Focalboard vs Trello: 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 Focalboard and Trello 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:
Focalboard
Open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Trello requires payment)
Trello
Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
Best for you if:
- • You want very easy to use
| At a Glance | Focalboard | Trello |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Project Management Task Management | Project Management Task Management |
Rating | n/a | 4.1/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.0 37,904 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Butler automation on Free (250 runs/mo) depletes fast, a single rule on a busy board with 10 card moves/day burns 300 runs in a month, forcing an upgrade or disabling automations entirely |
Choose Focalboard or Trello?
Choose Focalboard if
- You want a fully free tool (Trello requires payment)
- You want 100% open source, allowing for community contributions and transparency
- You want offers multiple views for flexible work organization
Choose Trello if
- You want very easy to use
- You want visual organization
In-Depth Analysis
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
Trello
Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
Trello remains the simplest kanban board on the market, and its pricing reflects that simplicity.
Watch out
Butler automation on Free (250 runs/mo) depletes fast, a single rule on a busy board with 10 card moves/day burns 300 runs in a month, forcing an upgrade or disabling automations entirely
Strengths
- Pro: Very easy to use
- Pro: Visual organization
- Pro: Good free tier
- Pro: Many integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited for complex projects
- Con: Basic reporting
- Con: Can get cluttered
Key features
Plans and prices: Focalboard vs Trello
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Focalboard | No plan prices on file | focalboard.com |
| Trello |
| trello.com/pricing read Oct 14, 2026 |
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 Focalboard pricing and Trello pricing.
Key Takeaways
Focalboard
- Choose if you want open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work
Trello
- Choose if you want organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
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 Trello has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 37,904 reviews); Focalboard has none we can show.
- Trello starts at $5/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 Focalboard and Trello 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 Trello has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 37,904 reviews); Focalboard has none we can show. Trello starts at $5/mo, billed monthly; Focalboard has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Focalboard and Trello used for?
Focalboard: Open source project management for technical teams to centralize, plan, and track work. Trello: Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards.
What does Focalboard cost vs Trello?
Focalboard is free. Trello's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $5/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between Focalboard and Trello?
Focalboard's main strength: 100% open source, allowing for community contributions and transparency. Trello's main strength: very easy to use.