Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Trello · 🗂️ project management
Trello vs PLANKA
A polished self-hosted Trello clone; the free edition keeps the core board-and-card job intact Here is how PLANKA ($0/mo free) stacks up against Trello ($12.50/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Trello vs PLANKA Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Trello (Paid) | PLANKA (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $12.50 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $150 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $150) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $750 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $750) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,500 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,500) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from Trello to PLANKA
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
PLANKA is visually close to Trello, but it has no comparable Butler automation or Power-Up ecosystem and its free code is under a restrictive fair-use license rather than an open-source one.
How to deploy PLANKA
Hosted PLANKA signup, or the recommended official Docker Compose deployment
What it takes to run
The free self-hosted Community build still needs Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, a generated secret, base URL, admin creation, persistent storage, TLS, and careful attention to the custom license's permitted-use limits.
Where your data lives
Self-hosted boards, cards, accounts, and settings live in PostgreSQL; avatars, backgrounds, and attachments are persisted separately and included with the database in PLANKA's backup archive. Hosted data lives with PLANKA.
Why fork PLANKA instead of vibe-coding a Trello clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Trello, run kanban boards with cards, checklists, labels, dates, and simple automation. The hard boundary is atlassian ecosystem, power-ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration, plus collaboration, integrations, and organizational trust.
Trello vs PLANKA FAQ
Is PLANKA a good free alternative to Trello?+
Yes. PLANKA is a verified free replacement for Trello. A polished self-hosted Trello clone; the free edition keeps the core board-and-card job intact
What is the catch when switching from Trello to PLANKA?+
PLANKA is visually close to Trello, but it has no comparable Butler automation or Power-Up ecosystem and its free code is under a restrictive fair-use license rather than an open-source one.
How much do you save switching from Trello to PLANKA?+
Trello costs $12.50/mo ($150/yr) per seat, whereas PLANKA is $0/mo. Switching saves $150/yr for a solo user, $750/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,500/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host PLANKA instead of Trello?+
Install: Hosted PLANKA signup, or the recommended official Docker Compose deployment. Setup: The free self-hosted Community build still needs Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, a generated secret, base URL, admin creation, persistent storage, TLS, and careful attention to the custom license's permitted-use limits.
