SkillsApr 14, 2026·3 min read

Focalboard — Open-Source Project Management Alternative to Trello and Notion

Focalboard is a self-hostable kanban + task board tool. Built by Mattermost, it combines Trello-style boards with Notion-style views (table, gallery, calendar) — a solid open-source substitute for small teams.

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step-1.md
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TL;DR
Focalboard is a self-hostable kanban and task board tool by Mattermost that combines Trello-style boards with Notion-style views.
§01

What it is

Focalboard is an open-source project management application built by Mattermost. It provides kanban boards, table views, gallery views, and calendar views in a single self-hostable package. It positions itself as an alternative to Trello, Notion, and Asana for teams that want to own their project management data.

It targets small-to-medium teams, open-source projects, and organizations that prefer self-hosted tools over SaaS subscriptions for task tracking and project coordination.

§02

How it saves time or tokens

Focalboard consolidates multiple project views into one tool. Instead of maintaining a Trello board for kanban, a spreadsheet for tracking, and a calendar app for deadlines, teams get all views on the same data set. The self-hosted model eliminates per-seat SaaS costs for teams that already run their own infrastructure.

§03

How to use

  1. Deploy Focalboard using Docker, the standalone binary, or as a Mattermost plugin (integrated with team chat).
  2. Create a new board and choose a template (project tasks, content calendar, roadmap, etc.).
  3. Add cards, assign team members, set due dates, and switch between board, table, gallery, and calendar views.
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Example

# docker-compose.yml for Focalboard
version: '3'
services:
  focalboard:
    image: mattermost/focalboard
    ports:
      - '8000:8000'
    volumes:
      - ./data:/opt/focalboard/data
    environment:
      - FOCALBOARD_PORT=8000
§05

Related on TokRepo

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Common pitfalls

  • Focalboard's standalone version stores data in a local SQLite database by default. For team use, configure PostgreSQL for reliability and concurrent access.
  • The Mattermost plugin version requires a Mattermost server. If you do not use Mattermost for chat, the standalone deployment is simpler.
  • Data migration from Trello or Notion requires manual export/import. There is no automatic sync between platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Focalboard replace Notion for my team?+

Focalboard covers project management features: boards, tables, calendars, and galleries. It does not include Notion's document/wiki capabilities. If your primary Notion use is task tracking and kanban boards, Focalboard is a solid self-hosted replacement. For document-heavy workflows, you would still need a separate wiki tool.

Does Focalboard support team collaboration?+

Yes. Multiple users can work on the same board simultaneously. The Mattermost plugin version integrates with team channels for notifications. The standalone version supports user accounts and board-level permissions.

What database backends does Focalboard support?+

Focalboard supports SQLite (default, good for single-user or small teams) and PostgreSQL (recommended for production multi-user deployments). MySQL is also supported in some configurations.

Is Focalboard actively maintained?+

Focalboard was created by Mattermost and released as open source. Check the GitHub repository for recent commit activity and release notes to assess current maintenance status before adopting for production use.

Can I import data from Trello?+

Yes. Focalboard supports importing boards from Trello via JSON export. Export your Trello board, then use Focalboard's import function to bring in lists, cards, and basic metadata.

Citations (3)
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Task management toolsSelf-hosted toolsFeatured workflows

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