Rukovoditel vs SmartTask: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Rukovoditel and SmartTask to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Rukovoditel
6.1/10
Free, open-source, self-hosted PHP/MySQL app builder that small teams configure into a CRM, project tracker, helpdesk or ERP without coding.
SmartTask
6.7/10
SmartTask is a work management platform that combines projects, time tracking, a client portal and a sales CRM for agencies and client delivery teams.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.1/10 | 6.7/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | $6/user/mo Premium |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free (open source core) | Free Free Forever |
| Features | ||
| Built-in Calling | Not listed | |
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Customer Support Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Marketing Automation | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| Sales Automation | Not listed | |
| More features | ||
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Client collaboration | Not listed | |
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Timeline view | Not listed | |
| Task management | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| Workflow automation | Not listed | |
| Dashboards | Not listed | |
| Kanban boards | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Whiteboards | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
Rukovoditel vs SmartTask cost by team size
Rukovoditel and SmartTask cost the same at every team size we checked.
| Team size | Rukovoditel | SmartTask |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree (open source core) | FreeFree Forever |
| 5 users | FreeFree (open source core) | FreeFree Forever |
| 10 users | FreeFree (open source core) | FreeFree Forever |
| 25 users | FreeFree (open source core) | FreeFree Forever |
| 50 users | FreeFree (open source core) | FreeFree Forever |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Rukovoditel
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Cost score (10/10 vs 9/10)
Why choose SmartTask
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for mid-market (5/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
Rukovoditel
Pros
- The core is free and open source, with no per-user fees.
- The Extension is a one-time 245 USD purchase that includes future updates, rather than a subscription.
- The visual designer lets you build custom entities, fields and relationships without programming.
- It is lightweight; one user reported it running quickly on under 1 GB of RAM.
Cons
- It needs considerable initial configuration and does not work as a CRM out of the box.
- The API, telephony, email marketing and Kanban require the paid Extension.
- It is self-hosted only, with no published compliance certifications or formal support plans.
- Independent review coverage is thin.
SmartTask
Pros
- The free plan has no cap on users, projects or guests, which is unusually generous for small teams.
- Paid plans are cheap at 6 and 11 USD per user per month on yearly billing.
- It combines project management, a sales CRM, a client portal and billable time tracking in one tool, so agencies need fewer separate apps.
- Reviewers on G2 and Capterra often praise how quickly new users learn it and how responsive support is.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers say the interface looks dated and the app can be slow to start.
- Reviewers report bugs and slowdowns, particularly in the mobile app.
- Timeline view, dashboards and time tracking require the Business plan.
- No whiteboard view and no two-way Google Calendar sync, according to reviewers.
- The vendor is very small, about 9 to 50 staff, which may concern larger buyers.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
SmartTask scores higher on our CRM criteria: 6.7/10 against 6.1/10 for Rukovoditel. The largest gap is in Support: 3/10 for Rukovoditel and 8/10 for SmartTask.
Both are free for 10 users.
Yes, both Rukovoditel and SmartTask have a free plan.
SmartTask is the better fit for mid-market: we rate it 5/10 for them, against 3/10 for Rukovoditel.
