Free Alternatives to Trello
No Subscription Needed
Stop paying $5/month for Trello. These free and open-source alternatives give you the core features without the subscription.
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.
The following free and open-source alternatives have been evaluated for features, usability, and long-term viability. Each one eliminates the $$5/month subscription cost while keeping the core functionality you need.
How Much You Save
Switching to a free alternative saves you $60/year — $180 over 3 years
Trello costs
$60/yr
3-year cost
$180
Free alternative
$0
Free Alternatives Comparison
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free alternatives to Trello any good?
Yes, many free alternatives to Trello are excellent. Planka is used by millions of people and offers most of the core features that Trello provides, without any cost.
What is the best free alternative to Trello?
The best free alternative depends on your needs. Planka is the most popular free option that can replace Trello for most users. It has an active community and regular updates.
Is free software safe to use?
Free and open-source software is often safer than proprietary alternatives because the code is publicly auditable. Many of the alternatives listed above are open source, meaning their code is transparent and community-reviewed.
Will I lose features by switching to a free alternative?
You may lose some advanced or niche features, but free alternatives cover the core functionality most users need. The trade-off is worth it for the cost savings — $60/year that stays in your pocket.
Can I switch back to Trello if I don't like the free alternative?
Absolutely. Most free alternatives can export your data in standard formats, making it easy to switch back or try another option. There's no lock-in with free software.
Related Free Alternatives
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These free alternatives let you own your tools without spending a dime.