Top Trello Alternatives (2025)

Trello has long been a popular project management tool for teams of all sizes. Its simple Kanban-style boards make it easy to visualize tasks, assign responsibilities, and keep projects moving. But as businesses scale or take on more complex projects, many teams find themselves needing more than Trello can offer. Limited reporting, the lack of advanced features like Gantt charts or time tracking, and constraints around customization often push teams to explore alternatives.

That’s where the conversation around Trello alternatives becomes important. Teams today require flexible collaboration tools that fit their workflows—not the other way around. Whether it’s managing software development sprints, building a client pipeline, or handling multiple projects at once, the right project management solution can make or break productivity. Platforms like Baserow are emerging as powerful, open source alternatives to Trello, helping teams design systems tailored to their exact needs.

Key Features to Look for in a Project Management Tool

Before choosing an alternative, it’s helpful to know what makes a great project management solution. The right platform should combine ease of use with flexibility, ensuring teams can manage both simple tasks and complex projects effectively.

Here are some features to prioritize:

• Kanban Boards for Task and Project Management

Kanban boards remain one of the most intuitive ways to visualize workflows. A good Trello alternative should provide drag-and-drop simplicity while allowing customization. For example, software development teams often rely on Kanban boards to track user stories, sprints, and bug fixes.

• Gantt Charts for Complex Projects

For projects with multiple dependencies, Gantt charts are essential. They provide a timeline view, making it easy to see how tasks overlap, identify potential bottlenecks, and ensure deadlines are met. Unlike Trello, many alternatives now offer Gantt charts out of the box.

• Collaboration Tools That Go Beyond Cards

Task and project management is not just about lists—it’s about communication. Look for platforms that include chat, comments, document sharing, and notifications. These collaboration tools ensure everyone stays aligned without constantly switching between apps.

• Assign Tasks with Clarity

In growing teams, accountability matters. The ability to assign tasks to specific team members, set due dates, and track progress keeps projects transparent. This is particularly important for distributed teams where asynchronous communication is the norm.

• Integration with Software Development Workflows

For development teams, integrations with version control systems, CI/CD tools, or issue trackers can be crucial. Jira is well known here, but open source project alternatives are also offering flexible connections for development pipelines.

• Customization and Flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of exploring Trello alternatives is finding tools that let you customize workflows. Open source project management tools like Baserow allow teams to build a project management solution around their exact requirements—whether that means tracking sales leads, managing editorial calendars, or running agile sprints.

Why Consider Trello Alternatives?

Trello’s strength lies in its simplicity. For smaller teams or straightforward workflows, Kanban boards are often all that’s needed to keep things on track. But as projects grow in scope, Trello’s limitations become clear.

One of the main challenges is managing complex projects. Trello lacks advanced project management software features like Gantt charts, time tracking, and detailed reporting. For project managers overseeing multiple teams or deadlines, this creates friction.

Another drawback is that while Trello integrates with other apps, it can feel limiting for teams that want a fully customizable project management solution. Many businesses today are looking at open source project tools because they allow full control over workflows, data structures, and integrations. These open source alternatives make it possible to adapt the tool to the project—not the other way around.

Pricing is another factor. While Trello has a free plan, teams often find themselves forced into paid tiers to access features that competitors already include at no cost. That’s why demand for a free Trello alternative continues to grow.

There’s also the question of scale. As organizations grow, assigning tasks, collaborating across departments, and tracking deliverables require more structure. Trello’s flat boards, while intuitive, lack the depth that larger teams need. Tools with automation, dashboards, and role-based permissions are better suited to helping a team collaborate at scale.

All these challenges explain why businesses are actively exploring source alternatives to Trello, ranging from enterprise-ready project management software to nimble open source platforms like Baserow.

Top Trello Alternatives to Try in 2025

Now that we’ve looked at the reasons for seeking a new project management solution, let’s explore the best Trello alternatives available today. Each of these platforms brings unique strengths, making them suitable for different team sizes, industries, and workflows.

1. Baserow

When it comes to open source alternatives to Trello, Baserow stands out as a powerful option. Unlike traditional project management software, Baserow is designed to let teams build their own structures. It’s not just a Kanban tool—it’s a complete database and collaboration platform that can be customized to any workflow.

For teams managing complex projects, this level of flexibility is invaluable. You can set up Kanban boards for task tracking, Gantt-style timelines for project scheduling, or even custom dashboards for specific industries like marketing, construction, or software development.

Compared to Trello, Baserow gives you more control over your data and workflows. Because it’s an open source project, it allows businesses to adapt and expand it as needed—something especially important for organizations with unique requirements or compliance considerations.

Baserow also supports integrations and an API, making it a scalable project management solution. Teams can start small with a free plan and expand into more advanced setups as they grow. For businesses asking, “Does Google have something like Trello?”, tools like Baserow show that customizable platforms are often a stronger long-term choice.

