Trello alternatives: 8 open-source picks
Trello costs $12.50/mo — $150 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Focalboard, Wekan and Planka. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Kanban and project boards, a Trello/Notion-boards alternative from Mattermost
licenseMIT/AGPL dual
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Trello's boards without Butler, upsells, or anyone else holding the database
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installInstall with Docker Compose or the official Snap package; many other platform packages are community-supported
dataBoards, cards, users, comments, and settings live in MongoDB; uploaded files and backups must be persisted with the deployment rather than left inside an ephemeral container.
the catch vs TrelloWekan reproduces boards and cards but gives up Trello's Butler automation, Power-Ups, polished mobile apps, integrations, and managed reliability.
setupThe app starts easily compared with larger suites, but a non-expert still needs an always-on host, persistent MongoDB storage, backups, an external URL, TLS, and mail configuration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Realtime kanban board that feels exactly like Trello, on your own server.
licenseFair Use (source available)
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Spartan kanban that is finished, not fashionable; maintenance mode means only fixes
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installDocker Compose, or unzip the PHP application into a web server and make its data directory writable
dataBy default all tasks, projects, and users live in one `data/db.sqlite` SQLite file; MariaDB and PostgreSQL are supported, and files/configuration live under the writable data directory.
the catch vs TrelloKanboard is stable and lightweight, but its maintenance-mode pace, dated interface, limited mobile experience, and sparse integrations are a clear downgrade from Trello.
setupIt is simple by self-hosting standards, but the operator must still secure the default admin account and writable data directory, configure email and backups, and accept that the project is in maintenance mode.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Self-hosted to-do and task management with lists, gantt, and kanban views
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Scrum baggage aside, its kanban boards comfortably replace Trello's core job
licenseMPL-2.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted Taiga signup, or the official multi-container Docker Compose production stack
dataA self-hosted deployment stores application data in PostgreSQL, messages/events in RabbitMQ, and uploaded media in persistent volumes or configured storage; hosted workspaces live in Taiga's cloud.
the catch vs TrelloTaiga's kanban works, but Scrum concepts and project structure make it heavier than Trello while still lacking Trello's automation, Power-Ups, templates, and casual sharing polish.
setupProduction self-hosting is not one container: it needs Docker/Compose familiarity, several Taiga services, PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, environment files, a reverse proxy, TLS, and email settings.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Open-source project management with issues, cycles, and product roadmaps
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Full-featured classic and agile project management with gantt and cost tracking
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Focalboard · Wekan · Planka · Vikunja
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
FocalboardStill recommended everywhere; Mattermost stopped maintaining it and the last standalone release was April 2023
how to choose a Trello alternative
Easiest to get running
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Plane, with 55,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Needs real ops to self-host
Taiga and OpenProject are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving Trello
- Atlassian ecosystem, Power-Ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration
- deep integrations
- enterprise permissions
- large-scale reporting
- battle-tested notifications and mobile apps
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Trello alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focalboard | MIT/AGPL dual | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 26,000 | 2026-08 |
| Wekan | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 21,000 | 2026-08 |
| Planka | Fair Use (source available) | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 10,000 | 2026-08 |
| Kanboard | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 9,800 | 2026-04 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
| Taiga | MPL-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 844 | 2026-08 |
| Plane | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 55,000 | 2026-08 |
| OpenProject | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | self-hosted, web | 11,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Trello
People still pay for Trello because teams pay because project state has to remain authoritative through staff changes, outages, and years of accumulated workflow exceptions. The recurring cost buys auth, permissions, notifications, search, migrations, audit history, integrations, backups, and uptime, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $150 a year.
questions about switching from Trello
Is there an open-source alternative to Trello?
Yes: Focalboard, Wekan, Planka and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Trello?
Our verdict is YES. Plane (55k stars), Focalboard (26k stars), Wekan (21k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Trello — self-host with docker and stop paying $12.5/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/trello.
What is the easiest open-source Trello alternative to set up?
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Trello alternative?
By GitHub stars, Plane (55,000). Focalboard is next with 26,000.
