Software experts did the work for you. These are the best free and open source bug tracking software available to date.
Something that users may find quite useful is a built in email option that can mail you every time an event is triggered. Obviously, this is only suitable for rare events. Any triggered events will show in the main window, optionally a log file, a system tray balloon popup, and a file can be executed including an audio file. Download TheFolderSpy.
- Robust free features. We only considered CRM software that include robust enough features on their free plans that you can manage the basics without upgrading. At a minimum, all of our best free CRMs include contact management, deal tracking, and task automation. 'Ease of use' is the most demanded feature from CRM users.
- Document Management System. The GigaTrak Document Tracking System is a flexible solution for nearly any organization that needs to track documents and materials assigned to a person or location. With a low cost of ownership, your return-on-investment is just a matter of weeks away!
- Any file tracking and management system lacking a software and auto ID (barcode or RFID) component is destined to fail. Barcodes EDGE can provide hardware and software solutions which will greatly ease keeping tabs on your documents and files.
- MasterSoft File Tracking Software introduces the system to integrate technology with the administrative process and is beneficial for the institution. It acts as a new achievement factor in addition to traditional sources of advantages. It computerizes the file, stores it in digital format, and tracks its movement.
Bug tracking is serious business.
When you’re developing software, bugs are inevitable. But when you encounter one bug, it often means there are more issues hiding somewhere in your code.
Enter bug tracking software.
What are bug tracking tools?
Bug tracking software automates the process of tracking and monitoring bugs, defects, and other issues that impede the efficient operation of an organization’s technology and information infrastructure.
Using issue tracking tools during your software development process helps prevent one small issue from snowballing into a million giant ones. It’s also important for your business, since development teams that produce software with unresolved bugs won’t find customers who will buy, use, or trust their products.
When you’re busy doing important work patching bugs and improving your software development projects, the last thing you want to think about is your budget. With these free bug tracking software solutions, you might never have to think about budget again.
We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of five free and open source bug tracking software solutions that are sure to meet your needs.
This article looks at five highly rated free bug tracking software options. See the full list of free bug tracking software solutions here.
5 free and open source bug tracking software options
To be included in our list, issue trackers must have had more than 20 reviews at the time of publication, be free forever, and have above-average user ratings on Capterra. See more about our methodology here.
Products are presented alphabetically.
Jump to:
Backlog
Bugzilla
Mantis Bug Tracker
Redmine
Zoho BugTracker
1. Backlog
Made for developers, Backlog is an online project management solution that includes bug tracking. The system allows you to see where all of your bugs fit into your overall project workflow. You can document work with as many details as you want or need, and create custom fields to resolve issues efficiently.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Backlog users love that the free version of the system includes access to a wiki and said that the system, overall, is easy to use and set up. | Some users noted that the reporting and data analysis features could be improved to allow more in-depth insights. |
Cost to upgrade: The lowest-priced paid version of Backlog is $20 per month for up to 30 users, five projects, and one GB of storage.
Best bug tracking software for: Users who want something easy to use no matter their business size.
Read user reviews of Backlog
2. Bugzilla
Developed by the Mozilla team in 1998, Bugzilla is an open source tool that offers powerful search capabilities, duplicate bug detection, time tracking, and a patch reviewer that makes it easier to read lines of code. You can leave private comments and notes within a bug, and grant access to specific bugs to relevant/necessary team members.
File Tracking Software Systems
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Bugzilla users love that the software is easy to use with a low learning curve. | Users note that if your needs are more complex, the system’s “basic” setup can make it feel sparse. And most reviewers think the interface could use a facelift. |
Cost to upgrade: N/A; Since Bugzilla is open source, all offered features are free forever.
Best bug tracking software for: Users who work in quality assurance or businesses that want something without any distracting bells and whistles.
A bug list in Bugzilla (Source)
Read user reviews of Bugzilla
3. MantisBT
MantisBT is built on PHP (hypertext preprocessor) and is compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL databases. It’s commonly used as a bug tracker, but you can configure the system to manage larger software development projects as well. MantisBT offers access control that you can change per project, customizable issue fields, notifications, and workflows, as well as a mobile-optimized UI add-on if your team needs mobile access.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Reviewers found that MantisBT is easy enough for an experienced programmer to use, but noted that an average user might require some training. | Users said that although MantisBT’s interface is outdated, it still offers all the basic features a software development team needs to track and fix bugs. |
Cost to upgrade: MantisBT offers an SaaS version that starts at $14.95 per month for one project and up to five users.
