// comparison · Project Mgmt
TrellovsWekan: Which Should You Use?
Quick verdict: Wekan is the closest free clone of Trello — same Kanban-board UX, drag-and-drop cards, lists, labels. The catch: you (or a friendly admin) have to self-host it.
Side-by-side
| Trello | Wekan | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/mo (Trello Standard) | $0 (free) |
| License | Proprietary subscription | Open source (FOSS), self-hostable, privacy-first |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Web (self-hosted), Docker |
| File compatibility | Native formats | Imports a CSV export |
| Learning curve | Established workflow | Medium |
| Best for | You don't want to run any server — Trello's cloud is part of why you pay | You self-host and want a Trello-like board fully under your control |
When to use each
Stick with Trello when
- You don't want to run any server — Trello's cloud is part of why you pay
- You use Power-Ups (Calendar, Custom Fields, Butler automation) heavily
- Your team is fully remote across clients and Trello is the shared workspace
- You depend on Trello's iOS/Android polish for on-the-go updates
Switch to Wekan when
- You self-host and want a Trello-like board fully under your control
- You're in a privacy-sensitive context (legal, healthcare) and can't use SaaS
- Your team already runs a Docker stack — adding Wekan takes 10 minutes
- You want unlimited boards and members without a per-user fee
Migration: Trello → Wekan
Switch Score for Wekan: Medium · Imports a CSV export. If you decide to move from Trello to Wekan, plan a short adjustment window. Most users find that day-to-day work transfers within a week, with file-format quirks the most common source of friction.
Honest trade-offs of Wekan
- No first-class mobile apps — the web UI is responsive but not as polished
- Power-Up / Butler automation equivalents are limited
- Self-hosting means you handle backups, TLS, and updates
FAQ
Can I import my Trello board?
Yes — Wekan has a Trello board JSON import. Cards, lists, labels, members, and checklists transfer.
Is there a hosted version of Wekan?
Some community-run instances exist but most teams self-host on Docker. It's a fast install.
How hard is it to maintain?
Wekan runs on Node.js + MongoDB. Use the official Docker compose file; backups are a single mongodump command.