Should you build your own Trello?
Run kanban boards with cards, checklists, labels, dates, and simple automation
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Trello, run kanban boards with cards, checklists, labels, dates, and simple automation. The hard boundary is atlassian ecosystem, power-ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration, plus collaboration, integrations, and organizational trust.
ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.
Build a personal replacement for Trello in an empty repository.
Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, PostgreSQL, Drizzle ORM, and Docker Compose; do not offer alternative stacks.
The core loop is: run kanban boards with cards, checklists, labels, dates, and simple automation, and keep comments and a searchable activity history for a small team.
Make the first run work locally with one documented command.
Store all user data locally by default and make export straightforward.
Put secrets in .env, ship .env.example, and never commit credentials.
Implement organizations, projects, members, issues, labels, cycles, and milestones.
Provide list, kanban, and simple timeline views backed by one canonical issue model.
Add comments, mentions, assignments, watchers, and a complete activity log.
Implement project roles for owner, member, and viewer and test every mutation.
Add search, CSV import or export, email notifications, and daily database backups.
Ship Docker Compose, health checks, migrations, seed data, and an admin recovery command.
Include clear empty, loading, success, and recoverable error states.
Add input validation, safe filenames, and graceful handling of unavailable APIs.
Write focused tests for the core transformation and one end-to-end happy path.
Create a README with setup, architecture, permissions, data location, and backup steps.
Do not add accounts, billing, telemetry, analytics, or a hosted control plane.
Deliberately leave out hundreds of external integrations.
Deliberately leave out enterprise portfolio planning and SSO.
Deliberately leave out native mobile clients and vendor-operated uptime.
Finish by running the tests and listing the exact commands used.The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running. · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR
What would building your own look like?
Run kanban boards with cards, checklists, labels, dates, and simple automation, and keep comments and a searchable activity history for a small team.
What you will need
- Docker
- PostgreSQL
- self-hosted server
- email credentials for invitations
People still pay for Trello because teams pay because project state has to remain authoritative through staff changes, outages, and years of accumulated workflow exceptions. The recurring cost buys auth, permissions, notifications, search, migrations, audit history, integrations, backups, and uptime, not just the visible interface.
xAtlassian ecosystem, Power-Ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration
xdeep integrations
xenterprise permissions
xlarge-scale reporting
xbattle-tested notifications and mobile apps
Prefer something ready-made?
WekanTrello's boards without Butler, upsells, or anyone else holding the databaseOpen source↗
KanboardSpartan kanban that is finished, not fashionable; maintenance mode means only fixesOpen source↗
TaigaScrum baggage aside, its kanban boards comfortably replace Trello's core jobOpen source↗View all 4 alternatives to Trello →· Licença, instalação e limitações em cada alternativa.
How much does Trello cost?
- Monthly billing
- $12.50/mo$12.50/mo · per person
- Per year
- $150/yr$150/yr
- Annual billing
- $120/yr20% cheaper than paying monthly
- On a Brazilian card, with 3.5% IOF
- R$65.32/moR$627/yr
Saved to My list. You will see a notice on this site when the price changes.
You complete the purchase on Trello’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/user | $0/user | Up to 10 collaborators/workspace, 10 boards/workspace, unlimited cards, 10 MB/file and 250 automation runs/month |
| standard | $6/user≈ $6 | $5/user≈ $5 | Unlimited boards, 250 MB/file and 1,000 automation runs/month |
| premium | $12.50/user≈ $12.50 | $10/user≈ $10 | Unlimited automation runs, dashboard/timeline/table/calendar/map views and workspace admin controls |
| enterprise | - | $17.50/user≈ $17.50 | Unlimited workspaces, organization-wide permissions, public-board controls and Atlassian Guard Standard |
Free tier10 collaborators/workspace, 10 boards/workspace, unlimited cards, 10 MB/file and 250 automation runs/month
Billing termsmonthly + annual for Standard/Premium; Enterprise annual only
Additional costsMulti-board guests are billed as workspace members. Third-party Power-Ups may charge separate subscriptions. Enterprise uses volume pricing, so the exact per-user rate changes with seat count.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Is it cheaper to build or buy Trello?
Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.
Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.
Starting hours estimated from the analysis (multi-day). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).
Can I rebuild Trello?
Kinda. The core of Trello is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: Atlassian ecosystem, Power-Ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration, deep integrations. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Trello cost?
Trello costs about $12.50/mo (Premium, checked 10/20/2026), which is $120 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Trello?
Honestly: Atlassian ecosystem, Power-Ups, mobile apps, automation, and reliable collaboration; deep integrations; enterprise permissions; large-scale reporting; battle-tested notifications and mobile apps. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Trello?
Yes: Wekan (Trello's boards without Butler, upsells, or anyone else holding the database) Kanboard (Spartan kanban that is finished, not fashionable; maintenance mode means only fixes) Taiga (Scrum baggage aside, its kanban boards comfortably replace Trello's core job) All 4 curated free alternatives are at https://viberadar.si/trello/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.