Table of Contents

OpenProject Marketing Strategy: SEO, Brand Search and AI Visibility (Updated 2025)

Overview

OpenProject is an open-source project management platform that helps teams plan, track, and deliver projects with full transparency. 

What makes them stand out is how they’ve combined massive link authority with laser-focused content that wins on high-intent queries, localized pages, and AI-friendly structures. 

In this article, you’ll see how OpenProject:

  • Turns “alternative + comparison” searches into a growth engine.
  • Uses backlinks and topical depth to amplify visibility.
  • Positions itself for AI-powered discovery with answer-ready content.

Table of Contents

At-a-Glance: Concurate Scorecard

AttributeScore (/100%)What It Reflects
Decision-Stage Coverage60Volume and ranking of “vs,” “pricing,” “best [X]” pages
AI SERP Readiness50Presence in ChatGPT/Perplexity, schema use, answer-ready formatting
Branded Query Ownership60How well the brand ranks for all its name variations
Topical Authority88Depth of content cluster coverage (TOFU–BOFU)
Technical SEO Health73 Core Web Vitals + crawl efficiency
Link Authority55 Referring domain quality, link velocity

OpenProject’s SEO Snapshot

MetricValue
Organic Traffic (Monthly)50K+
Domain Rating78
Backlinks68.2M Backlinks
Referring Domains3.9K
High-Intent Keywords720 Keywords
Informational Keywords27.9K Keywords
Branded Keywords11.3K Keywords 

OpenProject’s SEO strength lies in its massive backlink profile and strong domain rating, which amplify the reach of its content.

OpenProject’s AI Visibility

OpenProject is already present in AI-powered search platforms, showing up for highly commercial keywords such as:

  • Best self-hosted project management
  • Open source agile project tool alternatives
  • Best open source alternatives


OpenProject structures its content around open-source, comparison-driven, and alternative-focused keywords. 

This makes it “answer-ready” in AI environments where users expect quick, authoritative guidance.

OpenProject’s Top Ranking Pages That Get Them in Front of Their Target Audience

PageWhy It Matters
Open Source Jira AlternativeCaptures users searching for open-source versions of Jira, a high-intent audience actively looking for cost-effective and flexible alternatives.
OpenProject en FrançaisLocalized page targeting French-speaking professionals searching for project management software, expanding OpenProject’s global reach.
Best MS Project AlternativeAppeals to users seeking open-source Microsoft Project alternatives, aligning with teams moving away from expensive enterprise tools.
Best Jira AlternativePositions OpenProject directly against Jira, helping capture buyers evaluating leading project management platforms.
Best Smartsheet AlternativeEngages audiences looking for free Smartsheet alternatives, tapping into demand for affordable collaboration solutions.
Open Source Monday AlternativeDraws interest from teams searching for open-source options to replace Monday.com, emphasizing flexibility and control.
Best Basecamp AlternativeReaches users dissatisfied with Basecamp, highlighting OpenProject as a scalable project management solution.
BIM Project ManagementTargets construction and architecture teams searching for BIM project management software, showing OpenProject’s industry-specific relevance.
Best SharePoint AlternativeAttracts organizations considering SharePoint replacements, positioning OpenProject as a modern collaboration-focused solution.
Best Asana AlternativeEngages teams exploring Asana alternatives, tapping into mid-market companies seeking stronger open-source tools.
Best Wrike AlternativeCaptures Wrike users evaluating alternatives, aligning OpenProject with enterprise project management needs.
Team Collaboration FeaturesHighlights collaboration features to attract users searching for open-source collaboration software, expanding appeal beyond project managers.
Best Trello AlternativeTargets teams looking for open-source Trello replacements, appealing to startups and SMBs needing flexibility.
Best Odoo AlternativePositions OpenProject as an alternative to Odoo for teams seeking project-focused solutions outside full ERP systems.

OpenProject’s top pages are built around high-intent “alternative” searches, ensuring visibility when users actively compare project management tools. 

