MantisBT
ZenHub
| Feature | MantisBT | ZenHub |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $4.95/mo | From $8.33/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, small-teams, open-source-projects, budget-conscious-teams | development-teams, github-users, agile-teams, open-source-projects |
| Founded | 2000 | 2014 |
| Bug Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Fields | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Notifications | ✓ | ✗ |
| Role Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban Boards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Epics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sprint Planning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Burndown Charts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Github Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ MantisBT Pros
- Free and open-source
- Easy to set up
- Lightweight
- Extensible with plugins
✗ MantisBT Cons
- Dated interface
- Limited agile features
- Small community vs alternatives
✓ ZenHub Pros
- Lives inside GitHub
- No context switching
- Good sprint planning
- Roadmap feature
✗ ZenHub Cons
- GitHub only
- Limited outside development
- Expensive for large teams
The Verdict
MantisBT is built for developers and small teams, with a focus on bug-tracking and custom-fields. ZenHub targets development teams and github users and leads with kanban-boards and epics.
Pricing is close: MantisBT starts at $4.95/mo versus $8.33/mo for ZenHub — not a deciding factor on its own.
MantisBT has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. ZenHub requires a paid subscription from day one.
ZenHub edges out on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.9). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Both tools are a solid fit for open source projects — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: ZenHub has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, MantisBT may still be the right call.