Kanboard vs Leantime
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted project management & tasks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kanboard
Minimalist kanban project management
VS
Leantime
Goal-oriented project management for teams
| Feature | Kanboard | Leantime |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 93 · Excellent |
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,881 | ★ 11,645 |
| First released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Trello | Asana, Trello, Notion |
What are Kanboard and Leantime?
Kanboard
Kanboard is a minimalist, free kanban project management tool focused on simplicity and a clear visual workflow. It targets individuals and small teams wanting a no-frills board. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- Simple kanban boards
- WIP limits and automation
- Plugin ecosystem
- Lightweight PHP app
Leantime
Leantime is an open-source project management system designed around goals, strategy, and accessibility for non-technical teams. It targets small businesses and creatives. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- Goals and strategy boards
- Idea management and research
- Kanban and gantt views
- Designed for non-technical users
Kanboard vs Leantime: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Kanboard versus AGPL-3.0 for Leantime. Kanboard is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Leantime. Kanboard is the more established project (first released 2014), while Leantime arrived in 2019.
Why pick each one
Choose Kanboard if…
- Very lightweight
- Easy to learn
- Stable
Watch out for
- Minimal feature set
- Dated look
Choose Leantime if…
- Goal-focused approach
- Accessible to non-techies
- Active development
Watch out for
- Less known
- Some features still evolving
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanboard or Leantime better?
Neither is universally better. Leantime has the larger community, while Kanboard is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Kanboard and Leantime free and open-source?
Yes. Kanboard is licensed under MIT and Leantime under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kanboard and Leantime with Docker?
Kanboard: yes. Leantime: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kanboard or Leantime?
Kanboard has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Leantime. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.