The clock is ticking for Jira Data Center. With Atlassian ending all new self-hosted licenses in March 2026 and pulling the plug completely in 2029, a massive shift is underway. This isn't just an end-of-life notice; it's a fundamental push toward the cloud.
For many organizations, this mandate is the final push to re-evaluate a tool known for its complexity and cost. The search for powerful, flexible, and affordable Jira alternatives has officially moved from a background consideration to a top priority.
The landscape of project management tools, however, has never offered more compelling choices. Open-source software offers many advantages, including low cost, flexibility, transparency, community support, and reliability. Let's explore the most popular open-source platforms in 2026:
