Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Plaky · 🎨 design
Plaky vs Planka
Self-hosted Kanban board for agile teams. Unlimited boards, real-time sync, GDPR-compliant, and available as a free Community Edition or paid Pro. Here is how Planka ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Plaky ($20/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Planka is a verified Open Source-licensed open-source replacement for Plaky. Switching from Plaky ($20/mo) saves $240/yr per solo seat, or $1,200/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Plaky.
Plaky vs Planka Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | Plaky (Paid) | Planka (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $20 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $240 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $240) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,200) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $2,400 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,400) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source Open Source |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 12.7k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Plaky to Planka
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Plaky.
How to deploy Planka
Clone https://github.com/plankanban/planka or deploy with Docker Compose
What it takes to run
Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
Where your data lives
All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
Why fork Planka instead of vibe-coding a Plaky clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Plaky or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 16 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Macro Tasks.
Plaky vs Planka FAQ
Is Planka a good free alternative to Plaky?+
Yes. Planka is a verified open-source (Open Source) replacement for Plaky. Self-hosted Kanban board for agile teams. Unlimited boards, real-time sync, GDPR-compliant, and available as a free Community Edition or paid Pro.
What is the catch when switching from Plaky to Planka?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Plaky.
How much do you save switching from Plaky to Planka?+
Plaky costs $20/mo ($240/yr) per seat, whereas Planka is $0/mo. Switching saves $240/yr for a solo user, $1,200/yr for a 5-person team, and $2,400/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Planka instead of Plaky?+
Install: Clone https://github.com/plankanban/planka or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
