---
title: "Deploy OpenProject | Open Source Jira Alternative"
description: "Self-host OpenProject. Project management with Gantt charts & agile boards"
category: "Other"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/openproject
---

# Deploy OpenProject | Open Source Jira Alternative

Self-host OpenProject. Project management with Gantt charts & agile boards

**[Deploy OpenProject | Open Source Jira Alternative on Railway](https://railway.com/template/openproject)**

- **Creator:** Heimdall
- **Category:** Other
- **Total deploys:** 24

## Template content

### OpenProject https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/homarr-labs/dashboard-icons/svg/openproject.svg

- **Image:** openproject/openproject:17
- **Public domain:** Yes

## Documentation

![OpenProject logo](https://www.openproject.org/blog/2018/2018-12-17-openproject-8-2-new-calendar-read-mode-work-packages/openproject-8-2-426b691b.jpg)

# Deploy and Host OpenProject on Railway

[![Deploy on Railway](https://railway.com/button.svg)](https://railway.com/deploy/openproject?referralCode=QXdhdr)

Deploy OpenProject on Railway to get a fully self-hosted, open-source project management platform with Gantt charts, agile boards, time tracking, and team collaboration — all running on your own infrastructure. Self-host OpenProject with a single all-in-one container that bundles PostgreSQL, memcached, Apache, Puma, background workers, and a real-time collaborative editing server (Hocuspocus) for instant setup.

This Railway template pre-configures the `openproject/openproject:17` all-in-one Docker image with persistent storage for both the database and uploaded assets, HTTPS-ready configuration, and secure session management — ready for production use in minutes.

## Getting Started with OpenProject on Railway

After deployment completes (first boot takes 2–3 minutes for database initialization), navigate to your Railway-generated URL. You'll be redirected to the login page. Sign in with the default admin credentials (`admin` / ``) — OpenProject will immediately prompt you to set a new password.

Once logged in, create your first project from the top-left "Select a project" menu. Choose a project template (Scrum, Basic, or blank) to scaffold work packages, boards, and Gantt views. Invite team members via Administration → Users and Groups, configure notification preferences, and start creating work packages to track tasks, bugs, and features.

![OpenProject dashboard screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/asset-cloudinary/image/upload/v1776875228/fcb5af00-2dba-428b-a7ce-bf1b3347b583.png)

## About Hosting OpenProject

OpenProject is the leading open-source project management software, developed by OpenProject GmbH and a global community. It provides a comprehensive toolset for managing projects from planning through execution.

- **Gantt charts and timeline planning** — schedule tasks, set dependencies, track milestones
- **Agile boards** — Scrum and Kanban workflows with sprint backlogs and velocity tracking
- **Time and cost tracking** — log hours, set budgets, generate cost reports
- **Team collaboration** — real-time document editing, wiki, forums, activity streams
- **BIM edition** — specialized features for construction and architecture teams (available on AMD64)
- **REST API** — full programmatic access for automation and integrations
- **File storage integration** — Nextcloud, OneDrive, SharePoint support

## Why Deploy OpenProject on Railway

Railway simplifies self-hosting OpenProject with zero infrastructure management:

- One-click deploy with persistent volumes for database and assets
- Automatic HTTPS with Railway's TLS-terminating proxy
- Scale memory and CPU instantly from the Railway dashboard
- No vendor lock-in — full Community Edition with unlimited users and projects
- Built-in monitoring, logs, and rollback support

## Common Use Cases for Self-Hosted OpenProject

- **Software development teams** replacing Jira with an open-source alternative that supports Scrum, Kanban, bug tracking, and GitHub/GitLab integration
- **Agencies and consultancies** tracking billable hours, project budgets, and client deliverables with time and cost reporting
- **Construction and engineering firms** using the BIM edition for building information modeling alongside traditional project management
- **Cross-functional teams** managing portfolios of projects with roadmap views, resource allocation, and milestone tracking across departments

## Dependencies for Self-Hosted OpenProject on Railway

This template deploys a single all-in-one container:

- **OpenProject** — `openproject/openproject:17` (bundles PostgreSQL 17, memcached, Apache, Puma, Hocuspocus, background workers, cron)

### Environment Variables Reference for OpenProject

| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `SECRET_KEY_BASE` | Rails session signing key | `${{secret(64)}}` |
| `OPENPROJECT_HOST__NAME` | Public hostname (no protocol) | `${{RAILWAY_PUBLIC_DOMAIN}}` |
| `OPENPROJECT_HTTPS` | Assume HTTPS connections | `true` |
| `OPENPROJECT_DEFAULT__LANGUAGE` | Default UI language | `en` |
| `RAILS_MIN_THREADS` | Minimum Puma threads | `4` |
| `RAILS_MAX_THREADS` | Maximum Puma threads | `16` |

### Deployment Dependencies

- **Runtime:** Ruby 4.0 (bundled in image)
- **Docker Hub:** [openproject/openproject](https://hub.docker.com/r/openproject/openproject)
- **GitHub:** [opf/openproject](https://github.com/opf/openproject)
- **Docs:** [openproject.org/docs](https://www.openproject.org/docs/installation-and-operations/installation/docker/)

## Hardware Requirements for Self-Hosting OpenProject

| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 vCPU | 4 vCPU |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 2 GB | 10 GB+ |
| Runtime | Docker | Docker |

The all-in-one container bundles PostgreSQL, memcached, web server, background workers, and a collaborative editing server. Each web worker consumes ~300–400 MB RAM, with 4 workers by default.

