
Focalboard
Focalboard is a powerful open source project management platform designed specifically for technical teams. Features include Kanban boards, multiple view options, real-time collaboration, customizable templates, and self-hosting capabilities. Perfect for development teams seeking alternatives to Trello, Asana, and Notion with complete transparency and customization.

Overview of Focalboard
Focalboard is an open source project management platform specifically designed for technical teams seeking powerful collaboration tools. With over 13,000 GitHub stars and growing, this solution centralizes all your work in one place, helping organizations maintain a single source of truth while keeping teams aligned to complete tasks, reach milestones, and achieve goals. The platform serves as a comprehensive alternative to popular tools like Asana, Trello, and Notion, offering complete transparency and customization through its open source nature.
Technical teams benefit from Focalboard's flexible project tracking capabilities and real-time collaboration features that accelerate productivity across development cycles. The platform supports multiple viewing options including Kanban boards, tables, galleries, and calendar views, allowing teams to organize and visualize work according to their preferred methodologies. As part of the broader Collaboration Tool ecosystem, Focalboard integrates seamlessly with development workflows while providing the robust Task Manager functionality that technical projects require.
How to Use Focalboard
Getting started with Focalboard involves creating boards to organize your projects, then populating them with cards representing individual tasks or initiatives. Teams can begin with pre-built templates for common use cases like project tasks, content calendars, company goals and OKRs, roadmaps, meeting agendas, or create fully custom boards from scratch. Once your board is set up, you can assign tasks, set priorities, add due dates, and collaborate in real-time through comments and @mentions to keep everyone synchronized throughout the project lifecycle.
Core Features of Focalboard
- Multiple View Options – Manage tasks through Kanban, table, gallery, and calendar views
- Real-time Collaboration – Comment on cards and @mention teammates for instant communication
- Customizable Templates – Start quickly with pre-built layouts or create from scratch
- Advanced Filtering – Group, filter, and sort tasks to focus on priority items
- Flexible Permissions – Control board access for entire teams or specific individuals
Use Cases for Focalboard
- Technical team project management and sprint planning
- Content calendar creation and editorial scheduling
- Company goals and OKR tracking across departments
- Product roadmap development and milestone tracking
- Meeting agenda preparation and action item follow-up
- Development workflow optimization and task assignment
- Cross-functional team collaboration and coordination
Support and Contact
Focalboard provides extensive documentation and community support through its GitHub repository and Mattermost community forums. For technical assistance and implementation guidance, users can access the comprehensive documentation site. Contact the team at contact@focalboard.com for additional support.
Company Info
Focalboard operates as an open source project with active community development and contributions. The platform integrates closely with Mattermost, providing teams with a complete collaboration ecosystem. The project maintains transparency through its public GitHub repository where users can review source code, report issues, and contribute to future development.
Login and Signup
Access Focalboard through its official website at focalboard.com or download the self-hosted version for complete control over your project management environment. The platform supports various deployment options to meet different organizational requirements and security preferences.
Focalboard FAQ
Is Focalboard completely free to use?
Yes, Focalboard is 100% open source and free to use, modify, and self-host according to your team's requirements.
Can Focalboard integrate with other development tools?
Focalboard offers flexible integration options and works well alongside existing development workflows and tools.
What views are available in Focalboard for project management?
Focalboard supports Kanban, table, gallery, and calendar views to visualize work according to team preferences.
How does Focalboard compare to Trello and Asana?
Focalboard offers similar functionality to Trello and Asana but with complete open source transparency and self-hosting capabilities.
What are the system requirements for self-hosting Focalboard?
Focalboard can be self-hosted on most modern servers with Docker support, making it accessible for various deployment environments.
Focalboard Pricing
Current prices may vary due to updates
Open Source
Complete access to all Focalboard features with self-hosting capabilities, unlimited boards, customizable templates, real-time collaboration, and full
Enterprise
Enterprise-grade support, advanced security features, dedicated deployment assistance, and priority access to new features and updates for large organ
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