If you've been searching for a project management tool that doesn't feel like you need a PhD to operate it, you might want to pay attention to Plane.so.

This open-source alternative to Jira, Linear, Asana, and more big names has been quietly changing how teams manage their projects, and the best part? You can host it yourself on your own infrastructure.

Plane is an open-source project management tool to track issues, run sprint cycles, and manage product roadmaps without the chaos of managing the tool itself. Think of it as the project management tool that actually gets out of your way and lets you focus on what matters: getting work done.

What makes Plane different

Unlike traditional project management behemoths that shall remain nameless (looking at you, Jira), Plane takes a refreshingly simple approach. It's built to grow with you, offering features like issue tracking, sprint management, time tracking, knowledge management, analytics, and more. The interface feels more like using a modern web app rather than enterprise software from 2005.

The platform offers several key features that make it stand out. You get powerful issue tracking with a rich text editor that supports file uploads, making it easy to add context to your tasks. Sprint planning becomes less of a headache with Cycles, which includes burn-down charts and progress tracking. For larger projects, you can break them down into manageable modules, and the customizable views let you filter and save exactly what you need to see.

One particularly clever feature is Plane Pages – essentially an AI-powered notepad that integrates seamlessly with your project management workflow. You can jot down ideas, create documentation, and even convert notes into actionable tasks.

Why self-host Plane

While Plane offers a cloud version, self-hosting gives you complete control over your data and infrastructure. This is particularly important for teams working with sensitive information or those who simply prefer keeping everything in-house. Plus, since it's open-source, you can customize it to fit your exact needs: no waiting for feature requests or dealing with vendor lock-in.

Self-hosting also means you're not at the mercy of someone else's uptime. Your project management tool runs on your infrastructure, under your control, making it straightforward to add Plane to your existing server stack.

Prerequisites for self-hosting

Before diving into the installation, you'll need to make sure your infrastructure meets the requirements. A virtual or on-prem machine with at least 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM should do the trick.

Operating system support is broad, covering Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Amazon Linux 2, and Linux 2023. If you don't already have a server, you can get a dedicated server from xTom or a VPS from V.PS (our sister brand) that meets these requirements.

Most importantly, you'll need Docker installed and running on your server. For Ubuntu/Debian systems, it's typically as simple as:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

Note: We have a full guide on installing Docker and Docker Compose for Debian 12.

How to install Plane using Docker

The easiest way to get Plane up and running is through Docker. The team behind Plane has streamlined the installation process to make it as painless as possible.

Step 1: Initial setup

First, SSH into your server as root or with sudo privileges.

Step 2: Create installation directory

Create a folder named plane-selfhost on your machine for deployment and data storage. This keeps everything organized and makes future maintenance easier:

mkdir plane-selfhost
cd plane-selfhost

Step 3: Download and run the installer

Plane provides an automated setup script that handles most of the heavy lifting.

Just run the following command and hit enter or return:

curl -fsSL https://prime.plane.so/install/ | sh -

Step 4: Configuration

The installer will walk you through the configuration process. You'll need to provide your domain name in the format domain.tld or subdomain.domain.tld. This is where your team will access Plane.

You'll then choose between two setup options:

• Express: Installs with default configurations – perfect for getting started quickly
• Advanced: Allows customization of database, Redis, storage, and other settings

Step 5: Access your instance

Success! Once installation completes, you can access Plane through your configured domain. The system automatically sets up SSL certificates if you provided an email address during configuration, ensuring secure access for your team.

Conclusion

Plane.so represents a new generation of project management tools: powerful enough for complex projects, yet simple enough that your team will actually want to use it. Plus, self-hosting gives you the best of both worlds: modern project management capabilities with complete control over your data and infrastructure.

The installation process, while requiring a bit of technical knowledge, is well-documented and straightforward. Once running, Plane provides a stable, scalable platform for managing your team's work without the complexity and cost of traditional enterprise solutions.

If you're looking for reliable infrastructure to host Plane, xTom offers dedicated servers with the performance and reliability needed for production deployments. For teams wanting flexibility, V.PS provides NVMe-powered VPS instances that can grow with your needs. Additionally, xTom provides colocation services for those who prefer to manage their own hardware, IP transit for network connectivity needs, and a full range of IT services to support your infrastructure. Combined with Plane's open-source flexibility, you get a project management solution that's truly yours.

Thanks for reading!

Frequently asked questions about Plane.so

What are the minimum requirements for self-hosting Plane?

You'll need a server with at least 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM. The platform supports both x64 and ARM64 architectures and runs on Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Amazon Linux 2, or Linux 2023.

Can I migrate from Plane Cloud to self-hosted?

Yes, Plane supports data export and import, allowing you to move from their cloud offering to your own infrastructure when needed.

How does Plane compare to other open-source project management tools?

Plane focuses on simplicity and modern design while offering enterprise features. Unlike some alternatives, it provides a complete solution out of the box without requiring extensive configuration.

Is Plane suitable for large teams?

Absolutely. Plane's architecture scales well, and with proper infrastructure (like dedicated servers), it can handle teams of any size. The modular design means you can organize complex projects effectively.

What backup strategy should I use for self-hosted Plane?

Regular snapshots of Docker volumes combined with database backups provide comprehensive protection. Consider automated backup solutions that store copies off-site for maximum safety.

Can I use my existing PostgreSQL database?

Yes, Plane supports external PostgreSQL databases. This is actually recommended for production deployments as it provides better performance and easier backup management.