Kanboard vs Restyaboard
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
Restyaboard
Open-source kanban board with offline sync
| Feature | Kanboard | Restyaboard |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 17 · At risk |
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | MIT | OSL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,881 | ★ 2,089 |
| First released | 2014 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Trello | Trello |
What are Kanboard and Restyaboard?
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
Restyaboard
Restyaboard is an open-source kanban board similar to Trello, featuring offline sync, plugins, and import tools. It targets teams wanting a self-hosted, extensible board. It is deployed via Docker.
- Trello-like kanban boards
- Offline sync support
- Plugin and theme system
- Import from Trello
Kanboard vs Restyaboard: key differences
Kanboard is written in PHP, while Restyaboard is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Kanboard versus OSL-3.0 for Restyaboard. Kanboard is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Restyaboard. Kanboard has the considerably larger community, at 9,881 GitHub stars versus 2,089.
Why pick each one
Choose Kanboard if…
- Very lightweight
- Easy to learn
- Stable
Watch out for
- Minimal feature set
- Dated look
Choose Restyaboard if…
- Trello-compatible imports
- Extensible
- Offline support
Watch out for
- Slower development
- Dated interface
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanboard or Restyaboard better?
Kanboard is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Restyaboard if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kanboard and Restyaboard free and open-source?
Yes. Kanboard is licensed under MIT and Restyaboard under OSL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kanboard and Restyaboard with Docker?
Kanboard: yes. Restyaboard: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kanboard or Restyaboard?
Kanboard has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Restyaboard. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.