eTraxis vs MantisBT
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted helpdesk & ticketing options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | eTraxis | MantisBT |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 0 · At risk | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | Helpdesk & Ticketing | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1 | ★ 1,806 |
| First released | 2014 | 2000 |
| Replaces | Jira, Redmine | Jira, Bugzilla |
What are eTraxis and MantisBT?
eTraxis
eTraxis is an open-source issue and records tracking system with fully customizable workflows and states. It can model bug trackers, help desks, and approval processes with role-based permissions.
- Customizable workflows
- Role-based permissions
- Custom ticket fields
- LDAP authentication
MantisBT
MantisBT is a popular, open-source web-based bug tracking system. It is easy to set up and offers per-project access control, notifications, and issue workflows.
- Per-project bug tracking
- Email notifications
- Custom fields and workflows
- Plugin system
eTraxis vs MantisBT: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for eTraxis versus GPL-2.0 for MantisBT. MantisBT is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for eTraxis. MantisBT is the more established project (first released 2000), while eTraxis arrived in 2014. MantisBT has the considerably larger community, at 1,806 GitHub stars versus 1.
Why pick each one
Choose eTraxis if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose MantisBT if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is eTraxis or MantisBT better?
MantisBT is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider eTraxis if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are eTraxis and MantisBT free and open-source?
Yes. eTraxis is licensed under GPL-3.0 and MantisBT under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run eTraxis and MantisBT with Docker?
eTraxis: yes. MantisBT: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, eTraxis or MantisBT?
MantisBT has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for eTraxis. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.