What is Operately?
Operately is open source goal and project management software. It connects OKR goal tracking with project execution and built-in check-ins so your team stays aligned on outcomes, not just tasks.
At a glance
- Category
- Goal and project management software
- License
- Open source (Apache 2.0)
- Pricing
- Free plan available. Flat-rate, no per-seat fees.
- Deployment
- Cloud (hosted) or self-hosted on Docker
- Best for
- Teams of 5 to 100 people
- Setup time
- Under 5 minutes (cloud or self-hosted)
Core capabilities
Goal tracking (OKRs)
Set company and team goals with measurable targets. Track progress automatically as connected projects advance. See at a glance which goals are on track and which need attention. OKR functionality is built in and available on all plans, including free.
Project management
Run projects with milestones, owners, and timelines. Projects connect to goals so your team always knows how daily work contributes to larger objectives. No Gantt chart complexity — just clear ownership and progress.
Built-in check-ins
Regular progress updates happen inside the tool. Project owners post check-ins on a schedule. Everyone sees status without asking in meetings or chat. This is how Operately replaces status meetings with async visibility.
Team alignment
Every team member sees the company goals, the projects they contribute to, and how everything connects. No more scattered docs, forgotten spreadsheets, or processes held together by willpower.
AI and automation
Operately has a full CLI and API that AI agents can use to create goals, update projects, and post check-ins. Published skills work with agent frameworks like OpenClaw, Codex, and Claude Code. Alfred, the built-in AI coach (beta), reviews your goals and gives execution feedback.
Who uses Operately
Operately is built for teams of 5 to 100 people who need structured goal tracking and project management without enterprise complexity or per-seat pricing.
It is used by technology companies, nonprofits, consulting firms, event companies, and compliance-focused organizations. Teams choose Operately when they want:
- Goals and projects in one system (not scattered across tools)
- Built-in progress tracking without manual reporting
- Open source transparency and self-hosting option
- Flat pricing that does not punish team growth
- A focused tool instead of an enterprise feature maze
How Operately compares
vs Monday.com: Operately is open source, self-hostable, and includes goal tracking as a core feature. Monday.com is closed-source with per-seat pricing and goals only on higher tiers. Full comparison →
vs Asana: Operately connects goals to projects with built-in check-ins. Asana separates goals into a paid add-on. Operately is open source with flat pricing; Asana is closed-source with per-seat pricing. Full comparison →
vs Notion: Notion gives you a blank canvas. Operately gives you a defined system: goals, projects, check-ins, and accountability built into the structure. Less flexibility, more clarity.
vs Basecamp: Both are opinionated about simplicity. Operately adds structured goal tracking and measurable targets, which Basecamp does not offer. Operately is open source; Basecamp is not.
Open source and self-hostable
The entire Operately codebase is open source under the Apache 2.0 license. You can inspect the code, contribute, or run it on your own infrastructure. Self-hosting uses Docker and takes about 5 minutes to set up.
Source code: github.com/operately/operately
Try Operately
Free to start. No per-seat pricing. Ready in minutes.