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Comparison · PM

Hive vs Leantime

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Hive and Leantime — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:project-management

Hive vs Leantime: at a glance

FeatureHiveLeantime
SectorCollab, PMPM
Velocity score6.36.3
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesproofing, dashboards, project-management, collaborationproject-management, self-hosted, api, permissions
Last editorial update1d ago2mo ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Hive?

Hive keeps iterating on proofing and dashboard UX — workmanlike improvements, no pivot.

Hive is a collaboration and project-management platform currently polishing three distinct layers: its proofing module (document review and annotation workflows), dashboard widgets, and the messaging sidebar. Recent releases are all incremental — each one adds a specific missing piece rather than expanding into new territory. The product is in a steady maintenance-and-refinement cycle.

Read the full Hive trajectory →

What is Leantime?

Leantime is stabilizing its big 3.9 rewrite while extending cross-project planning and a mobile API

Leantime is deep in a modernization cycle. The 3.9.0 release rebuilt the app around a native, fail-closed permission engine, a JSON-RPC API, and a consolidated Blueprints domain; the releases since then mostly stabilize that foundation. Recent point releases fix regressions (repeated Bearer/PAT auth fixes) while adding cross-project program views and a mobile app backend.

Read the full Leantime trajectory →

Hive vs Leantime: editorial side-by-side

Hive logo
Hive
COLLABPM
6.3

Hive keeps iterating on proofing and dashboard UX — workmanlike improvements, no pivot.

◆ Current state

Hive is a collaboration and project-management platform currently polishing three distinct layers: its proofing module (document review and annotation workflows), dashboard widgets, and the messaging sidebar. Recent releases are all incremental — each one adds a specific missing piece rather than expanding into new territory. The product is in a steady maintenance-and-refinement cycle.

◆ Where it's heading

Proofing is getting the most sustained attention, with two releases in the same week tightening file export and bulk download. Dashboard reporting is accumulating team-level filters and templated insight views. These parallel tracks suggest Hive is deepening its position as a full creative-ops platform — handling both the project structure and the file review loop — rather than broadening outward. Messaging is getting polish but not investment.

◆ Prediction

The next releases will likely continue expanding proofing capabilities (version comparison, comment resolution workflows) and add more templated dashboards. A team-level permissions overhaul or deeper integrations with external creative tools are plausible but not visible in the current entries.

L6.3

Leantime is stabilizing its big 3.9 rewrite while extending cross-project planning and a mobile API

◆ Current state

Leantime is deep in a modernization cycle. The 3.9.0 release rebuilt the app around a native, fail-closed permission engine, a JSON-RPC API, and a consolidated Blueprints domain; the releases since then mostly stabilize that foundation. Recent point releases fix regressions (repeated Bearer/PAT auth fixes) while adding cross-project program views and a mobile app backend.

◆ Where it's heading

The work is consolidation over expansion: hardening the new auth/permission and API layers, closing security IDORs domain by domain, and building the surface a mobile app and program-level planning need. The steady stream of small patch releases reflects shaking out regressions from the 3.9.0 refactor rather than opening new product directions.

◆ Prediction

Expect continued point releases fixing regressions from the permission-engine and JSON-RPC migration, plus buildout of the Leantime Mobile app now that its Bearer-authenticated backend API is landing.

Hive alternatives

Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial trajectory or compare directly with Hive.

See all Hive alternatives →

Leantime alternatives

Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial trajectory or compare directly with Leantime.

See all Leantime alternatives →

Recent activity from Hive and Leantime

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1d agoHiveNew Review and approve proofs on your phone
  2. 2d agoHiveNew Download Proofing files as a folder
  3. 2d agoHiveNew Export selected Proofing annotations
  4. 8d agoHiveNew Typing indicators on left-hand side bar
  5. 8d agoHiveNew Team filter available on Dashboard widget
  6. 8d agoHiveNew Unread message arrow in left-hand side bar
  7. 2mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.8: milestone reporting and MCP endpoint fixes
  8. 2mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.7 adds cross-project program views
  9. 2mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.6: security hardening plus content templates
  10. 3mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.5 adds mobile notification and calendar APIs
  11. 3mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.4 fixes cross-project 'My Work' loading
  12. 3mo agoLeantimeLeantime 3.9.3 fixes Bearer-token API authentication

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Hive and Leantime?

Both compete on the same themes — project-management — within PM. Hive and Leantime are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Hive better than Leantime?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Hive and Leantime are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Hive?

Top Hive alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Hive alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/hive for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Leantime?

Top Leantime alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Leantime alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/leantime for the full list with editorial commentary on each.