Asana vs Plane
Asana is work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage projects, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Asana starts at $10.99/user/mo. Asana is built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
| Feature | Asana | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Cycles | — | ✓ |
| Forms | ✓ | — |
| Goals | ✓ | — |
| Modules | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | — | ✓ |
| Portfolios | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | — | ✓ |
| Timeline View | ✓ | — |
| Views | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Plane is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Asana starts at $10.99/user/mo, but Free for up to 10 users, limited views. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Asana offers Automations, Forms and Goals that Plane lacks. Plane brings Cycles, Modules and Open Source that Asana does not have.
Team fit: Asana is geared toward mid-size teams teams, while Plane is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Plane is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Asana is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Asana's biggest strengths are: multiple views: list, board, timeline, calendar. intuitive interface that non-technical users love. Plane's biggest strengths are: open source and self-hostable. clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
Watch out for: With Asana, users commonly note that expensive compared to alternatives. With Plane, the main complaint is that less mature than established alternatives.
choose Asana if
- You need a tool built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views
- You specifically need Automations and Forms
- You care about intuitive interface that non-technical users love
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Asana is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users, limited views
choose Plane if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management
- Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Asana is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Cycles and Modules
- You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear
frequently asked
What is the difference between Asana and Plane?
Asana is work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage projects, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Asana starts at $10.99/user/mo. Asana is built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
Should I use Asana or Plane?
Plane is the free option; Asana charges $10.99/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Asana over Plane?
Choose Asana if You need a tool built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views; You specifically need Automations and Forms; You care about intuitive interface that non-technical users love; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Asana is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users, limited views.
When should I choose Plane over Asana?
Choose Plane if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management; Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Asana is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Cycles and Modules; You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
related comparisons
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