Project Management Tools You Can Install on Shared Hosting Without Docker
You decide to run a free project management tool on your own server, open the install guide, and the very first line says “Install Docker.” If that is where you got stuck, you are not alone.
Most popular open-source tools are built for a VPS or a cloud server. But plenty of teams only have the shared hosting plan they already pay for to run their website.
This article looks at three project management tools you can install on shared hosting, with no Docker and no VPS. We line up their requirements, installation steps and update process using the same criteria, so you can see which one fits your team.
Key takeaways
- The tools that fit shared hosting are the ones that run on PHP and a database alone. Here we compare three of them: Leantime, Kanboard and GeckoFlag.
- Being written in PHP does not make them equally easy to install. The differences show up in three places: changing the document root, editing a config file, and how updates are applied.
- Leantime is the pick if you want time tracking and sprints for free. Kanboard suits a lightweight, Kanban-only setup. GeckoFlag is for teams that want to install and update entirely in the browser, with a screen that non-engineers find easy to use.
Note: this article is written by the developer of GeckoFlag. Information about the other two tools is based on their official documentation and repositories, checked on October 4, 2026.
Why well-known open-source tools don’t fit shared hosting
The reason is simple. Shared hosting is designed as a place to upload PHP programs and run them. As a rule, you cannot start a process that keeps running in the background, and you cannot install extra software on the server.
Many of the tools you hear about most often do not match that assumption.
| Tool | What installation assumes | What gets in the way on shared hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Redmine | Runs on Ruby on Rails. Installed from the command line | Needs a Ruby runtime and command-line access |
| Plane | Starts several services with Docker Compose | Docker is not available |
| OpenProject | Installed with Docker Compose or Linux packages. The official guideline is 4 CPU cores and 4 GB of memory | Neither install method is available, and the requirements go beyond what shared hosting is meant for |
All three are excellent tools, and strong options if you have a VPS and someone who is comfortable running a server. For a closer look at how they differ from GeckoFlag, see GeckoFlag vs Redmine and GeckoFlag vs three open-source tools.
The point here is not which tool is better. It is that they are built for a different place. If shared hosting is what you have, starting from tools that run on shared hosting saves you a long detour.
Will it run on shared hosting? Five things to check
A website that says “easy installation” does not guarantee the same experience on shared hosting. When you open a tool’s installation guide, check the five points below. They work for any tool, not only the three in this article.
1Does it run on PHP and a database alone?
Tools that need Node.js, Python, Ruby, or a process that stays running are hard to use on shared hosting.
2Are the required libraries included in the download?
If the guide says “composer install,” you need the command line. Check whether unzipping the package is all it takes.
3Do you have to change the document root?
This means pointing the public folder at a subfolder such as “public.” It works on hosts that let you set the public folder for each subdomain, but some plans do not allow it.
Note: some tools bundle a redirecting .htaccess for hosts where the document root cannot be changed (Leantime and GeckoFlag both do).
4Do you have to edit a config file by hand?
Either you write the database connection details into a file, or you type them into a screen. If it is a file, you will be editing it through the host’s file manager or over FTP.
5How are updates applied?
You install once, but you update many times. Find out whether updates need the command line, a manual file replacement, or just the admin screen.
Points 3 and 4 are not blockers. They are extra steps. For someone used to FTP and config files they are no trouble at all. The trick is to read the guide while picturing who on your team will actually do the work.
The three tools at a glance
Here are Leantime, Kanboard and GeckoFlag side by side, using the checks from the previous section. The comparison covers installation without Docker.
| Item | Leantime | Kanboard | GeckoFlag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (AGPLv3). Paid plugins and a cloud version are available | Free (MIT License) | $30 one-time purchase. Not open source (commercial license) |
| PHP | 8.2 or later | 8.1 or later | 8.2 or later |
| Database | MySQL 8.0 or later, or MariaDB 10.6 or later | SQLite (default), MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL | MySQL 5.7 or later, or MariaDB 10.3 or later |
| Changing the document root | Extra stepThe official guide points it at the public folder. A redirecting .htaccess is also bundled | ✓Not needed | ✓Not neededThe bundled .htaccess routes requests automatically |
| Editing a config file | ManualRequiredWrite the connection details in config/.env | ✓Not needed (with SQLite)Required (manual) for MySQL and others: write the connection details in config.php | ✓Not neededEntered in the installer screen |
| Initial setup | Create the administrator on the /install screen | Log in with the default account (admin/admin) and change the password | The installer runs from the environment check through to creating the administrator |
| How updates are applied | Replace the files. Database changes are applied on the /update screen | Unpack the new version, then copy over the data folder and the config file | Upload a ZIP in the admin screen. A backup is taken automatically before it is applied |
| Main features | Kanban, Gantt, table, calendar, milestones, sprints, time tracking, wiki | Kanban (with drag and drop), subtasks, swimlanes, automatic actions, time tracking | Issues, parent and child issues, Kanban (drag and drop since version 1.8.0), Gantt, wiki, file sharing |
| Languages | Over 20 languages | Multiple languages | 15 languages |
| Development status | Actively developed by the company behind it | Maintenance mode. Latest version is 1.2.54 (August 28, 2026) | Ver1.8.0 (October 9, 2026) |
| Stance on shared hosting | Publishes an official installation guide for cPanel | The official FAQ does not recommend shared hosting | Designed for use on shared hosting |
✓ = nothing to do. Extra step = takes one more step. Manual = you edit a file yourself. Sources are listed at the end of the article. Checked on October 4, 2026.