By combining competitor-focused content with localized and industry-specific pages, OpenProject captures diverse audiences from startups to enterprises.

Top Buying Intent Keywords OpenProject Ranks For Organically

These keywords represent high-intent searches where users are actively comparing, seeking free/open-source options, or evaluating alternatives to leading project management tools.

KeywordWhy It Matters
best software for project managementGeneric high-intent search from users evaluating the best solutions; captures a broad audience exploring project management tools.
best free project management softwareStrong commercial intent for cost-sensitive teams; aligns directly with OpenProject’s open-source positioning.
jira alternativesCompetitive keyword targeting Jira users actively searching for replacements; ideal for converting from a market leader.
best open source project management softwarePerfect match for OpenProject’s positioning; appeals to users specifically seeking open-source solutions.
project management software free downloadTransactional intent from users ready to test or adopt a tool immediately; strong fit for OpenProject’s free model.
free smartsheet alternativeHigh-intent competitive search; captures budget-conscious teams dissatisfied with Smartsheet.
free jira alternativesLong-tail alternative keyword reinforcing OpenProject’s positioning as a no-cost Jira replacement.
monday alternativeDirect competitor comparison; targets teams exploring Monday.com replacements with open-source flexibility.
wrike alternativesCompetitive keyword focused on Wrike users considering a switch; appeals to enterprise-level prospects.
redmine vs openprojectComparison keyword that allows OpenProject to position itself directly against another open-source rival.
projectlibre vs openprojectSimilar comparison keyword, helping OpenProject win mindshare against competing open-source tools.
basecamp vsEvaluates OpenProject against Basecamp, capturing dissatisfied Basecamp users searching for better alternatives.
microsoft project vsTargets enterprise audiences looking for alternatives to Microsoft Project, a high-value buying segment.

OpenProject's Technical Health (Core Web Vitals)

MetricValueStatus
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)2.1sPoor
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)114msPoor
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)0Perfect
Mobile Optimization91/100Pass

OpenProject shows solid technical health with a perfect CLS score and strong mobile optimization. However, its LCP and INP fall short, signaling room for improvement in loading speed and responsiveness.

Your Move

If you’re analyzing OpenProject, here’s how to learn from them: 

  • Invest in “Alternative + Comparison” Pages – Try to create competitor-alternative and “vs” content to meet buyers at the decision stage, where OpenProject already excels.

  • Build AI-Ready Content – Consider optimising for AI platforms with structured answers, schema markup, and conversational phrasing to win visibility in recommendation-style results.

  • Leverage Localization – Try to develop localized landing pages (like OpenProject en Français) to capture regional markets and expand reach without starting from scratch.

  • Target Industry-Specific Niches – You can create tailored assets for verticals (e.g., construction, architecture, education) to position your solution as the best fit for industry-specific workflows.

Competitors in the Space of Project Management Software:

Within the Project Management Software industry, five key competitors to OpenProject are:

  1. Wrike
  2. Asana
  3. Trello
  4. Jira
  5. ClickUp

Concurate’s POV

OpenProject plays smart. Its focus on “alternatives” and open-source positioning ensures visibility exactly where buyers are making decisions. 

Here’s what makes their strategy stand out:

  • “Alternative + comparison” content is their growth engine, capturing users at decision-stage.

  • Their backlink volume is massive, but link quality and velocity show limited compounding effect.

  • AI visibility is promising, but more structured answers and schema would future-proof rankings.


In our view, OpenProject excels at closing high-intent searches but still has opportunities to scale breadth and depth. 

By pairing its current “decision-ready” focus with stronger TOFU and AI-first content, it could widen reach and future-proof against evolving search shifts.

Disclaimer

All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners. This profile is for identification, analysis, and benchmarking purposes only. Concurate is not affiliated with or endorsed by any featured company unless stated otherwise. The analysis is based on publicly available information as of the date noted. If you’re a representative and spot outdated or incorrect details, feel free to contact us for an update