmine adds on top of Redmine
​​- Modern interface and UX improvements: A cleaner layout, improved navigation, and better dashboards compared to standard Redmine.​
- Advanced project and portfolio management: Built-in Gantt charts, project hierarchies, resource management, and portfolio-level views without relying heavily on plugins.​
- Business-ready reporting and dashboards: Prebuilt reports for workload, time tracking, budgets, and project health, designed for managers and leadership.​
- Agile and DevOps extensions: Scrum and Kanban boards, backlog management, and CI/CD-related features packaged as official modules.​
- Official support and maintenance: Updates, security patches, and vendor-backed support, reducing the risk associated with community plugins.​
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Easy Redmine pricing overview
​​As a paid plugin of Redmine, Easy Redmine offers a structured pricing model that scales with team size and feature needs, making it easier for organizations to predict costs compared to traditional Redmine pricing that can balloon with hosting and plugins. Although the base Redmine software is free, many teams find that adding features, support, and maintenance increases total costs, which Easy Redmine simplifies by bundling core project management tools into tiered plans. Easy Redmine plans are available as cloud subscriptions with a free trial and optional on-premises deployment for teams that need complete data control. ​
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Information source: easyredmine.com​
Update time: 2025/12/17​
Note: Pricing and plan details reflect publicly available data as of the update date and may vary based on region, billing cycle, and number of agents.​
Easy Redmine pricing on cloud pricing details​
Easy Redmine's cloud subscription plans offer a hosted solution that simplifies deployment and removes the need for self-managed servers, making Redmine pricing more predictable for teams that prefer SaaS. With a cloud plan, teams get uninterrupted access to project management tools, Agile and Waterfall methodologies, resource and cost management, integrations, and AI-assisted features, all backed by a 99.9% uptime SLA and scalable support. A 30-day free trial lets teams evaluate the complete feature set before committing. ​
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​Easy Redmine on-premise pricing details​
Easy Redmine's on-premise option is designed for organizations that need complete control over their data, infrastructure, and security. This deployment model is commonly chosen by enterprises, regulated industries, or teams with strict compliance requirements that cannot rely on cloud hosting.​
Easy Redmine uses the same user-based pricing for on-premise as for cloud plans, starting from the Essentials tier and scaling through Business and Platform plans. Pricing is typically billed annually per user and includes access to core features such as Gantt charts, Agile boards, resource management, and integrations.​
Additional costs may apply if you choose managed hosting, priority support, high-availability setups, or custom integrations. For large organizations with advanced requirements, Enterprise on-premise pricing is custom-quoted based on deployment complexity and support needs.​
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Image source: redmine.org​
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Plugin and extension costs teams underestimate
​​While Redmine is free at its core, plugins play a significant role in expanding functionality and significantly impact the total Redmine price. Relying on third-party plugins introduces both additional costs and long-term risks that teams should evaluate carefully.​
- Paid plugins for agile boards, reporting, and UX: Many essential features, such as Kanban or Scrum boards, advanced reporting, and modern UI enhancements, are only available through paid plugins. These recurring plugin fees can quickly increase Redmine's overall cost.​
- Compatibility risks with upgrades: Redmine core updates may break plugin compatibility, requiring updates, replacements, or additional development work. This can delay upgrades and increase maintenance effort.​
- Long-term dependency on third-party maintainers: Most plugins are maintained by independent developers rather than the Redmine core team. If a plugin is discontinued or poorly maintained, teams may face security risks or costly migrations.​
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When Redmine or Easy Redmine pricing still makes sense
​​Redmine is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it can be a strong choice for specific types of organizations. Understanding who benefits most from Redmine helps teams evaluate whether its flexibility justifies the total cost and effort of Redmine.​
- Engineering-led teams with in-house infrastructure: Redmine works well for teams that already manage their own servers and development tools. These teams can handle setup, customization, and maintenance without relying on external vendors.​
- Strict on-premises or data-residency requirements: Organizations with compliance, regulatory, or data-sovereignty needs benefit from Redmine's self-hosted model. Complete control over data storage and access helps meet internal and legal requirements.​
- Organizations comfortable trading time for control: Redmine suits teams willing to invest time and technical effort in exchange for customization and ownership. For these teams, power and flexibility are higher priorities than ease of use or speed of deployment.​
