Project ManagementProgram & Project Management

5 Top-Rated Free Kanban Project Management Software

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By Shephalii Kapoor

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Project managers often need more visibility into project progress, task status, and resource allocation. Investing in the right Kanban software can help them visualize the overall workflow on a Kanban board, track dependencies, and prioritize tasks. 

With a diverse range of available tools, finding the right software for your business can be challenging, especially if you are on a budget.

This article highlights, in alphabetical order, the five top-rated free Kanban project management software products based on verified software reviews. Read more.

The products highlighted in this list can be categorized under two categories—project and work management tools and tools that specialize in visualization or objectives and key results tracking, alongside Kanban project management.

1. Agiled

Agiled is a work management platform that assists users with project management, customer relationship management (CRM), human resource management (HRM), financial management, and more. The software lets users view tasks and visualize their progress on a Kanban board, also known as a task board. You can also set task priority, add dependencies, and share your task board with clients and teammates for effective collaboration. It also offers email templates, providing complete control over the emails you share with clients or other stakeholders.

You can manage up to two projects in the free version of Agiled. The tool doesn’t offer premium integrations, such as with Zoom, FreshBooks, and HubSpot, which are well-known communication, accounting, and CRM platforms, to enhance its efficiency in the free plan. If you need to manage multiple projects simultaneously and are looking for better integration options, you can invest in the paid plan.

Free features:

  • Time tracker: Track time, including working and billable hours, using the software's time tracking feature, also available in the free plan. You can also set and stop active timers for your teammates to improve efficiency.

  • Reporting: Create insightful reports to understand your business’ performance and improve operational efficiency. Some important reports offered by the software include task reports, time log reports, finance reports, and expense reports. 

  • File management: Manage and share files with teams and clients. The software’s free plan supports sharing of up to 500 MB of files. 

Customer support options: Emails, online FAQs, and knowledge base.

Who should consider Agiled?

Project managers looking for a solution that offers customizable email templates to help with CRM, projects, proposals, payroll, contracts, and finance processes can consider Agiled app. The software’s free version offers email templates with Agiled branding, but you can upgrade to a paid version to customize your templates per your brand’s requirements, including tone and graphics.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$7.99 per user, per month

Device compatibility

* Analysis accurate as of July 2023

2. ConectoHub

ConectoHub is an objectives and key results (OKR) platform that facilitates project management, performance management, and OKR tracking for users. The software offers multiple views, including Kanban, list, and Gantt, to help project managers visualize tasks and projects effectively. As a ConectoHub user, you can use real-time data in project reports to stay informed of the project's progress. 

ConectoHub allows 10 users to manage unlimited projects in its free plan. If you have a large team and need a tool with advanced work and goal management capabilities, such as weighted OKRs and advanced OKR dashboards, you can upgrade to the software’s paid version.

Free features:

  • File storage: Store and organize various files related to your projects. The free plan of the software offers up to 1 GB of file storage, which is restricted to 100 MB per file.  

  • Project templates: Create presentation templates, canvases, planners, project workflows, and decision matrices using the ready-made, customizable templates offered by the software. 

  • Mobile access: Collaborate in real time using the mobile apps that sync changes across all Android and iOS devices.

Customer support options: Phone calls, emails, and knowledge base.

Who should consider ConectoHub?

Project management professionals with a small team working on multiple projects simultaneously can consider ConectoHub. Even the free version of the software supports unlimited tasks, milestones, and projects. It offers several features, such as team management, multiple project views, advanced search filters, and project templates that can be leveraged to manage work and projects efficiently.

Most affordable

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$3 per user, per month

Device compatibility

* Analysis accurate as of July 2023

/ Pro tip

Ensure that your free Kanban tool prioritizes data security and offers adequate privacy measures to safeguard sensitive information. Security features in a free tool may include data retention and deletion, policy compliance, secure access, user permissions, data backup, and encryption.

3. GoodDay

Similar to Agiled, GoodDay is a work management platform that allows users to plan and manage projects from start to finish. The software offers tools for project planning, task management, time and budget tracking, resource management, and progress tracking. It also has a Kanban project template that enables project managers to visualize their tasks, edit task card sizes, collapse card details, and move cards to another project. Besides Kanban, GoodDay has over 100 templates, including waterfall projects, scrum projects, task lists, Gantt projects, and design project management templates. 

