AsyncUp

Overview

AsyncUp is an open-source, self-hosted tool for running asynchronous daily standups in Google Chat. It is best suited to teams already using Google Workspace that want standups, blocker follow-up, and reporting without adopting a hosted service.

Key features

On workdays, AsyncUp sends participants a direct message containing three standup questions and a mood selector, then collects responses in a dated thread in the team space. Teams can tailor the questions and decide whether participation is mandatory. That combination supports a consistent daily rhythm while leaving room to adapt prompts to the team.

Participants set their own time zones, and optional Google Calendar out-of-office sync can mark people away. Blocker tracking adds more than a place to report problems: teammates can acknowledge and update blockers, while nudges and escalation messages call attention to stale ones. This makes AsyncUp more useful for teams that need follow-through than a check-in bot that only gathers status.

The web app covers Google sign-in, setup, standups, blockers, reports, team settings, and personal pages. Reporting includes chat trends, eight-week charts for participation, mood, and blockers, weekly digests, and CSV export. Optional outbound JSON webhooks for each standup can pass data to Sheets, Zapier, n8n, or another service, giving teams a route to connect their own workflows without a built-in integration catalog.

For organizations, the project includes SAML 2.0 sign-in for Google Workspace, Okta, Entra, and OneLogin, along with a SCIM 2.0 provisioning endpoint. It runs in a Docker container with embedded SQLite or configurable PostgreSQL; the project says it can run on 1 vCPU and 512 MB. The project describes the software as having no telemetry and says its Google service-account key is encrypted at rest. These are useful design choices for teams that want control over deployment, though they still need to operate the host themselves.

Pricing

AsyncUp has one plan: Free, described as open-source, self-hosted, one container, and forever free. There is no free trial because the software is free. The plan avoids a per-seat subscription, but the tradeoff is operational: teams need a Google Workspace domain, must configure a Google Chat app once, and need a host for a small container with an HTTPS URL. The free plan is therefore most attractive to teams comfortable managing that setup, not to buyers who want a vendor-hosted service.

Platforms

AsyncUp is available as a web app and API, with self-hosted deployment. Google Chat is its supported chat adapter; Slack and Microsoft Teams are not supported. Teams committed to either of those platforms should choose another tool rather than rely on planned integrations.

Who it's for

AsyncUp fits Google Workspace teams that want customizable async check-ins, actionable blocker follow-up, and participation and mood reporting in a self-managed installation. Its SAML and SCIM options may also suit organizations that need centralized sign-in and provisioning. It is not the right choice for teams without a Google Workspace domain, those unwilling to host a container, or groups whose daily collaboration happens in Slack or Microsoft Teams.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free, open-source, and self-hosted: there is no per-seat price, and teams choose SQLite or PostgreSQL for the deployment.
• Blockers have a follow-up path: acknowledgments, updates, nudges, and escalation DMs help keep reported issues from disappearing into a status thread.
• Useful reporting: eight-week charts, weekly digests, and CSV export support both routine review and further analysis.
• Organization controls: SAML 2.0 and SCIM 2.0 cover common sign-in and provisioning needs.

Cons

• Google Chat only: there is no supported Slack or Microsoft Teams adapter, which rules it out for teams centered on those platforms.
• Setup is an owner’s responsibility: the Google Chat app configuration, HTTPS host, and container require technical effort before the team can use it.
• No hosted option is offered: self-hosting gives teams control, but they also take on hosting and maintenance.

Alternatives

Daily Standup Software is the broader category directory for comparing standup tools. Choose asyncmate instead if a web-based freemium tool with a free plan and free trial better suits your evaluation; its free plan allows up to 10 active teammates. DailyBot is worth considering for teams seeking a freemium tool across API, extension, and web platforms; its free Starter plan allows one workspace and unlimited members, with up to 50 compiled check-in reports per organization each month.

DailyStand is another self-hosted option, with a free tier limited to one team, five members, and seven days of history, plus a $16 a month Pro plan. Consider DailyStandup if a web-based freemium service with AI summaries is a better match: its free plan allows five members, one team, and seven days of history, while Pro is $8 a month billed annually. Estimioo may fit teams that also need estimation sessions and retrospectives; its free plan caps participation at 10 people and five sessions per month.

Geekbot is an alternative to consider for teams evaluating a freemium standup tool with API and web platforms; its Basic — Standups plan is $2.50 a month on annual billing, priced per participant. Morgenruf is a closer fit for teams wanting another free, self-hosted option, or a hosted plan that is free for any number of people. Murmurd may suit smaller groups looking for web-based daily check-ins and weekly priorities; its free plan caps membership at five and includes basic escalations and email notifications.

Verdict

Choose AsyncUp if your team works in Google Chat, wants blocker follow-up and reporting alongside daily standups, and can manage a self-hosted container. Its strongest case is a useful, organization-aware workflow with no subscription cost. Look elsewhere if you need Slack or Microsoft Teams support, or if you want a hosted product that requires less setup.