Asana vs Focalboard: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Asana and Focalboard side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Asana
Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation
Best for you if:
- • You want multiple project views
Focalboard
Open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Asana requires payment)
| At a Glance | Asana | Focalboard |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $10.99/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Project Management Productivity | Project Management Task Management |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 27,636 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Starter caps automation at 250 runs/month across the entire workspace, a single daily rule on 10 boards burns through this in 25 days, forcing an upgrade to Advanced at 2.3x the price | n/a |
Choose Asana or Focalboard?
Choose Asana if
- You want multiple project views
- You want good workflow automation
Choose Focalboard if
- You want a fully free tool (Asana requires payment)
- You want 100% open source, allowing for community contributions and transparency
- You want offers multiple views for flexible work organization
In-Depth Analysis
Asana
Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation
Asana is the structured project management tool for teams that need goals, portfolios, and workflow automation, not just task boards.
Watch out
Starter caps automation at 250 runs/month across the entire workspace, a single daily rule on 10 boards burns through this in 25 days, forcing an upgrade to Advanced at 2.3x the price
Strengths
- Pro: Multiple project views
- Pro: Good workflow automation
- Pro: Strong integrations
- Pro: Goals and portfolio tracking
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be complex for simple needs
- Con: Some features require higher tiers
- Con: Mobile app less powerful
Key features
Focalboard
Open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work.
Strengths
- Pro: 100% open source, allowing for community contributions and transparency.
- Pro: Offers multiple views for flexible work organization.
- Pro: Provides real-time collaboration features to keep teams in sync.
- Pro: Includes pre-built templates for quick setup.
Weaknesses
- Con: No explicit mention of integrations with other tools beyond Mattermost
- Con: The product is primarily geared towards technical teams, which might imply a steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Con: While open source, there's no clear indication of dedicated commercial support options beyond community forums
Key features
Plans and prices: Asana vs Focalboard
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Asana |
| asana.com/pricing read Oct 14, 2026 |
| Focalboard | No plan prices on file | focalboard.com |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Asana pricing and Focalboard pricing.
Key Takeaways
Asana
- Choose if you want orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation
Focalboard
- Choose if you want open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Asana has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 27,636 reviews); Focalboard has none we can show.
- Asana starts at $10.99/mo, billed monthly; Focalboard has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Asana and Focalboard compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Asana has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 27,636 reviews); Focalboard has none we can show. Asana starts at $10.99/mo, billed monthly; Focalboard has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Asana and Focalboard used for?
Asana: Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation. Focalboard: Open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work.
What does Asana cost vs Focalboard?
Asana's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $10.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Focalboard is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between Asana and Focalboard?
Asana's main strength: multiple project views. Focalboard's main strength: 100% open source, allowing for community contributions and transparency.