WeKan vs Focalboard: Open Source Kanban Boards Compared
·OSSAlt Team
wekanfocalboardkanbantrellocomparison
WeKan vs Focalboard: Open Source Kanban Boards Compared
Both WeKan and Focalboard are lightweight kanban tools — but they take different approaches. WeKan is a full-featured Trello clone. Focalboard is a minimalist board tool from the Mattermost team. Here's how they compare.
Quick Verdict
Choose WeKan for a feature-rich Trello replacement with swimlanes, WIP limits, and advanced board features. Choose Focalboard for the simplest possible boards, especially if you use Mattermost.
The Comparison
| Feature | WeKan | Focalboard |
|---|---|---|
| Board views | Board only | Board, Table, Gallery, Calendar |
| Swimlanes | ✅ | ❌ |
| WIP limits | ✅ | ❌ |
| Card templates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Checklists | ✅ | ✅ |
| Due dates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Labels/tags | ✅ | ✅ |
| Attachments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Comments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Member assignment | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom fields | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mattermost integration | ❌ | ✅ (native) |
| Desktop app | ❌ | ✅ |
| Import from Trello | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stack | Meteor, MongoDB | Go, React |
| License | MIT | MIT (personal) |
| Stars | 19K+ | 22K+ |
| RAM | 500MB+ | 100MB+ |
When to Choose WeKan
- You want the most Trello-like experience
- Swimlanes are important for your workflow
- WIP limits help manage team capacity
- You need advanced kanban features
When to Choose Focalboard
- You want multiple views (table, calendar, gallery)
- You're using Mattermost
- Minimal resource usage matters
- You want a desktop app
- Simplicity over features
The Bottom Line
WeKan is the power-user kanban tool. Focalboard is the lightweight multi-view tool. If you just need boards, Focalboard is simpler. If you need real kanban methodology (swimlanes, WIP limits), WeKan is the better choice.
Compare kanban tools on OSSAlt — features, deployment options, and community health side by side.