You can learn more about how Baserow empowers collaboration here: Baserow Overview.

2. Monday.com

Monday.com has quickly become a favorite for organizations managing complex projects. Its strength lies in its visual approach to project tracking. Teams can choose from a variety of views—Kanban boards, timelines, calendars, and Gantt charts—making it versatile for different use cases.

Compared to Trello, Monday.com offers deeper customization. Users can create dashboards to visualize workload, project status, or budgets at a glance. Its automation features save time by eliminating manual updates. For example, when a task status changes to “done,” a notification can be automatically sent to stakeholders.

Collaboration tools on Monday.com are strong, with the ability to comment, upload files, and tag team members directly on tasks. This makes communication seamless, especially for distributed teams.

For companies weighing “Is Monday or Trello better?”, the answer often depends on scale. Trello is great for simplicity, but Monday.com’s advanced dashboards and automation make it better suited for larger teams managing multiple workflows at once.

3. Jira

Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a leading project management tool for software development teams. It is built around agile methodologies, offering features like sprint planning, backlog management, and customizable workflows.

Compared to Trello, Jira is far more robust for agile teams. While Trello can be adapted for agile, Jira was designed for it. Its Kanban tool and Scrum boards help developers visualize workloads, track progress, and manage user stories effectively.

One of Jira’s biggest advantages is time tracking. Developers can log work hours, making it easier to estimate project timelines and track resource allocation. Its detailed reporting provides insights into sprint velocity, burndown charts, and performance metrics.

For teams managing bug tracking, release planning, and CI/CD pipelines, Jira integrates seamlessly with tools like Bitbucket, GitHub, and Jenkins. While Jira’s learning curve is steeper than Trello, it offers the depth needed for engineering teams managing complex projects.

However, it’s not just limited to developers. Non-technical teams can also use Jira, though its advanced features are most beneficial in development-heavy environments.

4. ClickUp

ClickUp positions itself as an “all-in-one” project management software, and for good reason. It combines task management, documents, goals, and chat in a single platform.

Compared to Trello, ClickUp offers far more flexibility. While Trello is primarily focused on Kanban boards, ClickUp provides multiple views, including lists, Gantt charts, calendars, and mind maps. This makes it highly adaptable to any workflow.

One of ClickUp’s standout features is its free plan, which is one of the most generous among project management tools. It includes unlimited tasks and users, making it appealing for startups or small teams searching for a free Trello alternative.

ClickUp also supports advanced features such as automation, goal tracking, and workload management. Its built-in docs and whiteboards mean teams can collaborate without jumping between multiple tools. This reduces friction and helps a team collaborate more efficiently.

For companies asking “Which is better, Asana or Trello?”, ClickUp often enters the conversation as a middle ground. It provides more flexibility than Trello while being more affordable and feature-rich than Asana for smaller teams.

5. Notion

Notion is a unique entry among project management tools because it goes beyond task tracking. It combines notes, databases, and collaboration tools into one platform. Teams use it as both a knowledge base and a lightweight project management solution.

Compared to Trello, Notion is much more flexible. Its drag-and-drop blocks allow users to create pages that function as Kanban boards, calendars, or even custom dashboards. This flexibility makes it especially popular among startups, freelancers, and content teams who want more than a traditional project management tool.

Notion also helps teams document projects alongside tasks. For example, product teams can store meeting notes, feature requirements, and sprint planning docs next to their project boards. This makes it easier to keep information centralized and ensures that a team collaborate without constantly jumping between different apps.

6. Asana

Asana is one of the most popular project management software tools, well-suited for both small teams and large enterprises. It offers multiple views—lists, Kanban boards, calendars, and timelines—giving teams the flexibility to organize projects the way they work best.

Compared to Trello, Asana shines in its ability to handle task and project management at scale. Teams can break down projects into goals, milestones, and sub-tasks, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Its reporting features provide real-time visibility into progress, making it easier for project managers to track deliverables.

While Trello focuses heavily on Kanban boards, Asana provides more structure. For example, marketing teams can create campaign timelines, while product teams can map out launches with clear dependencies. The built-in automation helps reduce repetitive work, allowing teams to stay focused on strategic tasks.

Asana also integrates with hundreds of apps, making it a solid option for teams that need robust collaboration tools. While its free plan is generous, advanced reporting and timeline features are reserved for paid tiers.

7. Airtable

Airtable bridges the gap between spreadsheets and project management software. It allows teams to organize information in grid, calendar, Kanban, and gallery views.

Compared to Trello, Airtable provides a more database-driven approach. It’s particularly useful for teams that manage large amounts of structured information, such as editorial calendars, product inventories, or event planning workflows.

