Sanplex vs OpenProject: On-Premises PM Compared

Project management software selection is no longer a matter of features—in fact, for many teams, it's about who is in control of the data. On-premises deployment isn't a nice-to-have if your organization is dealing with sensitive client data, compliance mandates, or simply the need for control of its own infrastructure. It's a requirement.

That's where Sanplex and OpenProject come into the picture. Both provide self-hosted deployment solutions, but they go about it in completely different ways. Sanplex is engineered to be a fully functional and fully integrated lifecycle platform, ready to be used as a drop-in replacement for Jira, but without the setup time. OpenProject, however, is an open-source solution for project management that is flexible and also introduces modules in a community-oriented manner.

Whether you are considering on-premises project management software, you'll want to compare the deployment, features, pricing, and customization of these two options before deciding for your team. 

Sanplex vs OpenProject at a Glance

Before you proceed further, here's what you need to know about differences and similarities:

• Cloud vs on-premises deployment: Both cloud and on-premises deployment models can be used and are integrated seamlessly as a single experience with Sanplex. OpenProject is on-premises and cloud-based, with some plans (such as Premium and Corporate) being limited to on-premises use.

• Licensing: Sanplex is an in-house platform, commercially licensed. OpenProject is open source and GPLv3 licensed, which means it has open and modifiable source code.

• Lifecycle coverage: A Sanplex solution integrates requirements, test management, and issue tracking into a single linked process. OpenProject's main purpose is task and project tracking, which is expanded upon via integrations.

• No minimum user requirement: Sanplex doesn't impose high user minimums on core functionality. There are two tiers for OpenProject Enterprise – On-premises, which begins at 25 users, and Premium, which begins at 100 users.

• Setup complexity: Sanplex has been optimized for ease and speed of deployment in a self-hosted situation with minimal configuration. OpenProject is open source, and this can sometimes require more practical technical setup and maintenance.

This pre-snapshot can tell you something already: these two tools are not designed for the same type of users who are on an on-premises PM. 

On-Premises Deployment: How Each Platform Works

Sanplex is engineered so that self-hosting doesn't mean sacrificing usability. When you deploy Sanplex on your own servers, you get the same interface, workflows, and lifecycle management capabilities as the cloud version—just running entirely within your infrastructure. For regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, or any other business where data residency is a requirement, this is important.

OpenProject's on-premises version is based on the free Community version. You install and administer it on your own servers, and it's open source, which means that you can technically examine and change its code. This flexibility is attractive for development-focused teams but also includes the following: 

• You're responsible for more of the technical maintenance

• Some features are restricted to higher-tier plans: enterprise features (such as SSO through OpenID Connect)

• A minimum of 25 users is required to scale to an Enterprise, on-premises deployment, which may be a limitation for smaller teams.

Sanplex's focus is on devising a self-hosted tool that requires minimal DevOps involvement, if that is your priority. OpenProject's open source approach gives you full source code access, and you'll have the control you desire if you don't care for your infrastructure. 

Feature Depth: Lifecycle Management vs Modular Open-Source

This is where the two products diverge the most.

Sanplex's design was geared towards providing a seamless solution for managing the entire project lifecycle, from requirements gathering and test management to issue tracking within a single, integrated system. If you need a bit more than just a task board and don't want to deal with five different tools (a different wiki, a different test manager, and a different tracker), then you get that consolidation natively.

Compared to OpenProject, which is more modular and community-extended. Its core strengths include the following:

• Gantt chart-based project scheduling

• Agile boards for Scrum and Kanban workflows

• Budget and resource tracking

• Integrations with Nextcloud, GitLab, GitHub, Toggl Track, and Zapier

OpenProject is genuinely strong for teams that already have a toolchain and want a PM layer that plugs into it. But if you want lifecycle management — requirements, QA, and delivery — built into the core product rather than stitched together through integrations, that's where Sanplex's architecture has an edge.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing structure is often the deciding factor, so let's compare directly.

OpenProject's published pricing tiers include:

• Community: Free, on-premises only, community support

• Basic: Around $7.25/user/month, minimum 5 users for cloud

• Professional: Around $13.50/user/month

• Premium: Around $19.50/user/month, on-premises only, minimum 100 users

• Corporate: Custom pricing, minimum 250 users, on-premises only

Notice the pattern — the more advanced on-premises tiers come with steep user minimums. A 50-person team, for example, doesn't qualify for Premium at all; they'd either need to negotiate Corporate pricing or stay on Professional.