The free version of GoodDay supports up to 15 members and provides you with basic customer support. However, if you have a growing team and need priority assistance with your issues, consider upgrading to the paid version.

Free features:
  • Custom workflows: Configure project workflows to accurately manage, report, and review your projects. With GoodDay, you can assign any workflow to your project and customize it by defining task types and the steps each task follows.

  • Dashboards: View your work data summary using the tool’s dashboard that displays information in a tile layout using three tile types—project, user, and my summary. 

  • Activity stream: Get an overview of the activities and updates on tasks and projects you are involved in. The feature allows you to group activities by options, such as by dates and projects, apply filters to view specific activities, and group tasks by current action required. 

Customer support options: Emails, chat, and knowledge base.

Who should consider GoodDay?

Project managers looking for a tool that offers workflow process templates to help them organize work, assign unique workflows to different projects, and set up new projects with just a few clicks, can consider GoodDay. Even in its free version, the software offers templates across several popular categories, such as sales, marketing, project management, software development, and product management, to assist project managers with different project types.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$4 per user, per month

Device compatibility

* Analysis accurate as of July 2023

4. Kanban Tool

Kanban Tool is a visual management solution that offers artificial intelligence (AI) assistance to help users build their Kanban boards. Kanban Tool’s AI Assistant feature leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze user needs and suggest optimal workflows based on their requirements. While planning work, project managers can seek suggestions on board layout, card types, and checklists. 

Kanban Tool, in the free version supports up to two users, allowing them to create up to two boards. If you need a version that supports unlimited boards, you can purchase the paid plan of the software.

Free features:
  • Real-time board updates: Get an overview of the current work status and collaborate with clients and team members in real time. Users can share tasks, information, and comments anytime, anywhere. 

  • Two-factor authentication: Secure your user account with two-factor authentication (2FA). The feature adds an additional layer of security to your account by asking for your password and a secret time-limited verification code at the time of logging. 

  • Analytics and metrics: Get insightful analytics to measure project performance and identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks in project execution. The software offers lead and cycle time and cumulative flow diagrams to help you plan work and track average cycle time. 

Customer support options: Phone calls, online FAQs, and knowledge base.

Who should consider Kanban Tool?

Professionals in multi-faceted roles looking for a tool that facilitates visual project management on Kanban boards and creates optimal workflows by working smarter can opt for Kanban Tool. The software, with smart AI assistance, offers personalized suggestions for project workflows, tasks, and checklists based on user descriptions, which improve productivity and save time.

Best functionality

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$6 per user, per month

Device compatibility

* Analysis accurate as of July 2023

/ Pro tip

Consider a free Kanban project management tool that allows you to customize your Kanban board’s layout and structure, along with the attributed workflows and tasks. The tool’s customization options can help you visually differentiate tasks using varied appearances for each task card.

5. Stackby

Like Agiled and GoodDay, Stackby is a work management solution. It's a no-code platform for building collaborative applications that allow users to create customizable stacks (collections of tables), which can be converted into a Kanban view for ease of use. Each table can be tailored to a business’ needs, such as project management, marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), human resources, and other use cases. 

In its free plan, Stackby supports up to 2 MB file uploads and 2 GB attachments per stack. If you want to increase your file upload limit, along with the attachment per stack, you can consider an upgraded version of the software.

Free features:
  • Activity history: Record all activity history, including updates on each row, to stay on top of all the changes. The software offers two weeks of activity history in its free version. 

  • Real-time collaboration: Communicate with teams in real time using features such as comments, reminders, and email notifications. You can also invite team members to collaborate on a workspace.

  • Data layouts: Visualize and structure your data in different layouts—grid, Kanban, calendar, and forms. Layouts in Stackby help keep all your data in sync. 

Customer support options: Emails, live chat, and knowledge base.

Who should consider Stackby?

Non-tech savvy project managers across multiple domains, such as IT and construction who are looking to create custom applications can use Stackby to meet their project requirements. The software facilitates no-code development with various pre-built templates, allowing users to create custom applications without any programming knowledge. The tool can be used to create custom tables, define fields, configure views, and establish relationships between tables based on evolving project management requirements.

