For Small Teams
Project management that fits your team, not the other way around
Most project management tools are built for large organizations. Operately is built for teams of 5 to 50 who want to stay aligned on goals and ship work without drowning in features they do not use. Open source, flat pricing, ready in minutes.
The small team problem
Enterprise project management tools come with per-seat pricing that punishes growth, feature lists built for 500-person organizations, and setup processes that take longer than your actual work cycle.
Small teams need something different: a tool that helps a growing team stay aligned on goals, ship projects consistently, and keep everyone informed without constant meetings. Something that costs nothing to start and does not become a budget problem at 20 people.
What you get with Operately
Goals in one place
Set company or team goals with measurable targets. Everyone sees what matters and how things are tracking without asking in meetings or chat.
Projects with built-in check-ins
Track projects with regular progress updates. No more chasing people for status. The structure keeps everyone informed automatically.
Flat-rate pricing
Pay a flat fee regardless of team size. Add people without worrying about your tool bill growing faster than your team.
Open source and self-hostable
The entire codebase is open. Use the cloud to get started fast, or self-host when you need data control or compliance.
Set up takes less than 5 minutes
Start free — no credit card neededWhy not just use Monday.com or Asana?
They work, but they are designed for a different scale and a different buyer.
| Operately | Enterprise tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost at 20 people | $0 (free plan) | $180-300/mo |
| Setup time | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Goals built in | Yes, free | Paid add-on or higher tier |
| Complexity | Focused | Feature-heavy |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-host option | Yes | No |
Why we built Operately this way
Most tools either give you total freedom with no structure, or rigid structure with no soul. We think both get it wrong.
Small teams need structure. Not because someone read it in a management book, but because when you are 10 or 20 people, you cannot afford to lose track of what matters. You need goals. You need to know if you are making progress or just staying busy. You need honest self-evaluation, not just vibes.
But structure should work for you, not the other way around. Operately gives your team a clear system for accountability and focus without turning work into a reporting exercise. Goals connect to projects. Progress is visible. People know what they own and how it is going.
We believe that 99% of teams need this. Not because they are broken, but because doing great work together is genuinely hard, and good tools should make it easier.
Today, Operately is used by technology companies, nonprofits, consulting firms, and compliance-focused organizations. What they share is a need to coordinate work across a growing team without the overhead of enterprise software.
Try Operately with your team
Free to start. No per-seat pricing. Ready in minutes. No credit card required.