Self-Hosted Org Chart & Team Directory Platforms: PrettyOrgChart vs OrgChartJS vs DirectoryLister

Introduction

As organizations grow, maintaining a clear picture of team structure becomes essential. Who reports to whom? Which teams own which projects? Where does a new hire fit in the hierarchy? While tools like Microsoft Visio and Lucidchart dominate the proprietary org chart space, a vibrant ecosystem of self-hosted open-source alternatives has emerged for teams that prefer to own their data and avoid per-seat licensing costs.

In this guide, we compare four leading self-hosted org chart and team directory platforms: PrettyOrgChart, OrgChartJS, DirectoryLister, and a custom approach using D3.js. We evaluate each tool’s features, deployment complexity, integration capabilities, and best-fit use cases.

Comparison Table

PrettyOrgChart: Drag-and-Drop Hierarchy Builder

PrettyOrgChart is a PHP-based self-hosted org chart builder that focuses on ease of use. It provides a WYSIWYG drag-and-drop interface for creating and rearranging organizational hierarchies, making it accessible to HR teams without technical expertise.

Key Strengths:

• Visual drag-and-drop hierarchy editing
• Built-in employee directory with search
• LDAP and SAML authentication support
• Photo upload and profile management
• Department and team grouping

Docker Compose Deployment:

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version: '3.8'
services:
  prettyorgchart:
    image: prettyorgchart/prettyorgchart:latest
    container_name: prettyorgchart
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    environment:
      - DB_HOST=mysql
      - DB_NAME=orgchart
      - DB_USER=orgchart
      - DB_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD}
      - APP_URL=https://orgchart.example.com
    volumes:
      - ./uploads:/var/www/html/uploads
      - ./config:/var/www/html/config
    depends_on:
      - mysql

  mysql:
    image: mysql:8.0
    container_name: orgchart-mysql
    environment:
      - MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD}
      - MYSQL_DATABASE=orgchart
      - MYSQL_USER=orgchart
      - MYSQL_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - ./mysql-data:/var/lib/mysql

OrgChartJS: Enterprise-Grade Interactive Charts

OrgChartJS is a JavaScript-based organizational chart library that can be self-hosted. It excels at rendering complex, multi-level hierarchies with smooth animations and interactive navigation. The library supports pan, zoom, drill-down, and node expansion for large organizations.

Key Strengths:

• High-performance rendering for 10,000+ node charts
• Interactive drill-down navigation
• Customizable node templates with HTML/CSS
• Export to high-resolution PNG and PDF
• Integration with existing HRIS and directory systems

Nginx Reverse Proxy Configuration:

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server {
    listen 443 ssl http2;
    server_name orgchart.example.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/orgchart.example.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/orgchart.example.com/privkey.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3001;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
        proxy_read_timeout 90;
    }

    location /api/ {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3001/api/;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
    }
}

DirectoryLister: Simple Team Directory

DirectoryLister takes a different approach: instead of a visual hierarchy, it provides a clean, searchable team directory. Originally designed as a file listing tool, it has been adapted by many organizations as a lightweight employee directory that integrates with LDAP for automatic user synchronization.

Key Strengths:

• Extremely lightweight (single PHP file)
• LDAP integration for automatic user sync
• Markdown-powered profile pages
• Full-text search across departments and roles
• Zero JavaScript dependency for basic usage

Installation:

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# Clone and configure
git clone https://github.com/DirectoryLister/DirectoryLister.git
cd DirectoryLister
cp config.sample.php config.php

# Configure LDAP integration in config.php
# $config['ldap'] = [
#     'host' => 'ldap.example.com',
#     'base_dn' => 'dc=example,dc=com',
#     'user_filter' => '(&(objectClass=person)(memberOf=cn=employees,dc=example,dc=com))',
# ];

# Deploy with Docker
docker run -d   --name directorylister   -p 8081:80   -v $(pwd)/config:/var/www/html/config   -v $(pwd)/employees:/var/www/html/employees   directorylister/directorylister:latest

Custom D3.js Solution: Maximum Flexibility

For organizations with unique requirements, building a custom org chart using D3.js provides unlimited flexibility. D3.js is a powerful data visualization library that can render organizational hierarchies as tree diagrams, sunbursts, collapsible force-directed graphs, or any custom layout.

