Focalboard vs Wekan: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Trello. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| Focalboard | Wekan | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 21k | 19k |
| Tech stack | Go, React, SQLite/PostgreSQL | Meteor, MongoDB |
| Replaces | Trello | Trello |
Focalboard has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
Focalboard
Open source Kanban boards, an alternative to Trello.
Pros
- Very permissive MIT license
- Lightweight and easy to deploy
Things to consider
- Fewer automation features than Trello with Power-Ups
- Slower development pace since the Mattermost acquisition
Wekan
Classic Kanban board, a direct alternative to Trello.
Pros
- Very permissive MIT license
- Minimal adoption curve
Things to consider
- Somewhat less polished interface than Trello
Key features
Focalboard
- Kanban, table, gallery and calendar boards
- Ready-to-use templates
- Standalone mode or Mattermost plugin
Wekan
- Kanban boards with labels and checklists
- Swimlanes and multiple views
- Webhook integrations