2 Best Kanboard Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Kanboard is a popular tool for developers wanting a minimal self-hosted kanban. While it offers a free tier (Free (self-hosted)), its paid plans start at Free. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Kanboard alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (Trello, WeKan)
- Open-source options: WeKan
- Best overall: Trello
- Best free: Trello
Why Look for Kanboard Alternatives?
People commonly look for Kanboard alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Kanboard has a free tier, its paid plans starting at Free can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Very basic UI and limited features are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Kanboard overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanboard | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 3.7 | ✓ Yes | Developers wanting a minimal self-hosted Kanban |
| Trello | ✓ Unlimited cards, 10 boards | $5/user/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Small teams and simple Kanban workflows |
| WeKan | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 3.8 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting a self-hosted Trello alternative |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Trello
Visual collaboration tool that creates a shared perspective on any project.
Trello is a visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help teams organize work. Acquired by Atlassian in 2017, Trello is known for its simplicity and Kanban-style approach to project management. It's one of the most accessible project management tools available, making it perfect for small teams and personal productivity.
Pros
- ✓ Very easy to learn
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Great Kanban workflow
- ✓ Simple and clean interface
Cons
- ✗ Limited for complex projects
- ✗ No built-in reporting
- ✗ No timeline/Gantt view on free
- ✗ Power-Ups can be costly
WeKan
Open-source Kanban board as a Trello alternative.
WeKan (formerly LibreBoard) is an open-source Kanban board that serves as a self-hosted alternative to Trello. It offers a familiar card-based interface with features like swimlanes, checklists, and due dates, all while keeping data under your control.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ Trello-like experience
Cons
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Limited integrations
- ✗ Basic features only
- ✗ Small dev team
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Kanboard?
The best free alternative to Kanboard is Trello, which offers Unlimited cards, 10 boards.
Is there an open-source alternative to Kanboard?
Yes! WeKan is open-source alternative to Kanboard that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Kanboard?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Trello, WeKan. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $5/mo.
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