A free kanban board is easy to find and easy to outgrow. The difference is where the limit sits: users, boards, views, automation or storage. This guide compares free options for 2027 so you can see the limit before you build on it. We make KanbanWP, so we flag its trade-offs too.
Free plan or free software?
- A free plan is a capped tier of a paid hosted product. It is hosted for you, but the cap pushes you to upgrade as you grow.
- Free software has no tier cap, but you host it. A WordPress plugin like KanbanWP is in this group.
The options
| Option | Type | Main free-plan limit |
|---|---|---|
| Trello | Hosted | Limits on boards and collaborators per workspace |
| Asana | Hosted | Free plan capped at 2 users |
| monday.com | Hosted | Free plan limited to 2 seats |
| ClickUp | Hosted | Usage limits such as storage and automations |
| Jira | Hosted | Free for up to 10 users |
| KanbanWP | WordPress plugin | None; you pay for your own hosting |
Free-plan limits change, so confirm them on each vendor’s page. See how their AI add-ons differ in best AI project management tools in 2027.
What to check before you commit
- Who needs access? A two-user cap ends the free plan the moment a third person joins.
- Which views do you need? Calendar and timeline views are often paid. KanbanWP includes Kanban, List, Table, Calendar, Timeline and My Tasks.
- Can you export? Make sure you can leave. KanbanWP exports boards as JSON and reports as CSV.
- Do you need WIP limits and swimlanes? They help work finish. See why kanban works.
- Where does your data live? Hosted tools keep it with the vendor. A plugin keeps it in your own WordPress database.
Free kanban with KanbanWP
KanbanWP is a GPLv2 plugin: no license key, no subscription, unlimited boards. It includes subtasks, dependencies, recurring tasks, custom fields, reports, a client portal, Slack and Discord notifications and AI on your own key. Start from a ready board template and read the installation guide.
Trade-offs: it requires WordPress 5.8 or higher and PHP 7.4 or higher, you run the hosting, and there is no native mobile app, though the board is responsive.
Online kanban board vs a board in WordPress
A hosted online kanban board is quickest for a team that is not on WordPress. A board in WordPress suits teams that already log in to a site every day, because there is no extra account to manage. If you are leaving Trello, see best Trello alternatives in 2027 and the KanbanWP vs Trello comparison. To see how AI changes the picture, read AI project management.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free kanban board?
For hosted use, Trello, Asana, ClickUp, monday.com and Jira all have free plans within limits. For WordPress sites, KanbanWP is free with unlimited boards and no per-user fee.
What is the difference between free kanban software and a free plan?
A free plan is a limited tier of a paid product, usually capped by users, boards or usage. Free software, like a GPL plugin, has no tier limits, though you cover hosting yourself.
What is online kanban board software?
Kanban board software shows work as cards in stages, such as To Do, Doing and Done. An online board lives in a browser, so a team can share it. KanbanWP runs in your own WordPress site.
Do free kanban boards include AI?
Usually only in limited form. KanbanWP includes AI features at no license cost, and you pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.