Best bug tracking software for: Senior software engineers or developers who want something customizable.
A dashboard summary in MantisBT (Source)
Read user reviews of MantisBT
4. Redmine
Redmine is more than just a bug tracker. This open source project management solution has been around for over a decade and supports 34 different languages. Redmine is written in Ruby, and is compatible with MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL, and SQLite.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Users of Redmine generally find a basic version of the system easy to implement and fairly easy to use. | If you’re just looking for bug tracking, Redmine might be a little more than you bargained for, but you can use the flexibility of its customizable interface and the slew of available plugins to adapt the system to your team’s needs over time. |
Cost to upgrade: N/A; Redmine is an open source solution, so the free version includes all features.
Best bug tracking software for: Project managers in the IT service field.
A video product description of Redmine (Source)
Read user reviews of Redmine
5. Zoho BugTracker
Founded in 1996, Zoho is an online suite of software solutions that includes a free bug tracker. Zoho BugTracker works for companies of all sizes, and allows project collaboration to help users resolve issues faster. The free version allows up to five users on one project.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Users find the tool easy to use and report that it has great functionality. | Reviewers say that the company’s customer service could be improved. |
Cost to upgrade: $40 per user, per month
Best bug tracking software for: C-suite users and business founders who want insight into their issue tracking, and developers looking for an easy-to-use tool.
A video product description of Zoho BugTracker (Source)
Read user reviews of Zoho BugTracker
Which bug tracking tool is best?
Now that you’ve seen our list of the five best free bug tracking options, give them a try, see what’s best for your business, and then get out there and resolve your project glitches and system errors. The software development world will be a better place for it.
If you’re using a free system you love that’s not on this list, feel free to shout it out in the comments below.
Methodology
This article was updated in August 2019. Products considered for this article had to:
- Offer a free, stand-alone version of the software (not a trial version of the software where you must purchase a product after a limited amount of time).
Software that met the market definition also needed a minimum of 20 user-submitted reviews published before July 31, 2019, and have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category.
- “Top” free tools had a minimum overall rating of 4/5 stars from reviewers on Capterra at the time of publication.
Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users does not represent the views of Capterra.
The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.
Looking for IT Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best IT Management software solutions.
File tracking systems include a number of different methods you can use to organize and keep track of your company’s files, documents, and records. Three of the most common file tracking systems include radio-frequency identification (RFID), file tracking software, and tracking using a records management company. To learn more about file tracking for your business, contact the experts at Blue-Pencil!
File Tracking Systems – Quick Comparison
Not sure which file tracking system is right for you and your company? Check out the chart below to get a better understanding of the main pros and cons of each method. Click the chart to see a larger version of the image.
Comparison of file tracking systems
Guide To File Tracking Systems
Learn about each file tracking system in more detail below.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RDF)
File Tracking Capital First
How RFID works; Image source: gs1uk.org
Radio-frequency identification is a method of file tracking where identification tags are attached to every one of your files. These tags correspond with information stored in a database.
There are three types of RFID systems: barcode, high frequency, and ultra high frequency. High frequency and ultra high frequency are more efficient options, as barcodes can be more much difficult to scan. Many workplaces prefer ultra high frequency, as it can find files up to 10 feet away with 100% accuracy.
Using a scanning device, you can quickly scan over hundreds of documents without having to look through any of them. The scanner will then let you know when you have scanned the correct document. To see this process in action, check out the video below.
RFID allows for quick identification of your company’s files
RFID is an ideal solution if you have not yet converted all of your physical files into electronic versions. It significantly reduces the amount of time your employees have to spend searching through rows and rows of shelves or filing cabinets.
RFID systems can also help you stay compliant with Canadian tax laws. Tax records and other business information must be kept on file for 7+ years.
Losing or misplacing these records can be detrimental to you or your business. RFID ensures that the physical copies of these important documents are stored correctly and are easy to retrieve when needed.
However, unlike other tracking systems, RFID does require more effort on your employees’ part. Having physical documents requires more maintenance than electronic files. Employees still must use the scanner to find documents, instead of simply retrieving online.
