Plane vs Teamwork
Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear, while Teamwork is project management with time tracking, resource management, and client-facing features. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Teamwork starts at $5.99/user/mo. Plane is built for teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management, whereas Teamwork targets client-facing teams needing project + time tracking.
| Feature | Plane | Teamwork |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Budgets | — | ✓ |
| Client Access | — | ✓ |
| Cycles | ✓ | — |
| Modules | ✓ | — |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Templates | — | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | — | ✓ |
| Views | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Plane is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Teamwork starts at $5.99/user/mo, but Free for 5 users. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Plane offers Cycles, Modules and Open Source that Teamwork lacks. Teamwork brings Budgets, Client Access and Templates that Plane does not have.
Team fit: Plane is geared toward small teams teams, while Teamwork is aimed at mid-size 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. Teamwork is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Plane's biggest strengths are: open source and self-hostable. clean, modern interface inspired by linear. Teamwork's biggest strengths are: native time tracking eliminates the need for a separate time-logging tool. includes budgets as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows.
Watch out for: With Plane, users commonly note that less mature than established alternatives. With Teamwork, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
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, Teamwork 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
choose Teamwork if
- You need a tool built for client-facing teams needing project + time tracking
- You specifically need Budgets and Client Access
- You care about includes budgets as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Teamwork is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for 5 users
frequently asked
What is the difference between Plane and Teamwork?
Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear, while Teamwork is project management with time tracking, resource management, and client-facing features. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Teamwork starts at $5.99/user/mo. Plane is built for teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management, whereas Teamwork targets client-facing teams needing project + time tracking.
Should I use Plane or Teamwork?
Plane is the free option; Teamwork charges $5.99/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Plane over Teamwork?
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, Teamwork 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.
When should I choose Teamwork over Plane?
Choose Teamwork if You need a tool built for client-facing teams needing project + time tracking; You specifically need Budgets and Client Access; You care about includes budgets as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Teamwork is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for 5 users.
related comparisons
Linear vs Plane · Jira vs Plane · Asana vs Plane · ClickUp vs Plane · Trello vs Plane · Plane vs Shortcut · Plane vs Monday.com · Plane vs Basecamp