## Self-Hosting OpenProject with Docker

Pull and run the all-in-one container:

```bash
docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name openproject \
  -e OPENPROJECT_HOST__NAME=openproject.example.com \
  -e SECRET_KEY_BASE=$(openssl rand -hex 32) \
  -e OPENPROJECT_HTTPS=true \
  -v /var/lib/openproject/pgdata:/var/openproject/pgdata \
  -v /var/lib/openproject/assets:/var/openproject/assets \
  openproject/openproject:17
```

Or use Docker Compose with the official slim images for production scaling:

```yaml
services:
  web:
    image: openproject/openproject:17-slim
    command: "./docker/prod/web"
    environment:
      DATABASE_URL: postgres://postgres:password@db/openproject
      SECRET_KEY_BASE: your-secret-key
      OPENPROJECT_HOST__NAME: localhost:8080
      OPENPROJECT_HTTPS: "false"
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
    depends_on:
      - db
      - cache
  db:
    image: postgres:17
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: password
      POSTGRES_DB: openproject
    volumes:
      - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
  cache:
    image: memcached
volumes:
  pgdata:
```

## How Much Does OpenProject Cost to Self-Host?

OpenProject Community Edition is **100% free and open-source** (GPLv3) with unlimited users and projects. Self-hosting on Railway means you only pay for infrastructure — no per-user licensing fees. Enterprise on-premises editions start at $7.25/user/month and add features like LDAP group sync, custom branding, and premium support. A 14-day free trial of Enterprise features is available for self-hosted installations.

## OpenProject vs Jira for Self-Hosted Project Management

| Feature | OpenProject | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes (GPLv3) | No |
| Self-hosting | Full support | Server discontinued, Data Center being phased out |
| Gantt charts | Built-in | Plugin required |
| Time tracking | Built-in | Plugin required |
| Cost tracking | Built-in | Not available |
| Agile boards | Scrum + Kanban | Scrum + Kanban |
| Pricing | Free (Community) | From $7.75/user/month |
| BIM support | Yes (AMD64) | No |

OpenProject is the strongest open-source alternative to Jira, particularly for teams that need Gantt-based planning, time/cost tracking, and full data sovereignty — areas where Jira either requires paid plugins or doesn't offer self-hosting at all.

## FAQ About Deploying OpenProject on Railway

**What is OpenProject and why self-host it?**
OpenProject is open-source project management software for task tracking, Gantt scheduling, agile boards, time logging, and team collaboration. Self-hosting gives you full data ownership, no per-user fees, and the ability to customize the platform without vendor restrictions.

**What does this Railway template deploy?**
A single all-in-one container (`openproject/openproject:17`) that includes PostgreSQL 17, memcached, Apache reverse proxy, Puma web server, background workers, cron scheduler, and a Hocuspocus collaborative editing server — all pre-configured with persistent storage and HTTPS.

**Why does the all-in-one container need 8 GB of RAM?**
The container runs PostgreSQL, memcached, four Puma web workers (~300–400 MB each), a background job worker, cron, and the Hocuspocus server simultaneously. With 4 GB you'll see slow responses under load; 8 GB provides comfortable headroom for up to 200 concurrent users.

**How do I configure SMTP email for OpenProject on Railway?**
Set the following environment variables: `OPENPROJECT_EMAIL__DELIVERY__METHOD=smtp`, `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__ADDRESS=smtp.example.com`, `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__PORT=587`, `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__USER__NAME=your-user`, `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__PASSWORD=your-password`, `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__AUTHENTICATION=plain`, and `OPENPROJECT_SMTP__ENABLE__STARTTLS__AUTO=true`.

**Can I use an external PostgreSQL database with OpenProject on Railway?**
Yes. Set the `DATABASE_URL` environment variable to your external Postgres connection string (e.g., `postgres://user:password@host:5432/openproject`) and the all-in-one container will skip its internal PostgreSQL and connect to your external database instead.

**How do I enable GitHub or GitLab integration in self-hosted OpenProject?**
Navigate to Administration → System settings → API to enable the REST API, then configure the GitHub/GitLab integration under Administration → Integrations. You'll need to create an OAuth application in your GitHub/GitLab account and provide the client ID and secret to OpenProject.


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