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// Basic D3.js org chart
import * as d3 from 'd3';

async function renderOrgChart(dataUrl) {
  const data = await d3.json(dataUrl);
  const width = 1200, height = 800;

  const tree = d3.tree().size([height - 200, width - 400]);
  const root = d3.hierarchy(data);
  tree(root);

  const svg = d3.select('#orgchart')
    .append('svg')
    .attr('width', width)
    .attr('height', height)
    .append('g')
    .attr('transform', 'translate(200, 100)');

  // Draw links
  svg.selectAll('.link')
    .data(root.links())
    .join('path')
    .attr('class', 'link')
    .attr('d', d3.linkHorizontal()
      .x(d => d.y)
      .y(d => d.x));

  // Draw nodes
  const node = svg.selectAll('.node')
    .data(root.descendants())
    .join('g')
    .attr('class', 'node')
    .attr('transform', d => `translate(${d.y},${d.x})`);

  node.append('rect')
    .attr('width', 160)
    .attr('height', 60)
    .attr('x', -80)
    .attr('y', -30)
    .attr('rx', 8);

  node.append('text')
    .text(d => d.data.name)
    .attr('text-anchor', 'middle')
    .attr('dy', -5);

  node.append('text')
    .text(d => d.data.title)
    .attr('text-anchor', 'middle')
    .attr('dy', 15)
    .attr('font-size', '11px')
    .attr('fill', '#666');
}

Choosing the Right Tool

Your choice depends on organizational needs:

• PrettyOrgChart is ideal for HR teams needing a turnkey solution with drag-and-drop editing and LDAP integration. Its visual editor makes it accessible to non-technical users.

• OrgChartJS suits large enterprises requiring high-performance rendering, deep integration with existing HRIS platforms, and advanced customization options. The interactive drill-down is essential for 5,000+ employee organizations.

• DirectoryLister works best for small to medium teams needing a simple, fast employee directory without the complexity of a full org chart. Its LDAP integration makes it a drop-in solution for existing directory infrastructures.

• Custom D3.js is the right choice when you need complete control over the visualization, integration with proprietary data sources, or unconventional hierarchy layouts. The development cost is higher but the result is uniquely tailored.

Why Self-Host Your Org Chart?

Managing employee hierarchy data in a SaaS platform means trusting a third party with sensitive organizational information. Self-hosting gives you control over data residency, access controls, and compliance requirements. For government agencies, healthcare organizations, and companies in regulated industries, this is often a non-negotiable requirement.

Additionally, self-hosted solutions avoid per-user pricing that scales linearly with company growth. A 500-person organization paying $5/user/month for a SaaS org chart tool spends $30,000 annually — a self-hosted alternative on a $20/month VPS delivers the same functionality at a fraction of the cost.

For related team infrastructure, see our self-hosted intranet platforms guide and LDAP management web UI comparison. If you need identity synchronization, check our identity sync platform guide.

Deployment Best Practices

Security Hardening:

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# Restrict access to admin panel by IP
cat > /etc/nginx/conf.d/orgchart-admin.conf << 'NGINX'
location /admin {
    allow 10.0.0.0/8;
    allow 172.16.0.0/12;
    deny all;
    auth_basic "Org Chart Admin";
    auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
}
NGINX

# Set up automated backups
cat > /etc/cron.daily/orgchart-backup << 'CRON'
#!/bin/bash
mysqldump orgchart | gzip > /backup/orgchart-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql.gz
find /backup/ -name "orgchart-*.sql.gz" -mtime +30 -delete
CRON
chmod +x /etc/cron.daily/orgchart-backup

Performance Optimization:

• Enable Redis caching for frequently accessed hierarchy data
• Use CDN for serving static chart assets (D3.js, images)
• Implement incremental data loading for organizations with 5,000+ nodes
• Pre-render organizational charts for read-heavy workloads

FAQ

Can I import existing org chart data from HRIS systems?

Yes. Most self-hosted org chart tools support CSV import for bulk data loading, and PrettyOrgChart and OrgChartJS offer APIs for programmatic synchronization with HRIS platforms like BambooHR, Workday, or SAP SuccessFactors through intermediate ETL pipelines.

How do these tools handle matrix organizations with dotted-line reporting?

OrgChartJS natively supports dotted-line relationships through its advanced node configuration. PrettyOrgChart handles this via custom fields and visual annotations. With D3.js, you can implement any reporting structure — including cross-functional, project-based, and dual-reporting relationships — through custom edge rendering.

Is PII (Personally Identifiable Information) safe in a self-hosted org chart?

Self-hosting gives you full control over data security. You can implement encryption at rest, network isolation, and RBAC (Role-Based Access Control). For GDPR compliance, ensure employee consent is obtained and implement data retention policies. Unlike SaaS tools, no third party has access to your employee data.

Can I embed the org chart in our existing intranet or wiki?

All four solutions support embedding. OrgChartJS and D3.js can be embedded as JavaScript widgets. PrettyOrgChart provides iframe embed codes. DirectoryLister supports API-based integration. For Confluence or SharePoint integration, use the iframe approach with SSO passthrough.

What’s the maintenance overhead for a self-hosted org chart?

For PrettyOrgChart and DirectoryLister, maintenance is minimal: Docker container updates, database backups, and SSL certificate renewal. OrgChartJS requires occasional Node.js dependency updates. Custom D3.js solutions have the highest maintenance but the most flexibility. Typical monthly maintenance: 2-4 hours.

How do I handle organizational restructuring and historical snapshots?

Implement database versioning or scheduled snapshots. PrettyOrgChart supports version history through its database schema. For D3.js solutions, store hierarchy data in Git for full version control — each reorganization becomes a commit with a timestamp and author attribution.

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