Note: GeckoFlag assumes a server where .htaccess (mod_rewrite) is available. If it is not, point the document root at the webroot folder.
Going by the table alone, Kanboard is the lightest to install. With SQLite you do not even have to create a database. That said, its own documentation does not recommend shared hosting, which is worth knowing before you choose.
Each tool in detail, and the teams it suits
Leantime: free and open source, with a few extra steps to install
Leantime is an open-source project management tool that runs on PHP and MySQL. Along with Kanban, Gantt, table and calendar views, it offers milestones, sprints, time tracking and a wiki. The official README states that all of these are included in the open-source version. It also has two-factor authentication, login through LDAP or OIDC, an API, and integrations with Slack and similar services.
Helpfully, Leantime publishes an official guide for installing on shared hosting with cPanel. The steps go like this:
- Create a database and a database user in the control panel
- Upload the ZIP and extract it
- Point the subdomain’s document root at the public folder
- Rename sample.env in the config folder to .env and write in the database connection details
- Open the site in a browser, create the administrator account and install
Note on step 3: some tools bundle a redirecting .htaccess for hosts where the document root cannot be changed (Leantime and GeckoFlag both do).
A good fit for
- Teams that want time tracking and sprints without paying for software
- Teams with someone who is comfortable with FTP and editing config files
- Teams that need two-factor authentication or integrations with other services
Things to watch
- The official steps assume you can change the document root. On plans where you cannot, you will be relying on the bundled .htaccess to redirect requests.
- It needs a fairly long list of PHP extensions. Check first that they are enabled on your hosting plan.
- Inviting team members requires SMTP (outgoing mail) to be configured.
- Updates are done by replacing files. Taking a backup beforehand is up to you.
Kanboard: light and focused on Kanban, now in maintenance mode
Kanboard is an open-source tool focused on the Kanban method. It offers boards, subtasks, swimlanes, automatic actions and time tracking, and is released under the MIT License. Cards on the board can be moved by drag and drop. Gantt charts and a wiki are not part of the core application.
Installation is about as light as it gets: unzip the package, make sure the data folder is writable, and it runs. The default database is SQLite, so there is no database to create. Once you log in with the default account, change the password right away.
A good fit for
- Teams that only need a Kanban board
- One person, or a handful of people
- Teams that prefer a stable tool whose feature set does not keep growing
Things to watch
- The official FAQ does not recommend using a shared hosting provider. It advises using your own server instead.
- The official README states that the project is in maintenance mode. The author is not developing major new features, and releases continue based on fixes contributed by the community.
- The official requirements state that Kanboard is not compatible with Apache mod_security. Check whether it is enabled on your host.
- SQLite is meant for a single user or a small team. The data folder holds the database and uploaded files, so it must be configured so that it cannot be reached by URL.
GeckoFlag: installed and updated in the browser, for a one-time $30
Allow us a short introduction to GeckoFlag, the tool we make.
GeckoFlag is a project and issue management tool sold as a one-time purchase. It brings together issues, parent and child issues, comments, a Kanban board, a Gantt chart, a wiki and file sharing.
Its design started from one requirement: you should be able to install it on shared hosting yourself. So installation happens entirely in the browser. Upload the files, open your domain, and the installer starts. It checks the environment, asks for the database connection details, and creates the administrator account. There is no config file to edit.
Updates are done from the admin screen too. Upload the ZIP for the new version, and the backup, the file replacement and the database update all run automatically.
Its other strength is a screen that is easy to understand. The interface is built so that designers, project leads and clients, people who are not engineers, can use it without getting lost. It helps you avoid the familiar outcome where a tool is rolled out and only the developers end up using it.
A good fit for
- Teams with no one who knows servers well
- Teams where designers, project leads and other non-engineers work in the tool too
- Teams that want to invite clients and contractors as guests. Guests only see the projects they belong to
- Teams that want to swap in their own logo and site name and use it as their own tool
Things to watch
- It is not free. It is a one-time purchase of $30, and it is not open source. Hosting costs are separate.
- It has no time tracking, sprints, milestones, or two-factor authentication. The only integration with other services is Claude Integration (v1.11.0 and later, connected with an API token), which lets you work from the Claude desktop app; there is no integration with Slack or similar services, and no webhooks. It is not a fit for teams that depend on these.
- Changing a status by dragging a card on the Kanban board is supported from version 1.8.0, and on PC only.
