Orbit Workspace

Open source alternative to Linear, Notion, ClickUp, Basecamp and Jira

76 stars
Apache-2.0
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Nov 4, 2026

Manage team tasks, docs, and chat from a single self-hosted Rust binary; Apache 2.0 licensed, runs on SQLite or Postgres, currently in public alpha.

Visit website GitHub76 Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Orbit Workspace is for#

Small engineering teams replacing three SaaS tools

Teams running Linear for tasks, Notion for docs, and Slack for chat can consolidate onto one self-hosted binary. All three surfaces share one search index, one member list, and one database, so there is no data sync to maintain and no per-seat bill for each tool.

Skip if:

Your team is not technical enough to manage a Linux server and a reverse proxy for HTTPS. Orbit has no one-click managed self-hosting today beyond the paid Orbit Cloud.

Teams building AI-augmented workflows

The MCP server lets Claude, Codex, or Grok read your Orbit workspace directly. Because Orbit runs on your server, the AI client accesses your data without routing it through a third-party API, which matters for teams with confidentiality requirements around tasks and internal docs.

Skip if:

You need the full in-workspace AI assistant today. The built-in assistant is listed as coming soon; only the read-only MCP endpoint exists in the current release.

Self-hosters evaluating team workspace tools

Orbit runs on a small VPS, a home server, or a Raspberry Pi with a single binary and minimal config. Apache 2.0 means no licensing concern for internal team use. GitHub sync means issues and pull requests stay in sync with tasks without manual updates.

Skip if:

You need a production-stable tool with a proven upgrade path. The README warns against production use; this is an alpha with active development still setting foundational infrastructure.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Small technical teams commonly split their work across three separate SaaS tools: a task tracker for project management, a wiki or notes app for documentation, and a chat app for team communication. Each tool charges a monthly per-seat fee, stores your data on the vendor's servers, and requires separate logins, search, and permission management.

The friction compounds when work overlaps. A question about a task requires leaving the task tracker, opening chat, hunting through channel history, and returning. AI assistants that try to surface context across these tools need broad API access to multiple services, and the data never lives in one place. Teams that want to self-host one of these tools still have to manage two others from a vendor.

how Orbit Workspace solves it

How it solves it#

Tasks with per-project workflows

Projects get their own status columns, groupable by category. Switch between list, board, and timeline views with one click. Break work into sub-issues, add labels, and sync GitHub issues and pull requests through a one-click GitHub App per workspace.

Docs with live co-editing

A page tree with teamspaces, favorites, and trash. The rich editor supports tables, code blocks, and checklists; multiple editors see each other's cursors in real time. Import pages from Notion with files included, or export a workspace backup.

Team chat with task and doc links

Channels, direct messages, and threads with file sharing, code blocks, reactions, and search. Links to tasks and pages open as inline previews without leaving the conversation.

MCP server for AI clients

A read-only MCP endpoint at /mcp with built-in OAuth lets Claude, Codex, or Grok read your projects and tasks. You choose which workspace and projects each client can access; because Orbit runs on your server, the AI reads your data locally without routing it through a third-party host.

One binary, SQLite or Postgres

A Rust server serves the API and the embedded web app from a single HTTP listener. Start with one SQLite file for simplicity; switch to Postgres for multi-node setups. Attachments go to local disk or any S3-compatible store, and scheduled backups are supported.

Workspace administration

Invite members, assign roles, manage sessions, and issue API tokens with scoped project access. Every admin action is recorded in an audit log that exports as CSV.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

True single-binary self-hostingOrbit ships as one Rust binary that starts with a single command. No external service dependencies for the base install; SQLite means no separate database process for teams that do not need multi-node setups. This is simpler to operate than multi-container alternatives.
Apache 2.0 licenseThe permissive Apache 2.0 license lets teams run Orbit for any internal commercial or personal use, fork it, and build on it without restriction. No AGPL virality concerns or dual-license upsell to a commercial tier.
Full context for AI clients via MCPThe MCP server exposes tasks, docs, and chat in one endpoint with built-in OAuth. Because Orbit runs on your server, AI clients read that context locally rather than routing it through a third-party API, which matters for teams with confidentiality requirements.
Notion import includedTeams migrating from Notion can import pages and their files into an Orbit teamspace directly from the web app. This removes the most common migration blocker for teams considering a switch.