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Why do teams quit Redmine after year one
​​As teams grow and workflows become more complex, Redmine's limitations can start to outweigh its benefits. At this stage, the gap between effort, usability, and total Redmine pricing becomes harder to justify.​
- Rising admin overhead: Managing servers, plugins, updates, and user permissions requires ongoing administrative effort. As usage scales, this overhead increases and can distract technical teams from core work.​
- Collaboration and reporting gaps: Redmine lacks native real-time collaboration tools and advanced reporting out of the box. Teams often rely on additional plugins or external tools, increasing complexity and fragmentation.​
- Cost vs value mismatch as work expands beyond issues: Redmine works best for issue tracking, but modern teams manage documentation, communication, approvals, and automation as well. As these needs grow, Redmine's value decreases relative to its total cost.​
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Modern alternative: Connect collaboration with swift workflows with Lark
​​While Redmine and Easy Redmine provide powerful project management features, modern teams often face challenges with setup, plugin management, and real-time collaboration. Lark addresses these issues by combining project management, communication, and workflow automation in a single platform. Teams benefit from a more intuitive interface, seamless collaboration, and transparent pricing. Evaluating Redmine pricing alongside Lark's plans highlights why many organizations are switching to a more integrated solution.​
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Multi-project management hub without rigidsilos
​​Lark supports multi-project management through Lark Base, where projects are organized as structured records rather than isolated workspaces. Unlike Redmine's project and subproject hierarchy, Lark allows multiple projects to exist within shared databases, making it easy to manage parallel initiatives without duplicating data. Teams can link related projects, view them across different views, and maintain shared visibility across departments. This approach reduces silos and enables cross-project coordination that is difficult to achieve in Redmine's instance-based structure.​
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Timeline and Gantt views connected to live data
​​Lark's Gantt and timeline views are built directly on structured data, ensuring timelines remain synchronized with real project activity. Any update, such as a status change or date adjustment, instantly reflects across all views, including Kanban boards, Gallery, Grid, and Gantt views. Redmine generates timelines from issue dates, but those views often act as planning snapshots. Lark's approach keeps timelines continuously up to date, making them reliable tools for both planning and execution.​
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Custom data models that adapt without heavy setup
​​Lark Base allows teams to define custom fields, linked records, and formulas that adapt as workflows evolve. Changes are applied instantly across all views, reducing administrative effort. While Redmine supports custom fields, they must be managed on a per-project basis and often increase configuration overhead. Lark's flexible data model makes it easier for teams to evolve processes without restructuring their entire system.​
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Workflow-driven task and issue execution
​​Where Redmine focuses on tracking issues through configurable workflows, Lark transforms tasks into active execution units. In Lark Base, each task or issue is a structured record with owners, statuses, priorities, and linked dependencies. Status changes can trigger automated workflow functions, such as sending updates to Messenger or creating follow-up tasks. This turns tracking into coordinated action, reducing the need for plugins or manual process enforcement common in Redmine setups.​
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Documents connected directly to execution
​​Lark Docs enables real-time collaborative documentation, allowing teams to co-edit, comment, and track changes instantly. Documents can be linked directly to tasks, projects, or records in Base, ensuring plans and execution remain connected. In Redmine, documents are typically uploaded as files or wiki pages, which separate content from day-to-day work. Lark keeps documentation active and embedded within workflows.​
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Granular permission control beyond role-per-project limits
​​Lark offers advanced permission management that goes deeper than Redmine's role-based access model. Permissions can be applied at the workspace, document, table, row, or even field level, allowing organizations to control precisely who can view or edit specific data. This flexibility is especially valuable for cross-functional teams handling sensitive information. While Redmine permissions are tied closely to individual projects, Lark enables secure collaboration across teams without forcing data separation.​
- Starter plan: Free forever plan that includes 11 powerful tools for up to 20 users. It also comes with 100GB of storage, 1000 automation runs, AI translations, and more.​
- Basic plan: $6/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 5TB of storage, 1000 automation runs, and more. For more details, please contact sales.​
- Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Basic plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage, 50,000 automation runs, and more.​
- Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.​
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Starter
Pro
Enterprise
Starter
For small teams with simple communication needs
$0
/ user / month
20 users max
18 months message history
1-on-1 video meetings
100 GB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
1000 Base automation runs/month
2000 rows per table in Base
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
Enterprise
For large companies with advanced security and organizational management needs
Get a personalized demo and pricing
Unlimited users
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage + 30 GB storage/user
Lark Docs & Mail
500k Base automation runs/month
50k Base automation runs/month
Single sign-on (SSO)
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
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How to choose the correct option
​​Choosing the right project management solution requires careful consideration of Redmine pricing, Easy Redmine pricing, and the total cost of ownership. Asking the right questions helps teams avoid hidden fees and ensures the platform aligns with workflow needs.​
Pricing comparison​
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​Feature comparison​
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​Consideration​
- Key questions to ask before committing to Redmine: Teams should consider the number of users, the available technical expertise, and the essential features. It's important to evaluate whether your team can handle self-hosting, plugin management, and ongoing maintenance. These questions help determine if Redmine or Easy Redmine is the better fit.​
- Cost checklist for Redmine and Easy Redmine: Beyond the free software, account for hosting, plugin licenses, and administrative effort. Easy Redmine adds licensing fees but reduces setup complexity. Comparing all potential costs upfront ensures teams understand the actual total cost of ownership.​
- Signs you should consider Lark instead: If your team struggles with Redmine's interface, real-time collaboration, or plugin management, Lark may be a better choice. Lark combines project management, communication, automation, and CRM into a single platform, helping teams save time and reduce hidden expenses.​
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Conclusion
​​Redmine remains a capable project management tool for technical teams that value customization and full control. However, when evaluating Redmine pricing, it's clear that hidden costs, such as hosting, paid plugins, maintenance, and administrative effort, can add up over time. Easy Redmine reduces some complexity but introduces predictable subscription fees that may not suit every team. ​
As collaboration, reporting, and automation needs grow beyond issue tracking, many organizations look for a more modern, all-in-one solution. Lark addresses these gaps by combining project management, real-time communication, documents, and automation in a single platform with transparent pricing, making it a smarter choice for modern, fast-moving teams.​
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FAQs
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Is Redmine still relevant?
​​Yes, Redmine is still relevant for engineering-led teams that need a self-hosted, highly customizable issue-tracking system. It remains popular in software and IT environments with strict data-control requirements. However, for non-technical or fast-scaling teams, its outdated UI, reliance on plugins, and growing maintenance burden make modern alternatives more attractive.​
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Which is the most popular project management tool?
​​There is no single most popular tool, as usage depends on team needs. Tools like Jira, Asana, ClickUp, and Lark dominate modern workplaces thanks to their ease of use and built-in collaboration features. Redmine still has a loyal niche following, but cloud-first platforms now see broader adoption across industries.​
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Is Redmine free for personal use?
​​Yes, Redmine is entirely free for personal use under the GPL open-source license. Individuals can install and use it without paying license fees. However, users are still responsible for hosting, setup, maintenance, and any paid plugins they choose to install, which can introduce indirect costs.​
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What happens to plugin licenses when upgrading Redmine versions?
​​When upgrading Redmine, plugins may become incompatible with newer versions. Some plugin licenses require renewal, paid upgrades, or replacement if maintenance has stopped. This risk is one reason teams move toward bundled solutions or commercial options with predictable support, such as Easy Redmine pricing plans.​
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Is migrating from Redmine to Lark expensive or time-consuming?
​​Migrating from Redmine to Lark is typically straightforward and less costly than maintaining a growing Redmine setup. Core data such as tasks, users, and projects can be transferred efficiently, and teams benefit immediately from built-in collaboration, automation, and documentation, thereby reducing long-term operational and administrative overhead.​
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Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
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