Kanboard vs planka
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Kanboard is an open‑source project management tool that visualizes work using simple Kanban boards. It runs on any web server and requires no subscription, making it ideal for budget‑conscious teams. Designed for small teams and solo users, Kanboard offers drag‑and‑drop task management, customizable columns, and built‑in analytics without the overhead of large enterprise platforms.
Planka is an open‑source, Kanban‑style project management tool that lets teams create projects, boards, lists and cards. Its drag‑and‑drop interface updates instantly for all connected users, and card descriptions support full Markdown. Designed for self‑hosting via Docker, Planka offers OpenID Connect SSO, notifications to over 100 providers, and full internationalisation. A hosted cloud version and a paid Pro edition are also available.
- Completely free and open source
- Self‑hosted gives full data control
- Simple, lightweight interface
- Extensible via plugins
- Open-source and free to self‑host
- Real‑time synchronization across users
- Rich Markdown support for detailed cards
- Extensive notification integrations
- No native third‑party integrations
- Limited advanced reporting compared to paid tools
- Requires own server setup and maintenance
- Self‑hosting requires Docker knowledge
- Limited native reporting features
- Pro version needed for advanced admin tools
More alternatives & similar tools
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Alternatives to planka
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPlanka adds AI‑driven writing assistance to Kanban but costs for advanced features, while Kanboard is a pure, free Kanban tool with basic task management.
Key differences
- •Planka includes AI writing suggestions and analytics; Kanboard does not.
- •Planka’s free tier is limited and has a steeper learning curve; Kanboard is fully functional for free.
- •Kanboard offers unlimited boards, drag‑and‑drop, and fine‑grained permissions out‑of‑the‑box; Planka focuses on content creation workflow.
- •Both are self‑hosted open source, but Planka is JavaScript‑based, Kanboard PHP‑based.
- •Kanboard has no native third‑party integrations; Planka lists integrations with writing tools (unspecified which).
Pricing & value
Kanboard is completely free; Planka is freemium with limited free features, requiring payment for full AI capabilities.
Ease of use / learning curve
Kanboard’s simple drag‑and‑drop UI is lightweight; Planka has a steep learning curve due to AI features.
Features & depth
Planka provides AI writing assistance, style adaptation, and detailed analytics; Kanboard offers core Kanban task management only.
Integrations & ecosystem
Planka integrates with popular writing tools; Kanboard has no native third‑party integrations.
Collaboration
Both support real‑time collaboration on boards; Planka adds AI‑driven content co‑authoring, Kanboard focuses on task assignment.
Support
Kanboard lists email and documentation support; Planka’s support details are not specified.
Security & privacy
Both are self‑hosted open source, giving full data control; no differences specified.
Choose Kanboard if…
Small teams or individuals wanting a free, lightweight Kanban board with full data control.
Choose planka if…
Teams needing AI‑assisted writing within a Kanban workflow and willing to pay for premium features.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use the full features of each tool?
Kanboard is completely free; Planka’s advanced AI suggestions are behind a paid tier, with limited free version.
Can I integrate these tools with other software?
Planka integrates with popular writing tools (unspecified); Kanboard has no native third‑party integrations, only plugins.
Which tool is easier to set up and start using?
Kanboard offers a simple, lightweight interface and is fully functional out‑of‑the‑box, while Planka has a steeper learning curve due to AI features.