Its collaboration tools are solid—team members can comment, upload files, and assign tasks directly from within the database. Airtable also offers automations and integrations with popular apps like Slack and Google Workspace.

While its free plan is popular among small teams, advanced features such as Gantt charts and extended automations are reserved for higher-tier subscriptions.

8. Wrike

Wrike is geared toward enterprises and mid-sized businesses that need advanced project tracking and reporting. It offers Gantt charts, dashboards, and time tracking features that go far beyond what Trello provides.

Compared to Trello, Wrike is much better suited for organizations managing multiple departments or clients. Its role-based permissions, workload management, and advanced analytics make it one of the most comprehensive project management solutions available.

Wrike also emphasizes real-time collaboration. Teams can co-edit documents, leave comments with @mentions, and sync files across platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox. For companies balancing multiple stakeholders, Wrike’s structured approach reduces miscommunication and ensures projects stay aligned.

FAQs Around Trello Alternatives

When researching project management tools, teams often ask common questions that highlight Trello’s strengths and weaknesses:

• Is there a free Trello? Yes, Trello offers a free plan, but many alternatives like ClickUp and Baserow also provide free tiers with more advanced features included.
• Is there a Google equivalent of Trello? Google does not have a direct Trello competitor, though Google Workspace integrates with tools like Asana, ClickUp, and Baserow. Teams looking for source alternatives to Trello often choose customizable platforms instead.
• Which is better, Asana or Trello? Asana is often considered better for structured project management and reporting, while Trello is simpler. The right choice depends on your workflow.
• Is Monday or Trello better? Monday.com is generally preferred for complex projects with multiple stakeholders, whereas Trello works best for smaller, straightforward workflows.

By addressing these questions, businesses can better understand whether sticking with Trello or adopting another project management tool is the right decision.

According to Gartner, many organizations are actively comparing collaboration tools to find solutions that better support scalability, reporting, and advanced project management needs.

Choosing the Right Project Management Solution

With so many Trello alternatives available, the challenge lies in selecting the one that best fits your team’s unique needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—what works for a software development team may not be the best choice for a marketing department or a construction project. The key is to evaluate tools based on flexibility, scalability, and ease of collaboration.

Start by assessing the complexity of your projects. If your workflows involve multiple dependencies, milestones, and teams, you’ll likely need features such as Gantt charts, time tracking, and reporting dashboards. Platforms like Wrike or Monday.com shine here because they are built to handle large-scale, structured processes.

On the other hand, if you’re managing creative workflows, content calendars, or small business tasks, tools like Notion or Airtable provide flexibility without overwhelming users. They allow you to combine project tracking with documentation, which is particularly valuable for teams that want everything in one place.

Budget is another consideration. While Trello’s free plan is attractive, many alternatives also provide no-cost options with more built-in features. ClickUp, for instance, offers unlimited users on its free plan, while Baserow allows teams to start with a free setup and expand into customized workflows over time. Choosing a free Trello alternative can help smaller teams access advanced project management software without committing to paid subscriptions upfront.

It’s also worth considering open source project solutions. Tools like Baserow give you complete control over your data and the ability to customize workflows to match your business goals. For organizations with unique compliance needs or a desire to integrate directly with in-house systems, open source alternatives to Trello offer unmatched flexibility.

Lastly, think about collaboration. The best project management tools don’t just assign tasks—they help a team collaborate in real time. Features such as chat, document sharing, and notifications reduce the need for endless email threads and ensure everyone is aligned. Whether you’re asking “Does Google have something like Trello?” or evaluating whether to switch from Trello entirely, collaboration should remain at the core of your decision.

Baserow also supports APIs and scaling from a free plan, making it perfect for teams who want a project management solution that grows with them. Learn more in this related post: Top 10 Project Management Tools.

Final Thoughts

Trello remains a solid starting point for many businesses, but it’s no longer the only choice for managing tasks and projects. As teams grow and projects become more complex, the need for advanced project management software has created a wide range of alternatives.

From structured platforms like Asana and Jira to flexible systems like Notion and Airtable, each tool brings its own strengths. Platforms such as Wrike cater to enterprises with complex needs, while ClickUp and Monday.com strike a balance between structure and customization. And for teams that value flexibility, control, and scalability, open source alternatives like Baserow provide a modern, customizable way to manage projects on your terms.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your workflows, team size, and goals. What’s clear is that teams no longer have to settle for one-size-fits-all solutions. By exploring these Trello alternatives, you can find a project management solution that helps your team collaborate better, manage complexity, and deliver results faster.

If you’re ready to take the next step and design a tool that adapts to your team instead of forcing your team to adapt to the tool, give Baserow a try. With its open source foundation and flexible structure, it’s built to grow with your projects—no matter how complex they become.