Planka
Realtime kanban board for workgroups.
Open the official app on planka.app
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Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Planka?
Planka is a self-hosted Kanban project management tool designed for agile teams seeking to visualize and organize tasks efficiently. It provides a flexible, privacy-focused alternative to proprietary project management platforms by allowing teams to host their data internally. The tool caters to both small teams and large organizations, offering scalability while maintaining full control over infrastructure and data. Planka addresses the need for customizable task workflows, collaborative features, and transparency in project tracking. With over 11,100 GitHub stars and 8.1 million Docker pulls, it has become a popular choice for developers, remote teams, and open-source projects requiring a lightweight yet powerful solution. Its community-driven development model ensures continuous improvement based on user feedback, making it a viable option for teams prioritizing data sovereignty and adaptability.
How it works
Planka is a modern Kanban board tool that enables teams to manage tasks through visual workflows. It allows users to create boards with columns representing project stages, such as 'To Do,' 'In Progress,' and 'Done,' and drag tasks between these columns to track progress. The tool emphasizes simplicity and elegance, with a design that subtly highlights its capabilities without overwhelming users. Its primary purpose is to streamline project management by providing a centralized space for task organization, collaboration, and progress tracking. By hosting data locally, teams avoid reliance on third-party services, making it ideal for organizations with strict privacy requirements or compliance needs. Planka supports self-hosting via Docker, enabling teams to deploy the tool on their own servers or cloud infrastructure. It includes features like customizable boards, task dependencies, and integration with external tools through APIs. The platform also offers multilingual support across 35+ languages, catering to global teams. Community contributions have expanded its functionality, including translations and improvements driven by user feedback.
How to use it
- 1Clone the Planka repository from GitHub. 2. Set up Docker and run the containerized application. 3. Configure the database and access settings through the web interface. 4. Create boards, add tasks, and customize workflows. Practical tips include using Docker Compose for streamlined deployment and leveraging the community-driven documentation for advanced configurations.
What it can do
- Utility
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://github.com/planka
- license: AGPL-3.0 — free to use
- privacy: Opens an external demo
Limitations
- Requires technical expertise for self-hosting setup
- Limited native integrations compared to proprietary tools
- No free tier for enterprise-scale deployments
- Learning curve for users unfamiliar with Kanban methodologies
- Dependent on Docker for deployment, which may introduce complexity
Understanding the result
Realtime kanban board for workgroups.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by planka (MIT).
- Built with
- planka (https://github.com/planka)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Text
- Output
- Output
Built with https://github.com/planka. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- planka
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- /planka — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- AGPL-3.0 License
Upstream project
Frequently asked
What is Planka and how does it differ from other Kanban tools?
Planka is a self-hosted Kanban tool that emphasizes privacy and customization. Unlike cloud-based alternatives like Trello or ClickUp, it allows teams to host data internally, providing greater control over infrastructure. Its open-source nature and Docker-based deployment make it suitable for organizations requiring strict data governance, though it lacks some of the out-of-the-box integrations found in proprietary solutions.
How does Planka handle data privacy and security?
Planka ensures data privacy by allowing teams to host their instances on private servers or cloud environments. Since it operates under the AGPL-3.0 license, source code is openly available for audit. While it provides basic authentication and encryption, teams must implement additional security measures like TLS and access controls, as the tool itself does not include enterprise-grade security features by default.
How do I set up Planka on my local server?
To deploy Planka locally, first install Docker and Docker Compose. Clone the Planka repository from GitHub, then run 'docker-compose up' to start the container. Configure the database settings in the .env file, and access the web interface via the local server's IP address. For production use, ensure the server meets minimum requirements and consider using a reverse proxy for HTTPS.
How does Planka compare to Trello and ClickUp?
Planka differs from Trello and ClickUp by offering self-hosting capabilities and open-source transparency, making it ideal for privacy-conscious teams. Unlike Trello's freemium model, Planka requires technical setup but avoids subscription costs. Compared to ClickUp's all-in-one approach, Planka focuses on Kanban workflows with fewer built-in tools, appealing to users who prefer lightweight, customizable solutions.
What should I do if Planka fails to start after Docker deployment?
If Planka doesn't start, check Docker logs for errors using 'docker logs plankadocker'. Common issues include misconfigured environment variables or port conflicts. Verify that the database service is running and that required ports (e.g., 80, 443) are available. If the problem persists, consult the GitHub repository's issue tracker for troubleshooting guidance.