Trade-offs

-Public alpha: not production-readyThe README explicitly warns 'PRETTY ALPHA, DO NOT USE IT IN PROD.' The project was created in August 2026 and has 77 GitHub stars. Infrastructure around data integrity, upgrade paths, and reliability at scale is still being established; there are 3 open issues as of this writing.
-Mail feature is a work in progressThe shared inbox feature uses mock data and is not yet functional. Teams that need a shared email inbox for handling customer threads will have to wait for a future release.
-AI assistant is planned, not builtThe website describes an in-workspace AI assistant that can draft email replies using tasks, docs, and chat context. As of the current release, only the read-only MCP endpoint exists; the full assistant is listed as coming soon and is not yet implemented.
-Mobile app feature gapsThe iOS and Android apps are not yet released. Per the README, once available they will not support saved views, timeline, tasks trash, GitHub integration settings, workspace export, API tokens, or Notion import. These features require the web app.

versus alternatives

Orbit Workspace vs alternatives#

Orbit Workspace vs Linear

Both tools center on issue tracking with per-project workflows, but they serve very different operational models. Linear is a commercial SaaS product optimized for speed and polish; Orbit is a self-hosted binary that adds docs and chat alongside tasks.

Feature	Orbit Workspace	Linear
License	Apache 2.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Docs	Yes (rich editor)	No
Chat	Yes (channels + DMs)	No
AI client access	MCP server (read-only)	No
Pricing	Free self-hosted / $10/workspace on cloud	Per-seat ($8-$14+/mo)

Orbit is the better fit when your team wants one self-hosted place for tasks, docs, and chat without paying three separate per-seat SaaS bills. Linear is the better fit when you need a production-ready, polished task tracker today; it has years of reliability, a faster UI, and a richer integration ecosystem. Orbit is in alpha and not yet suitable for teams that need production stability.

Orbit Workspace vs Notion

Notion and Orbit overlap on collaborative document editing, but Notion is a docs-first tool while Orbit treats docs as one part of a larger workspace.

Feature	Orbit Workspace	Notion
License	Apache 2.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Task management	Yes (full workflows)	Databases only
Team chat	Yes	No
Notion import	Yes	n/a
Pricing	Free self-hosted / $10/workspace	Per-seat ($10-$18+/mo)

Orbit includes a direct Notion import, so teams switching from Notion can move their pages and files in one step. Notion's block editor is more mature and supports a broader range of content types, integrations, and third-party connections. Orbit is a better fit for teams that want to self-host their data and reduce their SaaS count; Notion is the stronger choice for teams that need a more complete, production-tested docs environment and do not need self-hosting.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download the pre-built binary for linux/amd64 or linux/arm64 from GitHub Releases at https://github.com/coollabsio/orbit/releases, then start the server:

```bash
./orbit serve
```

Orbit serves the API and embedded web app from a single HTTP listener. Data is stored in SQLite by default; pass a Postgres connection string to switch. Put a reverse proxy in front for HTTPS. Full deployment and operations guide at https://github.com/coollabsio/orbit/blob/main/docs/operations.md

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptRustTypeScript
Frameworks: React

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Orbit safe to use in production?

No. The README carries an explicit warning: 'PRETTY ALPHA, DO NOT USE IT IN PROD.' The project launched in August 2026 and is still in active early development. Use it to evaluate the concept, follow its progress, or contribute to development; do not run it as the primary work tool for a team that depends on uptime and data integrity.

