Focalboard vs Task Keeper
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted project management & tasks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Focalboard
Open-source project and task management boards
VS
Task Keeper
List editor for power users, backed by a self-hosted server
| Feature | Focalboard | Task Keeper |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Scala |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 26,376 | ★ 108 |
| First released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Trello, Asana, Notion | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Task Keeper if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Written in Scala
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Focalboard or Task Keeper better?
Focalboard is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Task Keeper if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Focalboard and Task Keeper free and open-source?
Yes. Focalboard is licensed under MIT and Task Keeper under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Focalboard and Task Keeper with Docker?
Focalboard: yes. Task Keeper: check the project docs for container support.