MantisBT

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Introduction

MantisBT (Mantis Bug Tracker) is a popular free, web-based bug tracking system. Its site says it is written in PHP, works with MySQL, MS SQL and PostgreSQL databases, runs on many operating systems, and is released under the GNU General Public License. The site listed MantisBT 2.28.4 as the current release, and the GitHub repository had commits in November 2026.

MantisBT focuses on doing bug tracking well: issues with severity, priority and reproducibility, custom fields, configurable workflows, email notifications, access control by project and role, and a plug-in system. It also supports source control integration and has mobile-friendly pages. Its simplicity is a feature: testers can learn it quickly.

How it compares: Bugzilla and Redmine are other open-source options (Redmine adds project management), while Jira is the commercial standard. MantisBT is lighter and easier to run than many alternatives.

In the quality loop MantisBT is a system of record for defects found during testing.

Features

1. Bug tracking: Severity, priority, reproducibility and status.
2. Email notifications: Notify reporters and assignees of changes.
3. Access control: Project- and role-based permissions.
4. Customisable: Custom fields, workflows and plug-ins.
5. Multiple databases: MySQL, MS SQL and PostgreSQL.
6. Source control integration: Link commits to issues.

Pros

1. Free and open source: GPL licence.
2. Lightweight: Easy to install and learn.
3. Maintained: Current 2.28.x releases and active repository.

Cons

1. Basic UI: Functional rather than modern.
2. Limited project management: Focused on bugs, not planning.

Usage and Links (Example)

Install MantisBT on a PHP web server with a database, create projects, define custom fields such as build and environment, and configure email. Testers report bugs with steps and attachments; developers update statuses through the workflow. Try the demo on the site before installing.

For QA teams, the practical test of any tracker is the bug lifecycle: can testers file a reproducible bug with environment details and attachments in under a minute, can developers see it in their normal workflow, and can a test management or automation tool link failed tests to it automatically? Trial it with a real sprint’s bugs before standardising.

Pricing

Free and open source under the GPL. Hosting costs are yours; hosted services are offered by third parties.

Recommended for?

• Small teams that want a simple, free bug tracker
• Organisations that need self-hosting
• QA teams wanting a focused defect database

Conclusion

MantisBT is a dependable, lightweight open-source bug tracker that remains actively maintained. It suits teams that want a simple self-hosted defect database.