Trial/Free Version

  • Free Trial
  • Free Version

Cost to upgrade

$5 per user, per month

Device compatibility

* Analysis accurate as of July 2023

What is the cost to upgrade from free Kanban project management software to a paid one?

Kanban project management software upgrades can be as low as $3 per user, per month, or increase up to $20+ per user, per month, depending on various factors—advanced features, number of users, deployment models, user licenses, integration, and customization options. Most Kanban project management software typically include the following subscription plans:

  • Free trial: No cost trial plans ranging from 14 to 30 days, giving users access to either all or limited features of the software.

  • Free version: Free software plans offer basic features and limited premium feature access; ideal for small businesses or individuals with a limited budget.

  • Entry-level: Starts at $3 per user, per month, and offers limited features; good option for small businesses or teams with basic features such as automated workflows, dashboards, filters, and reporting.

  • Mid-tier: Mid-range pricing for Kanban project management software ranges from $5 to $8 per user, per month and offers features, such as advanced customization, time tracking, Gantt charts, and unlimited storage. Businesses that have outgrown their basic needs and do not require high-end features can opt for this plan.

  • High-end: Advanced plans go up to or beyond $20 per user, per month and offer customizable project templates, task planning, interactive roadmaps, and unlimited boards along with entry and mid-level features. This is ideal for large enterprises.

   Hidden costs associated with Kanban project management software

Besides the software license, there may be additional costs associated with Kanban project management software. These may include customization, data migration, training, integration, additional users, infrastructure, and add-ons that might enhance the functionality of the tool. Small businesses should check for these when considering a free tool.

Frequently asked questions when selecting free Kanban project management software

What are the limitations of the free tool?

While evaluating potential free solutions for your project management needs, understand the limitations of the free Kanban software and the restrictions that it may impose. For instance, your free tool may have user, task or card limitations. Look for restricted customization options, storage space issues, or limited customer assistance. Understanding these limitations will help you set realistic expectations around what your free software can offer.

Does the software facilitate visual workflow management?

Visual workflow management allows project managers to visually represent the work flow within their project. Before investing in a free Kanban project management system, ensure that the software allows you to create, customize, and rearrange columns in your Kanban board to match specific workflows. It should also offer features, such as drag-and-drop functionality, color coding, swimlane diagrams, and task cards for segmentation of tasks within the workflow.

What are the collaboration features offered by the software?

Kanban project management software includes features to promote collaboration between project managers and their teams. The tool offers real-time updates, comments, mentions, activity feeds, and notifications to enable sharing of ideas and query redressal during project execution. Your free Kanban app should also integrate with communications tools, such as Microsoft Teams and Slack to help team members stay connected.


Methodology

To be considered for this list, products must:

  • Have at least 20 unique product reviews published on Capterra within the past two years, with an average rating of 3.0 or higher (as of July 13, 2023).

  • Offer a free, stand-alone version of the software (not a trial version of the software where you must purchase the product after a limited amount of time).

  • Meet our Kanban project management software market definition: “Kanban Tools are used by project managers to visualize and optimize workflows.

The “best functionality” tool is identified based on the highest user ratings for functionality that a vendor receives based on user reviews as of July 13, 2023.

The “most affordable” tool is identified based on the lowest pricing a vendor offered on their website in terms of cost to upgrade on July 13, 2023. 

Read more about our editorial independence.

Product research for this article was contributed by Himanshi Arora.

Products evaluated for the pricing calculation were taken from Capterra’s Kanban software directory. The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in the Capterra directory that offer them. Only products with publicly available pricing information, as of July 13, 2023, were considered for pricing calculation.


Looking for Kanban Tools software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Kanban Tools software solutions.

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About the Author

Shephalii Kapoor profile picture

Shephalii Kapoor is a writer at Capterra. She helps small businesses identify the right software for their needs by analyzing user reviews for top-rated software products. Prior to Capterra, she worked as an assistant content manager at InfoEdge India Ltd. She has also worked in company law, aviation, and real estate. She is a published author and has contributed to various magazines and websites. During her free time, she enjoys reading.

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