- License verification needs outbound access (HTTPS) at installation and at periodic re-checks afterwards.
- For now, the only host-specific installation guide we publish is the Namecheap example.
You can try the real screens in the demo.
Choosing by your team’s situation
None of the three is simply better than the others. Which one fits depends on your team. The table below is a rough guide.
| Your team’s situation | Likely fit |
|---|---|
| You do not want to pay for software. You want time tracking and sprints. Someone on the team can edit config files | Leantime |
| A Kanban board is all you need. One person or a few people will use it | Kanboard (knowing that shared hosting is not recommended) |
| No one knows servers well. You want to install and update in the browser. Designers and other non-engineers will use it. You want to invite clients | GeckoFlag |
| You need Git integration, fine-grained permissions, or a large number of users | Look beyond shared hosting, for example Redmine on a VPS |
| You do not want to manage a server at all | Consider a cloud service |
If you cannot decide, install the two free tools and try them. On shared hosting, one new subdomain is all you need to test each one. With GeckoFlag, you can look at the screens in the demo before you buy.
Four things that are true whichever tool you choose
Once you install a tool on shared hosting yourself, these four jobs are yours, whichever tool it is.
1Backups are your responsibility
Unlike a cloud service, keeping the data safe is up to you. Save both the database and the uploaded files to your own machine on a regular schedule.
GeckoFlag takes backups manually from the admin screen. It does not take them automatically at a set time. The official instructions for Leantime and Kanboard also tell you to take a backup yourself before updating. If your host offers automatic backups, turn them on as well.
2You will have to move to a newer PHP version sooner or later
Hosting providers retire old PHP versions one after another. Whether a tool supports newer PHP, and whether it is still being updated, matters more with every year you use it. That is why the comparison table includes development status.
3Email notifications depend on your server settings
Notifications that never arrive, or land in the spam folder, are a common stumbling block with self-hosting. Send from an address on your own domain, and check settings such as SPF.
4Exposure and updates are on you
The login screen is open to the internet. Changing the default password, enabling HTTPS and keeping the tool updated are all assumed.
Every tool has some way to protect the login, but looking after the server as a whole is your job. If that is more than you want to take on, a cloud service is the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Docker on shared hosting?
Not on ordinary shared hosting. Running Docker needs an environment where you manage the whole server yourself, such as a VPS or a cloud server. Tools whose guides mention Docker assume you are hosting somewhere other than shared hosting.
Can Redmine be installed on shared hosting?
The official procedure assumes command-line access and needs a Ruby runtime. It cannot be installed with a browser and FTP alone. GeckoFlag vs Redmine covers the differences in installation in more detail.
Which costs less, free open-source software or a one-time purchase?
For the software alone, free open source costs less. The difference is in people’s time spent installing and updating. If someone on the team is used to editing config files and replacing files, a free tool is all you need. If no one is, count that working time as a cost too.
Will these tools run on any shared host that supports PHP?
Not on any host. The PHP version, the required extensions, and the type and version of the database all have to meet the tool’s requirements. Whether you can change the document root or adjust WAF settings also varies by host and plan. Compare the tool’s requirements with the host’s specifications before you sign up.
Can I switch to a different tool later?
You can, but your data may not move over as it is. In most cases you export the list of issues as CSV and import it, and comments and attachments often cannot be moved. The same goes for GeckoFlag: CSV import registers the issues as new ones, and issue numbers are reassigned. The safe approach is to try one small project first before committing fully.
Summary: start from tools that fit where you host
If shared hosting is all you have, choosing from tools that run on PHP and a database alone is faster than wrestling with tools that assume Docker.
- Leantime, if you want time tracking and sprints for free. It installs on shared hosting as long as you can edit a config file.
- Kanboard, if a lightweight Kanban board is all you need. It is the easiest of the three to install, but its own documentation does not recommend shared hosting.
- GeckoFlag, if you want to install and update in the browser. It is a one-time purchase of $30 with a screen that designers and non-engineers find easy to understand, and you can invite clients and contractors as guests.
Whichever you choose, check three things in the installation guide first: the document root, the config file, and how updates are applied. GeckoFlag’s installation steps are in the manual, and the price is on the pricing page.
We hope this helps you find the tool that fits your team.
Sources
- Leantime official repository (README: features, requirements, installation, updates)
- Install Leantime's Open Source system on a Shared Host via cPanel (Leantime Support)
- Kanboard official repository (README: maintenance mode)
- Requirements and Prerequisites (Kanboard Documentation)
- Installation Instructions (Kanboard Documentation)
- MySQL/MariaDB Configuration (Kanboard Documentation)
- Upgrading to a New Version (Kanboard Documentation)
- Frequently Asked Questions (Kanboard Documentation)
- Installing OpenProject (OpenProject Documentation)
- System requirements (OpenProject Documentation)
Note: tool specifications are as of October 4, 2026. Check each official page for the latest information before you install.