Launchpad

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Score7.0

Rank#2 of 64

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onAPI, Linux, Self-hosted, Web

Summary

Launchpad is a free collaboration platform for open-source projects and community contributors, with tools to build and publish software. Projects can host Git repositories, review and merge changes, and connect code changes to bug reports. Its bug tracking can also integrate reports from Bugzilla, Trac, GitLab, and Mantis. Teams can build and distribute Debian packages, snaps, rocks, charms, and OCI images; documented package architectures include AMD64, AMD64v3, ARM, and RISC-V. Localization tools support importing, exporting, and sharing translations, while blueprints help projects track ideas and work. Launchpad Answers provides a place to manage community help requests and FAQs. For automation, it offers a REST-style API, the launchpadlib Python client, and webhooks. Free use is listed for open-source software projects. Commercial projects can request private code branches, bugs, teams, mailing lists, and PPAs, but these features require Canonical authorization. The security documentation describes least-privilege access, restrictive networking, and fine-grained permissions, and says automatic security monitoring was not in place as of July 2023.

Who it is for

It suits open-source projects and their community contributors who need code hosting, bug tracking, package building, or localization tools. Commercial projects seeking private features must obtain Canonical authorization.

What is good

Free for open-source software projects.
Git hosting supports code review and merge proposals.
Can build and distribute multiple package formats.
Includes localization tools and project blueprints.
REST-style API, Python client, and webhooks support automation.

What to know first

Private commercial features require Canonical authorization.
Automatic security monitoring was not in place as of July 2023.
Security documentation says package downloads rely on client-side cryptographic verification rather than TLS.

Verdict

Launchpad brings code collaboration, bug tracking, package distribution, and localization into one platform for open-source projects. Commercial users should note that private project features require Canonical authorization.

Launchpad plans and pricing

All plans

Open-source projects Free For open-source software projects launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026

Commercial subscription Not published Private code branches · private bugs by default · private teams and mailing lists · private PPAs · requires Canonical authorization launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on window management software

Free plan: Yeslaunchpad.net

Facts

Purpose: Launchpad is designed for open-source collaboration and provides tools to build and publish software.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Bug tracking: Launchpad tracks bugs across projects and can integrate reports from Bugzilla, Trac, GitLab, and Mantis.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Git hosting: Projects can host Git repositories, review and merge changes, and connect code changes to bug reports.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Package building: Launchpad can build and distribute Debian packages, snaps, rocks, charms, and OCI images.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Build architectures: The documentation lists AMD64, AMD64v3, ARM, and RISC-V among supported package architectures.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Translations: Launchpad provides tools to coordinate software localization, including importing, exporting, and sharing translations.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
API and automation: Launchpad offers a REST-style API, a launchpadlib Python client, and webhooks for automating external integrations.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Security: The security documentation says traffic is secured by TLS except package downloads, which are cryptographically verified on the client side.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Security monitoring: The security page says automatic security monitoring was not in place as of July 2023 and that Launchpad had recently been externally pentested.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Privacy controls: Launchpad supports private security bug reports and documents privacy and confidentiality controls for projects.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Support: Users can seek help through Launchpad Answers and community support documentation.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Intended users: The manual describes Launchpad as a platform for open-source projects and community contributors.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Maker: The Launchpad site identifies Canonical Ltd. in its copyright notice.launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026
Code hosting: Launchpad supports Git hosting, code review, and merge proposals.launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026
Planning and support: Projects can use blueprints to track ideas and work, and Launchpad Answers to track community help requests and FAQs.launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026
Integrations: Launchpad documentation describes bug tracker integrations with Bugzilla, Trac, GitLab, and Mantis, as well as a REST-style API, launchpadlib, and webhooks.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
Commercial privacy: Commercial projects can request private code branches, private bugs by default, private teams and mailing lists, and private PPAs; these features require Canonical authorization.launchpad.net · 4 Oct 2026
Security controls: The security documentation describes least-privilege access, restrictive networking, and fine-grained permissions.documentation.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026
API: Launchpad operations can be scripted through its REST-style API and the launchpadlib Python client.ubuntu.com · 4 Oct 2026