RFID also does not provide the document security that comes with other options. There is still the possibility that someone could steal a file or intentionally destroy it.
File Tracking Software
File tracking software allows you to organize and access electronic files
File tracking software includes various computer programs that allow you to electronically store and track your files. Many businesses are moving towards this method, as it allows easy and quick access to your files. It also helps reduce the need for physical copies, which is ideal if your company is striving towards a paperless office.
There are many different file tracking software options available, from simple, free versions to complex tracking systems suitable for large corporations. You can see an example of what file tracking software can look like in use in the demo video below.
File tracking software can be quick and easy to use
Although it is great that there are so many different software options available, it can be difficult to choose the right one for you. If you are setting up a tracking program yourself without the help of professionals you may run into some issues, such as poor file organization or difficulty using the program.
Employers and employees are still fully responsible for file organization and management unless the file tracking software is part of a greater record management system put in place through a management company. This means that employees will still have to be properly trained in order to ensure file security and proper organization.
Records Management Company
A Records Management company will store and track your files at a secure facility
Working with a records management company is another way that many companies choose to store and track their files. For many, this is a preferred method as it takes much of the responsibility of organizing, filing, and tracking off of your employees and gives it to experienced management experts.
A records management company will often be able to provide your business with a wide variety of file tracking options, such as on-site and off-site storage systems. At Blue-Pencil, we offer both on-site and off-site active file management.
- On-Site: With on-site file tracking, our management experts help you set up and organize your ‘active file area’ right in your office
- Off-Site: With off-site file tracking, files are stored and organized at our secure facility. When it comes time for retrieval, you can call, e-mail, or utilize our online system to get your files when needed.
Working with a records management company to implement a file tracking system will ensure that only the most efficient methods are used. If you choose to store off-site at a secure facility, you will also have peace of mind, knowing that your important records and documents are safe and secure.
A records management company can also help you manage your files throughout their entire lifecycle, including when it eventually comes time to securely destroy and dispose of old files. Check out the quick video below to see Blue-Pencil’s secure shredding service that comes to you!
Secure shredding is an important part of file management
![File tracking system free File tracking system free](https://5.imimg.com/data5/XP/PZ/YU/SELLER-108451492/file-tracking-system-250x250.jpg)
Although working with a records management company may cost a bit more upfront than other options, you will save in the long-term. This is because employees can use their time more effectively when they don’t have to worry about retrieving and managing files.
It is also because storing files off-site means that you can make the most of your smaller office space without worrying about paying more in rent for a larger building to house all of your company’s records and files.
For example, the average office may require 500+ square footage of storage space for files, storing boxes of records and other items, and mail. That number can quickly increase the longer your company is in business.
Which System Is Right For Me?
Some companies choose to utilize multiple tracking systems
Choosing a file tracking system can be a challenge. Companies will have to take into account budget, the time they have to dedicate to implementing the new system, the best option for their employees, and more.
Many business owners will actually choose to implement multiple file tracking systems. For example, if it is not feasible or possible to convert all of your documents into electronic files, you may choose to use a combination of RFID for physical files and tracking software for electronic files.
Other companies will use file tracking software provided by their record management company for daily management, and then allow the company to do the rest! Speaking with a record management company can help you determine which option is best for you.
Protect Your Documents With Blue-Pencil!
Our team is dedicated to keeping your data safe!
Free Document Tracking System
With Blue-Pencil, you can store your important files worry-free at our secure facility. Blue-Pencil helps empower Canadian organizations to reach new heights with friendly and efficient document management services. Customer service is not only a slogan but something we practice by investing in our strategic partners.
Located in Oakville, we have grown our document security business over the past 10 years, serving more than 6,000 organizations including small and medium-sized companies as well as Fortune 500 businesses.
File Tracking Tools
“We highly recommend Blue Pencil. The service is excellent and the guys that come out are so nice. It’s a pleasure dealing with them.”
– Mozelle, a Blue-Pencil Customer – Read More Testimonials Here
At Blue-Pencil, we offer services such as Documents Storage,Records Management, and Document Imaging and Scanning Solutions. These services allow us to offer full circle, comprehensive solutions for information security management. We service the GTA and surrounding cities – click here for a full list of our service areas. If you’d like to learn more about us and what we can do for you contact us today!