Focalboard vs OpenProject
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted project management & tasks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Focalboard
Open-source project and task management boards
VS
OpenProject
Open-source project management and collaboration
| Feature | Focalboard | OpenProject |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 69 · Good | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 26,483 | ★ 16,196 |
| First released | 2021 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Trello, Asana, Notion | Jira, Asana |
What are Focalboard and OpenProject?
Focalboard
Focalboard is an open-source project management tool with kanban boards, tables, and calendar views for organizing work. It targets teams wanting a self-hosted Trello-style board. It is deployed via Docker or as part of Mattermost.
- Kanban, table and calendar views
- Personal and team boards
- Integrates with Mattermost
- Templates for common workflows
OpenProject
OpenProject is a comprehensive open-source project management application with gantt charts, agile boards, and time tracking. It targets organizations managing complex projects. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- Gantt charts and roadmaps
- Agile boards and backlogs
- Time and cost tracking
- Wiki and document management
Focalboard vs OpenProject: key differences
Focalboard is written in TypeScript, while OpenProject is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — MIT for Focalboard versus GPL-3.0 for OpenProject. Focalboard is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for OpenProject. OpenProject is the more established project (first released 2012), while Focalboard arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose Focalboard if…
- Clean Trello-like UI
- Lightweight
- Mattermost integration
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Fewer power features
Choose OpenProject if…
- Very feature-complete
- Good for classic project management
- Strong permissions
Watch out for
- Resource heavy
- Premium features gated
Frequently asked questions
Is Focalboard or OpenProject better?
Focalboard is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenProject if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Focalboard and OpenProject free and open-source?
Yes. Focalboard is licensed under MIT and OpenProject under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Focalboard and OpenProject with Docker?
Focalboard: yes. OpenProject: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Focalboard or OpenProject?
Focalboard has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for OpenProject. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.