What does the Apache 2.0 license allow?

Apache 2.0 is a permissive open source license. You can run Orbit internally for any commercial or personal team use, modify the source, and redistribute it. The main requirement is preserving the copyright notice and license text. You are free to self-host it as a service for your own team; the team also offers a managed Orbit Cloud at $10 per workspace per month for teams that prefer not to manage the binary.

How does Orbit compare to Linear, Notion, or Slack?

Orbit bundles the core features of all three into a single app: task boards and timelines for project management (comparable to Linear and Jira), a page tree with live co-editing for docs (comparable to Notion), and channels with threads for chat (comparable to Slack). The main differences are self-hosting and the single-binary architecture. Linear, Notion, and Slack are mature commercial platforms with larger feature sets and years of reliability; Orbit is in alpha and not yet feature-complete.

Can I import data from Notion?

Yes. Orbit includes a Notion import that copies pages and their files into an Orbit teamspace. The import is available from the web app. The mobile app, once released, will not support it; use the web app for the import.

Does Orbit have a managed cloud option?

Yes. Orbit Cloud runs at app.orbit.so and costs $10 per workspace per month, with a 7-day free trial. The self-hosted path runs the same binary on your own server at no license cost; you pay only for the server.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Linear, Notion, ClickUp, Basecamp and Jira#

GitLab

#1 in the Linear guide

Teams on GitLab for code hosting

24,549

OpenProject

#2 in the Linear guide

Teams needing Scrum boards, Gantt charts, and time tracking

16,901

Taiga

#3 in the Linear guide

Agile teams wanting Scrum sprints without enterprise overhead

385

Gitea

#4 in the Linear guide

Small teams wanting lightweight git hosting and issue tracking

58,808

All 16 Linear alternatives 8 open source Linear alternatives, ranked

by category

Open source tools in these categories#

112

Self-host Orbit Workspace on a Hostinger VPS

Keep it running 24/7, even when your laptop is off. A Hostinger VPS gives it a server of its own.

01
Choose a plan
Starts from $6.49/mo
02
Apply
Extra 10% off yearly plans
03
Install Orbit Workspace
On a server that stays on
04
Start building
Focus on the app, not the server

Deploy on Hostinger

Inbox Zero

Alternative toSuperhuman

AI email assistant that drafts replies and clears your inbox

12,889 GitHub stars
Licence AGPL-3.0
#Email

rakazo

Alternative toGrok Bot

AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.

6,568 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

SnitchFeed

Live monitoring on LinkedIn, X, Reddit & more. Agentic social listening for startups.

Marketing & Growth

Advertise your product

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Who Orbit Workspace is for#

Small engineering teams replacing three SaaS tools

Skip if:

Teams building AI-augmented workflows

Skip if:

Self-hosters evaluating team workspace tools

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Tasks with per-project workflows

Docs with live co-editing

Team chat with task and doc links

MCP server for AI clients

One binary, SQLite or Postgres

Workspace administration

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Orbit Workspace vs alternatives#

Orbit Workspace vs Linear

Orbit Workspace vs Notion

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Linear, Notion, ClickUp, Basecamp and Jira#

Open source tools in these categories#

Product & Project Management

Communication & Collaboration

Business & Productivity

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Orbit Workspace is for#

Small engineering teams replacing three SaaS tools

Skip if:

Teams building AI-augmented workflows

Skip if:

Self-hosters evaluating team workspace tools

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Tasks with per-project workflows

Docs with live co-editing

Team chat with task and doc links

MCP server for AI clients

One binary, SQLite or Postgres

Workspace administration

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Orbit Workspace vs alternatives#

Orbit Workspace vs Linear

Orbit Workspace vs Notion

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Linear, Notion, ClickUp, Basecamp and Jira#

Open source tools in these categories#

Product & Project Management

Communication & Collaboration

Business & Productivity

Find open source alternatives to paid software