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Trello vs Focalboard
Trello vs Focalboard
A side-by-side look at Trello (the paid SaaS) and Focalboard (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Trello | Focalboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Simple kanban boards. | Open source Trello/Notion hybrid by Mattermost. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | MIT / AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free tier; Standard from $5/user/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
When you want a Trello/Notion hybrid and maybe Mattermost later.
Focalboard strengths
- Integrates tightly with Mattermost.
- Personal desktop mode (no server required).
- Multiple views — board, table, gallery.
Focalboard weaknesses
- Development pace has slowed after Mattermost integration.
- Smaller community.
- Feature set is narrower than Notion.
What's the catch with Trello?
- Power-ups add up fast once you need automation.
- Large boards get slow.
- No self-hosted option.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Trello: see Trello alternatives, or learn more about Focalboard on its project page.