Trello vs Plane
Trello is simple, visual Kanban board for organizing tasks and projects, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Trello starts at $5/user/mo. Trello is built for small teams and individuals who want simple visual task management, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
| Feature | Trello | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Checklists | ✓ | — |
| Cycles | — | ✓ |
| Kanban Boards | ✓ | — |
| Modules | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | — | ✓ |
| Power-Ups | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | — | ✓ |
| Templates | ✓ | — |
| Views | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Plane is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Trello starts at $5/user/mo, but Free with up to 10 boards. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Trello offers Automations, Checklists and Kanban Boards that Plane lacks. Plane brings Cycles, Modules and Open Source that Trello does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target small teams teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Open source: Plane is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Trello is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Trello's biggest strengths are: dead simple to use — minimal learning curve. visual kanban boards are intuitive. Plane's biggest strengths are: open source and self-hostable. clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
Watch out for: With Trello, users commonly note that too simple for complex projects. With Plane, the main complaint is that less mature than established alternatives.
choose Trello if
- You need a tool built for small teams and individuals who want simple visual task management
- You specifically need Automations and Checklists
- You care about visual kanban boards are intuitive
- The free tier works for you: free with up to 10 boards
choose Plane if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management
- Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Trello is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Cycles and Modules
- You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear
frequently asked
What is the difference between Trello and Plane?
Trello is simple, visual Kanban board for organizing tasks and projects, while Plane is open-source project management tool for software teams. Self-hostable alternative to Jira and Linear. The biggest difference up front: Plane is free, while Trello starts at $5/user/mo. Trello is built for small teams and individuals who want simple visual task management, whereas Plane targets teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management.
Should I use Trello or Plane?
Plane is the free option; Trello charges $5/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Trello over Plane?
Choose Trello if You need a tool built for small teams and individuals who want simple visual task management; You specifically need Automations and Checklists; You care about visual kanban boards are intuitive; The free tier works for you: free with up to 10 boards.
When should I choose Plane over Trello?
Choose Plane if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want open-source, self-hosted project management; Budget is a hard constraint — Plane is free, Trello is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Cycles and Modules; You care about clean, modern interface inspired by linear.
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