Best Trello Alternatives
Without Subscription
A Kanban-style project management tool. But its subscription pricing makes many users look for one-time purchase or open-source alternatives.
Trello popularized kanban-style project management, but at $5/month ($60/year) for the Standard plan, it competes with free alternatives. Planka is an open-source kanban board with a clean interface. Wekan is another self-hosted option. For personal use, Trello's free tier (10 boards) is often sufficient. GitHub Projects is free and integrates with code repositories. The kanban concept is simple and well-implemented in many free tools — columns, cards, labels, and due dates are standard features everywhere.
Why People Look for Trello Alternatives
Paying $5/month for Trello adds up to $60/year and $180 over three years. Many users search for alternatives because:
- -Project management
- -Task tracking
- -Team collaboration
- -Workflow management
Quick Recommendation
Cost Comparison
Visit Trello websiteMonthly
$5
Yearly
$60
3-Year Cost
$180
Alternative
Free
Cost Over Time
Comparison Table
Free / Open Source
| Tool | Match | Pricing | Platform | Offline | OSS | Ownership | Migration | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planka Best self-hosted alternative | 70% | Open Source | WebSelf-hosted | — | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium | |
Vikunja Best for task management | 60% | Open Source | WindowsLinuxWebSelf-hosted | ✓ | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium | |
WeKan Best self-hosted kanban | 78% | Open Source | Self-hostedWeb | — | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium | |
Focalboard Best for Mattermost users | 72% | Open Source | Self-hostedWebWindowsmacOSLinux | ✓ | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium |
Best self-hosted alternative
Best for task management
Best self-hosted kanban
Best for Mattermost users
Key Features to Compare When Choosing a Trello Alternative
- 1Kanban boards
- 2Cards with descriptions and checklists
- 3Labels and due dates
- 4Team collaboration
- 5Power-Ups and integrations
- 6Mobile apps
- 7Templates
Detailed Alternatives
Best self-hosted alternative
An open-source Kanban board for project management.
Editor's Note
Planka provides a clean Kanban experience with self-hosting capabilities.
What you gain
- +Free and open source
- +Self-hostable
- +Clean UI
- +Real-time updates
What you lose
- −Integrations
- −Mobile app
- −Power-Ups
Vikunja
60% MatchBest for task management
An open-source to-do and project management app.
Editor's Note
Vikunja offers multiple views beyond Kanban with strong privacy features.
What you gain
- +Free and open source
- +Self-hostable
- +Multiple views
- +API-first
What you lose
- −Kanban focus
- −Integrations
- −Mobile app polish
WeKan
78% MatchBest self-hosted kanban
Open-source kanban board built with Meteor. Self-hosted Trello alternative with swimlanes, card templates, and team collaboration.
Editor's Note
WeKan is the closest self-hosted Trello clone. If you want your kanban boards on your own server, this is the way to go.
What you gain
- +Fully self-hosted
- +Swimlanes
- +No user limits
- +Full data control
What you lose
- −No cloud convenience
- −Smaller community
- −Mobile experience limited
Focalboard
72% MatchBest for Mattermost users
Open-source project management by Mattermost. Self-hosted alternative to Trello, Notion, and Asana with kanban, table, and calendar views.
Editor's Note
Focalboard shines when paired with Mattermost for team communication. Standalone use is possible but the ecosystem is smaller.
What you gain
- +Multiple views (kanban, table, calendar)
- +Mattermost integration
- +Desktop apps
- +Self-hosted
What you lose
- −Slower development pace
- −Fewer integrations
- −Smaller community
Who Should Switch?
✓Good candidates for switching
✗Should keep using Trello
How to Switch from Trello: Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Export your Trello boards — use the JSON export from the board menu
- 2Try Planka or Wekan — both are free and support Trello-style kanban
- 3Import your data — some tools support direct Trello import
- 4Recreate your board structure — set up lists and cards in the new tool
- 5Test with your team — run a sprint or project in the new tool
Kanban is a simple concept implemented by many free tools. Trello's polish and integrations are nice, but for pure board-and-card project management, free alternatives work just as well.
Community Recommendations
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Planka a good Trello alternative?
Yes. Planka offers kanban boards, card details, labels, and due dates in a clean interface. It's self-hosted and open-source with a similar workflow to Trello.
Can I use Trello for free?
Yes, Trello's free tier allows up to 10 boards with unlimited cards. For personal use and small projects, this is often sufficient.
Related Searches
Ready to stop paying for Trello?
Planka is completely free. No subscription, no recurring charges.