Kanboard
Kanboard is free, open-source project management software built around Kanban boards.
What Kanboard is
Kanboard is free, open-source project management software built around Kanban boards. Its self-hosted boards display tasks in columns that teams can add, rename, or remove, and tasks move between them by dragging. Teams can set work-in-progress limits; Kanboard highlights a column when its limit is exceeded. Tasks can include subtasks, estimates, Markdown descriptions, comments, documents, colors, categories, assignees, and due dates. A query language filters tasks by assignee, description, category, or due date, while automatic actions can adjust assignees, colors, or categories in response to events. Kanboard supports LDAP and Active Directory, plus OAuth2 providers including Google, GitHub, and GitLab. Its API documentation covers projects, tasks, users, boards, comments, and other entities. Installation requires a web server with PHP. The project is available for web, Linux, and self-hosted use, with an API. Extensions can add features, but users must check their compatibility themselves.
Good
- Free and open source under the MIT License.
- Boards support configurable work-in-progress limits.
- Tasks include subtasks, estimates, and due dates.
- LDAP, Active Directory, and OAuth2 options are supported.
Watch out
- Installation requires a web server with PHP.
- Users must validate extension compatibility themselves.
- Security guidance calls for restricted access to the installation.
Who it suits
Kanboard suits teams that want a self-hosted Kanban board with task details, automation, and API access. It is a fit for administrators able to install and secure a PHP web application.
Verdict
Kanboard offers detailed task management and automation without a software fee. Its self-hosted setup and security responsibilities are important considerations.
Plans and prices
From Kanboard's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Kanboard | Free | Free and open source · MIT License · self-hosted |
The facts
Each one read from Kanboard's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The documentation includes an API reference with authentication and procedures for projects, tasks, users, boards, comments, and other entities.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- Kanboard can connect to LDAP or Active Directory and use OAuth2 providers including Google, GitHub, and GitLab.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Automatic actions can change assignees, colors, and categories based on events.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Automation rules
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Brute-force protection
- After three failed login attempts for a username, Kanboard displays a CAPTCHA; after six failures, it locks the account for 15 minutes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Extensions can add features, but the plugin directory says it has no approval process or code review and users must validate compatibility themselves.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Installation instructions require a web server with PHP and document that the archive stores its SQLite database, debug file, uploaded files, and thumbnails in the data folder.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Guest access
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Product
- Kanboard is free and open source Kanban project management software.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Recent release
- The releases page lists Kanboard 1.2.54 dated 2026-08-28.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Search
- Its query language supports searching and filtering tasks by assignee, description, category, and due date.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security guidance
- The security guide advises restricting access with a firewall or VPN or a properly configured reverse proxy, and preventing public access to the data directory.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation links to a Discourse forum and GitHub Discussions for the project.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Task management
- Tasks support subtasks, time or complexity estimates, Markdown descriptions, comments, documents, colors, categories, assignees, and due dates.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Time tracking
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Work in progress
- Users can set work-in-progress limits, and a column is highlighted when its limit is exceeded.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Work visualization
- Kanboard uses visual boards where tasks can be dragged between columns, which can be added, renamed, or removed.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
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