Sanplex structures pricing around accessible tiers without those aggressive minimums gating core on-premises functionality, making it a more predictable option for small-to-mid-sized teams who still need self-hosted deployment without jumping through licensing thresholds.

If your team is under 25–100 users and specifically needs on-premises hosting, this pricing structure alone could make OpenProject's higher tiers impractical, while Sanplex remains accessible regardless of team size.

Customization & Workflows

Both platforms can be customized, but the kind is different:

• Sanplex: With configurable, ready-to-use workflows, Sanplex ships with statuses, fields, and processes that can be adjusted on the go via the interface without developer support, making it easy to manage the lifecycle.

• OpenProject: There are also customizable work packages and statuses available in OpenProject, but further customization (such as the modification of a core functionality) must be done directly on the open-source codebase, which usually involves the participation of developers.

In the case of non-technical teams, Sanplex's configuration-first approach typically leads to quicker time-to-value. But for other engineering-based businesses that need to enhance or add to the software, the open-source nature of OpenProject gives them the control that Sanplex, being a proprietary application, would lack. 

Security & Compliance Considerations

Both tools support self-hosting, which immediately puts them ahead of cloud-only competitors for security-conscious organizations. But the licensing model creates a meaningful difference:

• Sanplex, as a proprietary platform, centralizes security updates, patches, and support through a single vendor relationship — useful for teams that want accountability and a direct support line.

• OpenProject, under GPLv3, benefits from open-source transparency (anyone can audit the code), but enterprise-grade security add-ons like SSO are often reserved for paid Enterprise tiers.

Neither approach is inherently "more secure" — it depends on whether your organization prefers vendor-managed accountability or open-source auditability with in-house control.

Which One Fits Your Team?

Below is a quick breakdown that can help you make your decision:

• Sanplex is the best option if: You need full lifecycle management (requirements, testing, tracking) in one platform, don't need to hit high minimums on users, and want a vendor-supported, ready-to-deploy solution.

• Consider OpenProject when: Your team has already established a robust technical toolchain, you appreciate open-source flexibility and customization at code level, and you can ensure your team can manage your own infrastructure and integrations. 

• Team size matters: Smaller teams (under 25 users) needing full on-premises features will find Sanplex more accessible, since OpenProject's higher tiers gate advanced features behind steep user minimums.

• Industry matters: Regulated industries wanting a single connected lifecycle platform (rather than assembling one via integrations) tend to lean toward Sanplex's model.

FAQs

Is Sanplex a good alternative to OpenProject for on-premises deployment?

Yes, especially for teams that want lifecycle management built in rather than assembled through integrations. It also avoids the high user minimums OpenProject applies to its higher on-premises tiers.

Does OpenProject offer a free on-premises version?

Yes, OpenProject's Community edition is free and self-hosted. However, advanced features like SSO and priority support require upgrading to a paid Enterprise tier.

Which platform is easier to set up on-premises, Sanplex or OpenProject?

Sanplex is designed for faster, low-maintenance self-hosted deployment. OpenProject, being open-source, typically requires more hands-on technical configuration.

Can small teams use OpenProject's on-premises Enterprise edition?

It's difficult—the Enterprise on-premises tier requires a minimum of 25 users, and Premium requires 100, which can exclude smaller organizations from those tiers.

Does Sanplex support the full project lifecycle like requirements and test management?

Yes, Sanplex integrates requirements gathering, test management, and issue tracking into one connected system, rather than relying on separate tools or plugins.

Conclusion 

Both Sanplex and OpenProject solve the on-premises hosting need, but they solve it for different types of teams. OpenProject earns its place with open-source transparency and a strong integration ecosystem — a solid fit for technically resourced teams building their own toolchain. Sanplex, meanwhile, is built for teams that want complete lifecycle management, predictable pricing without steep user minimums, and a self-hosted deployment that doesn't require a dedicated DevOps effort to maintain.

If your team needs an on-premises platform that handles your entire project lifecycle out of the box—without licensing thresholds getting in the way—Sanplex is worth a closer look. Book a demo to see how it compares directly against your current setup, or start a free trial to test it against your team's real workflows.