Traq vs MantisBT
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Traq
PHP project management and issue tracking suite
VS
MantisBT
Open-source bug tracker for software teams
| Feature | Traq | MantisBT |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Helpdesk & Ticketing |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 207 | ★ 1,794 |
| First released | 2009 | 2000 |
| Replaces | Redmine, Jira | Jira, Bugzilla |
Why pick each one
Choose Traq if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 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 Traq or MantisBT better?
MantisBT is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Traq if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Traq and MantisBT free and open-source?
Yes. Traq is licensed under GPL-3.0 and MantisBT under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Traq and MantisBT with Docker?
Traq: check the project docs for container support. MantisBT: yes.