Trac
Trac is a free, self-hosted system for software development projects that combines issue tracking with a wiki.
What Trac is
Trac is a free, self-hosted system for software development projects that combines issue tracking with a wiki. Its approach to web-based project management is minimal, intended to support a team without imposing a heavier process. Trac provides an interface to Subversion, Git, and other version control systems. Wiki markup can be used in wiki pages, tickets, comments, version-control log messages, milestone descriptions, and reports; it can also link bugs, tasks, changesets, files, and wiki pages. A chronological timeline presents current and past project events, while a roadmap lists upcoming milestones. Plugins are among the project's resources for extending a setup, and permissions can be configured, though editing may depend on administrator policy. Trac runs as a Python web application served through WSGI and a web server such as Apache. Authentication can be configured through web-server mechanisms including Basic and Digest authentication. Trac 1.6 is identified as the latest stable release. Listed platforms are Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted. Its plan is free.
Good
- Combines a wiki and issue tracking.
- Interfaces with Subversion, Git, and other version control systems.
- Timeline shows project events chronologically.
- Roadmap lists upcoming milestones.
- Plugins are available among project resources.
Watch out
- Self-hosted deployment requires a web application setup.
- Ticket editing may depend on administrator policy.
- No time tracking is listed.
Who it suits
Trac suits software teams looking for a self-hosted project system with issue tracking, a wiki, and version-control interfaces. It is a fit for teams comfortable with a Python web application and administrator-managed permissions.
Verdict
Trac brings project tickets, wiki content, timeline, and roadmap together in a free self-hosted system. Its minimal project-management approach and version-control links may suit teams that want those tools under their own deployment.
Plans and prices
From Trac's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Trac | Free | Open-source project software · self-hosted |
The facts
Each one read from Trac's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API documentation
- The published API reference covers administration, database backends, tickets, wiki, timeline, permissions, web handling and version control modules.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Cross-linking
- Wiki markup links bugs, tasks, changesets, files and wiki pages so related project information can be navigated together.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The project site lists plugins among the resources for getting started with Trac.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The user guide covers installation, upgrades, administration, backups, logging, permissions, wiki, tickets, reports, timeline, RSS and notifications; mailing lists are presented as a support channel.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hosting model
- The Trac documentation describes deployment as a Python web application served through WSGI and a web server such as Apache.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Trac's homepage explicitly names Subversion and Git as version-control integrations.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Latest stable release
- Wikipedia lists Trac 1.6 as the stable release dated September 23, 2023.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Trac is distributed under a modified BSD licence, identified in package metadata as BSD.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: basic bug model
- An Open Hub reviewer said Trac's bug tracking is less detailed than Bugzilla and lacks advanced relationships such as dependencies and duplicate-of links.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: dated experience
- G2 reviewers described the bug tracker or overall product as somewhat out of date.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maintainers
- The Trac Team page names Jun Omae, Peter Suter and Ryan Ollos as developers currently working on Trac.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Multiple repositories
- A Trac environment can work with multiple version-control repositories.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- Trac includes fine-grained permissions for controlling access to project resources.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Plugin architecture
- Trac's component model lets components implement interfaces and expose or consume extension points.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Praise: extensibility
- Open Hub reviewers repeatedly praised the large plugin ecosystem, active community channels and ability to extend the core.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Praise: integrations
- A G2 reviewer praised Trac's external integrations, Subversion or Git modules and wiki component.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Praise: lightweight deployment
- A G2 reviewer said setup was quick, resource use was low and multiple instances could run on one small server.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Project management
- Trac describes its approach to web-based software project management as minimalistic and intended to stay out of a team's way.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Trac is an enhanced wiki and issue-tracking system for software development projects.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Python support
- Trac 1.6 supports Python 3.5 and later and drops Python 2 support.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Design approach
- The project describes Trac as a minimalistic tool intended to fit an established development process with little ceremony.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
The company
- Maker founding history
- The Trac history page says Edgewall Software developers began writing the predecessor svntrac in August 2003.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- G2 lists Edgewall Software's headquarters location as Seattle, Washington.checked 15 Oct 2026
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